Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-08
RIGHTS OF CONSUMERS
DIR. WILEY ADDRESSES WARE
HoUsEMEN's CONVENTION.
Government Chemist Speaks Of the
Growing Demand for Labels on
Cold Storage Goods.

Secrecy is no longer necessity In the
attainment of commercial success" said
DR.. Harvey w. Wiley, chief chemist at the
Department of Agriculture, today during
the course of an interesting address before
the convention of the American Ware
housemen's Association at. the New VIII
lard. 1.-The time Is coming when all goods
must be stamped with the statement mat
they are either fresh or warehouse goods,
and If they are from the warehouse. they
will be stamped with the date OF entry into
the warehouse" continued DR.. Wiley, while
some of the members of the convention
that had been carrying on pirate CONVEX
sations with their next-door ne.ghbor began
to sit up and take notice.
st am not here today to throw bouquets
said the doctor, by way Of explanation. Il
do that when make 1O-cent speech at a
SO dinner-last evening. for instance-but
today L want to tell you what 1 believe you
will have to contend with in the near
future It Is not good business and 1t Is
very bad ethics to deceive the people. There
is very widespread prejudice in this coun-
try against warehouse goods. A little of 1t
may be just; great deal of 1t Is unjust
but just the same, these pre1udices must be
respected. You cannot beat a pref udice out
of mans head with a club; it must be
educated out Of him. and the best pro-
cedure, to my way of thinking, is to label
your goods.
Goods Should Be Labeled.
1.-THE consumer has right to know ex-
actly what he is buying. If he is preju-
diced against your goods. help him to get
over 1t, but do not deceive him. The law
now compels manufacturers of goods con-
tanning glucose to state upon the label of
the package which contains these goods
that glucose has been used, With import
ed goods IL any foreign substances have
been used in the manufacture, the package
containing the goods must SO state. And
the time is not far distant when all cold
storage goods will be stamped Cold Stor-
age Goods.
the delegates. 'Tf we do not take this step
voluntarily the public will compel US to by
the enactment of laws on the subject" To
this sentiment several of the members said
"Amen," and 1t is highly probable that the
warehousemen will not await the coming
of the law.
Conducted Quiz Clae5.
DIR. Wiley talked on the attitude of the
warehousemen toward the consumers" He
entertained the convention for almost an
hour and concluded by conducting a quiz
class Some OF the delegates thought they
would lose money IL they followed the doc
tors advice but the doctor was back at
them with ethical. moral and theoretical
argument, until the recalcitrant members
gave 1t up in despair.
Il believe in cold storage goods" said DR..
Wiley, by way OF compromise. II eat
great deal of cold storage products. and !
hope to live long enough to eat great
deal more But that Is no reason that
should not know when 1 am eating cold
storage food and when I am eating fresh
goods This is right that belongs to the
public and which the public will obtain
even If 1t has to adopt drastic measures.
Prof Webster, chief OF the dairy division
of the Department OF Agriculture, talked
for half an hour on governmental expert