The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-10-15
PURE FOOD LAW
LIKELY TO HOLD.
SOME WHOLESOME ELEMENTS
ARE BEHIND IT.
Big Eastern Manuf acturers Who Would
Amend It Have Their Work Cut Out
Libel Suit Against the Commits
sioner Has Done Much to Crystalline
Sentiment for the Law.
Special to The Journal,

Special to The Journal. n
Grand Forks, N. D., Oct. 15.-Reports
that some Of the big eastern manufac-
turers of food products will attempt
to secure important changes in the
North Dakota pure food law at the
coming session Of the North Dakota
legislature have aroused much interest
on the subject among the retailers of
the state, and there is speculation
among the politicians as to who will be
the active agent Of these interests in
the legislature.
All elements among North Dakota g
people seem to be in favor of the food
law and have much commentator for
Commissioner e. f. Ladd, who has ac-
complished SO much for the state on
such small appropriation. The libel
suit recently started against the com
missioner by an association of eastern
manufacturers has crystallized this sent
ment. Although the suit is to be de-
Tended by the attorney general, many
Of the leading members Of the state bar
have volunteered their assistance. There
is strong feeling that North Dakota
people paid good prices for adulterated
foods too long, and now that the hard
working commissioner has been at
in all walks Of life are coming to his
assistance. The food department will
manufacturers has crystallized this senti-
needs in the coming legal battle. The
state will endeavor to have the trial
set for an early date.
LaMoure to Help.
With this sentiment and the fact that
in the legislature are merchants who
it seems that the effort to adulterate
the statute with amendments is likely
have all Of the money and talent it
to fail. But the friends Of the law are
preparing to make a stiff fight
Leading merchants in all sections
of the state are confident the law
will hold it's own. In this connection
the denomination Of Senator Judson La
Moure by the republicans of Pembina
county is pleasing to the merchants
merchants Of the state and knows the
value of the pure food law from a prac
tical standpoint. He is a power in the
legislature.
The public has received good 'educa
tion on pure foods thru the columns Of
the state press. The law provides fo]
the publication of the commissioner Z
reports semi annually in two papers il
each county. These lists have gone int
most of the homes in the state. Many
housewives keep them handy for ref
erence when ordering groceries. From
an educational standpoint the depart
ment 8 work has been very thoro, 81
much so that it has been unnecessar,
to make arrests, except in few in
stances.
New Tack of Department.
The food department has endeavore,
: to avoid arresting retailers, regarding
them as innocent purchasers. 1t ha
lessened it's work in large degree b:
securing the cooperation Of man
: wholesalers and manufacturers outsid
the state. = ~
Some still endeavor to evade the la,
and after calling their attention to thes
evasions so many times that it is be
= coming tiresome, the commissioner ha
p about decided to try test case on tn
r travelling representative of some one Q
|. these houses. The idea is to arrest tn
salesman instead of the retailer. If tn
a department. can make this stick it wi
- open new path to food law enforce
# meut.