The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-07-21
A NATIONAL FOOD LAW.
The Subject Discussed by Congressman
Adams, OF Wisconsin,.

Adams, OF Wisconsin.
Congressman H. c. Adams, of Wiscon-
sin, formerly dairy and food commissioner
of that state, discussed national pure food
the bi-lateral information of the offices
he has held and is holding. Outlining
what was wanted he said:
We want national pure food law to stop
1000 adulteration in this country.
We want national pure food law to pro-
tect the health and pockets of our people
We want national pure food law SO that
state lines shall not be walls of protection
for frauds.
We want national pure food law so that
the great power of the federal government can
supplement state authority in making food
products honest.
vised that it shall be a Godel for state leg
islation
We want national pure food law so drawn
that all the power of congress over interstate
commerce. granted by the constitution shall
be exerted to stop the shipment from state
to state of falsely branded OF adulterated
goods.
We want national pure food law SO drawn
that the manufacturer well as the sale of
foods can be regulated.
the standard of American food products and
improve our reputation in the markets of
the world.
We want national pure food law which
shall be strictly within the lines of the con-
stitution.
we want a national pure food law drawn
that it shall provide for efficient executive
force with ample means and machinery to
| follow dishonesty as far as the law can go.
We want national pure food law into
Which shall be clearly and explicitly written
| standard for every form, combination and
mixture of food now known, that shall be
the plain law of the land.
THE PUBLIC WELL WARNED.
| 1t is not necessary in meeting of this
asosciation to picture or assail the evils Of
ISOLATION is settled upon this question. And
not only this, but public opinion has been SO
thoroly stirred during the last decade that
the evils of food adulteration are rather ex-
aggerated than undereStimated in public
| judgment.
! The members of this association are fighting
great evil but they should use no weapon
but the truth That is bad enough. The lin
| itation of facts is broad enough to furnish
us a solid foundation upon which may
build structure of national sentiment and
| which the members of this association are
| endeayorfng to destroy.
CONFLICTING STATE LAWS.
Nearly every state in the union has pure
| food laws of greater or less scope and effci-
ency These laws have been made effective
within the limits of states because dairy
| and food commissions have been established
to enforce them. But every dairy and food
commissioner in the United States who is
sincere and conscientious in the discharge Of
his duty and anxious to enforce the law AMI
at the boundaries of his state when he fndx
that the manufacturer of an adulterated food
lives over the line, is flooding his state with
goods made in violation OF law and is utterly
beyond his reach for punishment 1t is to
remedy this that we desire a national pure
food law.
going on in the halls of congress and in the
country for a federal law upon this subject.
Individual jealousies, conflicting ambitions.
:. waring trade interests, and the sensitive
| mo- of of L.
tives in congress upon all questions affecting
+ the rights of the states, have so far pre-
Most unfortunate of all, the friends of pure
food products have not been agreed as to
what the details of the proposed law should
be.
AIMS OF A NATIONAL LAW.
Make your national pure food law specie.
Incorporate 1t IN your standards.
Make the head of the pure food commission
a presidential appointment under the general
supervision of the department of agriculture.
Give to the head of the pure food commits
| sion the appointment of his subordfnates.
Make those subordinates, every one, respon-
sible to him, and make him responsible to
the secretary of agriculture and to the presi-
9 dent OF the United States who shall appoint
3 him. You will then have direct burden OF
y responsibility and when something goes wrong.
7 the public will know where the responsibility
should rest. 80
0 national pure food bill will undoubtedly
4 he presented to the next congress which will
s embody the judgment OF this association
. The enactment of a law requires much
1 more than the introduction of bill.
| A bill which promises to be effective will bs
= terly fought.
The friends of the proposed measure must
do some work.
s A strong effort should be made to enlist the
$ support of the trade organizations.
t Every agricultural paper in the land car
be enlisted Every agricultural organization
1 in the country should be brought into service
When a great popular demand for a law II
$ made clear to congress, that body usually sat
: isles the demand.
The dairy and food commissions OF the STATE
should be made active centers OF organlza'
e ton.
r Consumers and producers of food producti
: can be lined up in solid column by nunaIeaI
of thousands to ask of congress protectloi
against fraudulent foods.
S Let this association apply itself aetivel!
to the work of organization and we wlil p.ae,
pure food law upon the nrnhibit intersta