The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-10

would have satisfied the fanatics. every
grocer in the state would have been up
In arms, and the law would have been a
dead letter upon the statute books IN
other words a good law would have been
killed by the unjust acts OF an Ignorant
INSCRIPTIONS and fanatical commissioner :,
as was the case in San Francisco by Chief
Dockery. l hope / do not belong to that
class 1t Looks as II the commissioner
would be damned If he did, and be damned
II have sent to the state chemist, to be
analysed, 2S6 samples from the following
towns: Seattle, Tacoma, Spokane, Fair
haven, Whatcom. Aberdeen. Hoquiam.
Kent, Puyallup, Garfield, Colfax and Pull
man. A large per cent. Of the analyses
have been made and the work would have
been further advanced na hom no. f rooa sicH
ness for the period OF about two months
From the analyses I have received there
are thirty.six cases OF adulteraion, and
am receiving more every day.
II have notified thirty-six grocers,
number from each OF the above towns.
that samples bought from. them we're
time to correspond with the jobber or
manufacturer from whom they purchased
the goods, so that I might satisfy myself
:" '.There e' have been paid into the justice
courts the following fines: Spokane, one;
Tacoma, three; Seattle, four, and have
cutting Attorney Of Chehalis county for
grocers who wish to pay their fines. I
have letter after letter from grocers ask
Ing me to leave them of this time. as
they did not willfully violate the law. l
have always answered, as my records Will
show, that I have no discretion in this
matter; that I am only commissioner, not
prosecuting attorney and judge, and that
their case can only be settled In court.
Reason for No Contests.
mo sample has ever been taken from
any store which has been returned. nor
will there be any, and after 1t Is taken
and found to be adulterated, the party
will be prosecuted IL the prosecuting at
torney will try the case, and il any cases
are dismissed by the prosecuting attorney
my records will show. the grounds of dis
missal. If 1 were beginning my work
over again would adopt the same e,F method
do not believe in sensational methods of
enforcing the law.
1.-The reason why there have been no
contests Is that time is given to arrive at
the facts before prosecution Is begun, ami
when have case which will be contest
ed 1t will be with the complete knowledge
snap judgments will be taken. The state
can afford to be fair The state can af-
ford to give time to arrive at all the facts.
The state must take firm stand and fight
it out along that line. If 1t takes all sum-
mer.
81 suppose no words of mine will remove
the doubt which may rest in the minds Of
the readers of the article published. there
fore invite DIR. White the author of the
law; Dr. M. E. A. McKeehnie, president
of the board Of health: Alden J. Blethen,
editor Of the Times, and the editor of the
Post-Intelligencer, to meet as a committee
and come to my office at any time they
can arrange and will open up my work
and correspondence and leave them to re-
port to the public. I know that a mag
nificent work is going on in this state be-
yond the knowledge of the public. and
am willing to trust my case in the hands
of these men. I think 1t only fair to me
that this request be granted"