Evening star., 1903-09-12
THE RETAIL bRbCERS.
n
Necessity Of Pure Food Law
sG II
Pointed 0ut.,-
NATIONAL OFFICERS
RECEPTION AND INTERESTING
SPEECHES OF IMPORTANCE.
How Foods Are Adulterated - The
Remedy in National Legislation
Department Store Question.

The necessity Of a national pure food law
and the imperativeness of mutual co-opera-
ton and closer relations among the grocers
Of the country were clearly defined last even
ing at the reception rendered the officers Of
the National Retail Grocers' Association by
the local branch of that body. The recep-
ton was arranged that President c.. r.
Lott Of Chicago, Vice President A. W. Far
linger Of Atlanta, Ga, and Secretary Fred
Mason Of st. Paul. Mimi, the guests of
honor. might familiarize themselves with
local conditions and at the same time give
the Washington grocers an opportunity to
interrogate the national officers as to the
status Of the trade at large. The labor
unions were briefly referred to in an un-
favorable manner. The national officers ar
rived in this city yesterday morning, en-
route to New York from Norfolk, Va,
where they attended state convention of
the grocers. They resumed their journey
Immediately upon the conclusion of the re-
ception last evening.
The address Of President Lott who was in
troduced to the large assembly of local gro
GERS by President P. B. Otterback. was de-
voted mainly to the general trade condi-
tions. He prefaced his remarks with a brief
history of the national organization, ex-
planning that 1t was perfected about q
decade ago In Chicago. Since that date.
national association have been amply re-
warded. and noted with apparent pleasure
that forty-two states of the union are now
organized
Through the national and various state
and local organizations. President Lott
pointed out that the ameliOration Of the
conditions of the grocers has been phenom-
email. The early closing policy Of the or
ganlzed grocers, the speaker contended,
permits them to spend more time with their
families and tends to elevate their social
standing. The conditions in Washington
are good. according to the speaker
The collection department of the associa-
ton Is proving invaluable. In this connec-
ton, Mr.. Lott averred that the local
grocers are to be congratulated, and OBJ
served that as the majority of the residents
OF the city are in government employ, the
liability of loss Is very small. President
Lott took occasion to specially mention the
need of garnishment laws for the protection
Of the grocers
,, me speaker characterized Chicago as
the hotbed Of unionism," and declared
that through fear Of the laboring people the
members of the legislature OF Illinois voted
the repeal of a garnishment law, An at
tempt, he said. will be made to have the law
become operative again. After defining the
fraternity, President Lott dwelt on pure
food, and concluded by announcing that the
association would make another attempt to
secure the passage Of a national pure food
Pure Food. @
Vice President Farlinger, who is chair
man of the pure food committee of the as
sociation. was the next speaker In addi-
ton to being very interesting, his address
was very instructive and the grocers were
informed of adulterants OF which they
have never dreamed. Mr.. Farlinger said,
in part: -
THE questions at issue by the political
powers of our land only deal with the eco
nomic, or financial problems, but the pro-
posed pure food legislation is paramount
economic issues, but effects, and deals with
the physical strength, ability and even
shapes to large degree the character of
each individual member Of the home and,
destiny of the nation. We all recognize
the truth in the old saying, tell me what
you eat and will tell you what you are
The physical, intellectual and spiritual
are dependant on each other, and all the
higher attributes of man are dependant on
his physical condition. The United States,
which surpasses in commerce and agricul-
civilized nation that does not protect her
citizens against the open and fragrant
adulteration Of food products
Bryan rings the warning on the silver
President Roosevelt on expansion, but the
paramount question to every citizen of
this country today Is a pure food law 1t
arects not only the economic policy of the
home but 1t grasps and jeopardizes the
very lives of each individual member of the
home
I'VE have two classes Of adulteration to
contend with. First, adulteration with nat
raj and possibly healthy food product of les
ser value. as illustrated with pure ground
spice, adulterated with ninety per cent of
parched cereals. Ground java and mocha
coffee with forty per cent of parched Can
ada peas. Pure sap maple syrup. manu-
factured from maple grove Of trees,
growing in basement of manufacturer
in the heart Of Chicago or New York
Mustard, guaranteed pure, with 80 per
cent apple parings. cores, and glucose.
Wheat -four with corn flour and tale Sec
ond. adulteration with foreign minerals and
substances which undermine the health,
weaken the functions Of the organs and fill
many premature graves; for instance, pure
apple vinegar. containing 100 per cent water
and tartaric acid. Cream Of tartar baking
powder. 100 per cent alum and starch.
Candy with aneline dyes and terra alba,
etc. The object of this two-fold class of
Is the same viz greater gain
to the manufacturer. to the jobbers, and,
am sorry to confess, very often to the
retailer. but the results are two-fold. In
the first class the consumer" in his
desire to obtain something for nothing to
satisfy the shopping propensities of the
twentieth century. is only injured financial
ly, receiving nothing for something. In the
second class he is not only injured hnan-.
cially, his physical nature is not only un-
dermined, but the greatest gifts with which
God has endowed him. his moral, and spirit
ual natures. are undermined ana very often
wrecked. both for this world, sand for eter
nifty. that the manufactures and the trust
may add to their too often hllrgotten gains.
Food Commissioner.
The enforcement of this law should be
through pure food commissioner under
the minister of commerce." and the PEN
atty for violation of the law should be
against the manufacturer. and not against
the very often Innocent distributor.
believe each state will formulate a pure
food bill copied after the national measure.
Ohio. Pennsylvania. Minnesota and many
Of the western states have food laws. but
none of these various state laws are fully
satisfactory. as they ftinict very often
hardships upon the jobber and retailer. and
the violator of the law. the manu-
facturer. cannot be reached II he resides
in an adjoining state. The penalty should
be against the one who knowingly. and
with design aforethOught, places the adul-
teration in the package Georgia has at the
last session of her legislature passed a pure
food BILL so far as 1t relates to Syrup
products" and trust that in the near fu-
Ut, 49,