Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-07
THIRD ANNUAL SESSION
Pure Food Congress Assemblies for Considsra-
ton of Business.
of Welcome and Responses
The Matters Before the Body
for Discussion.

this afternoon shortly after Il o'clock in
the hall of the Harper building 463 C
street. 1t was called to order by the pres
ident, Mr.. Joseph E. Blackburn. food and
dairy commissioner of Cleveland, Ohio. The
first session was given over to words of
welcome and in listening to avowals by
representatives in Congress to their interest
in the question of food reform
Rev. Frank NJ. Bristol. pastor of the
Metropolitan NJ E. Church. offered prayer.
after which address of welcome be-
half of the District of Columbia by Com
missioner John B. Wight Mr.. Wight
spoke of his sympathy with the pure food
movement, and expressed the hope that
the congress would effect much good
through its efforts. Mr.. Matthew Trimble
made the address of welcome on behalf
of the local organizations represented in
the congress. His address was full of warm
and sinces' hospitality.
The Secretary of Agriculture, Mr.. Wilson.
who has always been interested deeply in
advancing the pure food movement. was
next introduced Secretary Wilson said the
congress had not met to discuss the ques-
ton Of getting food. Food is plentiful in
the United States, he declared. and, in fact,
there is no country where the people are
we'll and abundantly fed. The question to
be taken up by the pure food advocates is
one of common honesty.
I'VE must protect the weak from the I'M
scrupulous. continued the Secretary. land
must protect our homes from the invaders.
Gentlemen, let me say to you that the man
who sells an article he knows to be different
from what it purpnrts to he is common
thief. and the man who sells food that is
deleterious to health and life is common
murderer!
Source of supply.
Recently an agent of the Department of
Agriculture, while abroad, was instructed
by me to find where the English people
secured all the meat. the fine beef that they
consume, knowing 1t was not slaughtered
in the British Isles. l was informed that
the fine beef sold in the London and other
markets there Tor English beef was killed
in the western part of the United States
and shipped in cold storage across this
continent and then across the Atlantic.
This is the fine beef of which England
boasts. Uncle Sam now feeds his soldiers
in the Philippines in the same manner and
the same fine beef. while Tommy, At
kins in the Transvaal must be content with
canned beef from Chicago"
After speaking of the detriment to ex-
port trade through INSCRIPTIONS adultera-
ton Secretary Wilson declared his belief
that people are growing better. and that
the lawmakers are cleaner than they used
to be. The senators and representatives,
he said further. are nowadays more careful
of their habits because the people at home
are more careful with their votes The
homes must be protected the honest dealers
must be protected and the rascals must be
punished He concluded by saying the De-
DartineTt OF Agriculture was with the fCO0
reformers and would respond to any re-
quest for assistance made upon it.
The assistant secretary of agriculture,
Mr.. !. H. Brigham, also spoke briefly. He
said it was the privilege and the duty of the
Department of Agriculture to cooperate
with the people and with organizations
formed for the protection Of the people in
such manner as that proposed by the ma
tional pure food and drug congress. He
spoke of the efforts of the department to
have violators of the food laws. as enacted
al present. properly punished. and of their
success in fighting the application for par
don in the cases of two dealers against
whom there evidence of undoubted
guilt. The advocates of pure food, he de-
clared should get together and agree upon
the general terms of some measure to be
passed by the national congress. The peo-
pie must organize to offset the organization
of those people who would be affected and
who would fight law that might compel
them to purify their goods.
Another Pure Food Bill.
Representative Marriott Brosius author
of the Brosius pure food bill in Congress,
was next introduced. THE pure food army
is on the march, said he, land victory
will soon perch upon your banners. Pub
lie interest has been awakened, the pub
lie journals more outspoken. and the
discussion of the subject is wider than was
ever known before. The people have taken
mold OF the subject, and when the people
put their shoulder to the wheel 1t is bound
to move. ! congratulate you upon your
triumph in impressing the people at large
with the Importance of the question with
which you are dealing.
1.-The pure food army Is intrenched in the
public interest. and it is Within the bounds
of probability that before you meet next
year the fortresses of fraud and deceit
will have been captured. You have kin
died the flame and yours will be the credit
for the confiagration that is to follow. Fire,
the great purifier. must wipe out this So
DOM ny11 in cd NOT
Representative Champ Clark of Missouri
was introduced and spoke in an entertain
ing vein. 81 regard" declared ne. this
pure food congress as of vaster Importance
than even national political convention
called for the naming of President. for
we car live in this country under almost
any kind Of a President, as has been dem
onstrated within my recollection. But we
can't live without food. There is no doubt
but that mans eating has lot to do
with his toppiece." Mr.. Clark then gave
some valuable suggestions looking toward
proper legislation.
Representative LattiTner of South Caro-
lima was the last speaker Of the session.
He said the pure food congress should de-
wise some practical business method Of get
ting the food reform law upon the statute
books. He suggested level-headed bill and
a deal of individual work among the mem
beers of both houses of Congress.
The second session of the congress viii be
held this evening at O'Clock.
The Association Officers.
The officers are as follows President, Jo-
seph E. Blackburn, food and dairy commits
sioner. Columbus. Ohio; first vice president.
Frank Hume. Washington, d. c.: recording
secretary, Franklin Dye. secretary state
board OF agriculture. Trenton, y. J.: corre-
spending secretary. Alexander J. Wedder-
| burn, Washington. ID. c.; treasurer Robert
\. Harper, Washington. ID. G. Executive
committee-Dr. William Frear. State Col
lege. Pa; w. S. Thompson. Washington,
d. c.; L. NJ Frailey. Camden. n. J.; F. ],
III. kracke, New York: w. A. Withers,
Raleigh, n. c.