The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1906-03-14
PURE FOOD LEGISLATION

ANNeI'NNthh ENAN ASEN NnAN'f"N-
much is being said II Is perfectly nat
ural for the people to want pure food,
but II one will ie-estigate closely he
will make marvellous discoveries. The
pure food grafters are never idle
and miss no opportunity to impress
tho public that they are working for
tho public good. Each pure food" bill
introduced in congress and the dif.
ferent legislatures is the offspring OF
some selfish Interest Tho exception
has never been known to- the editor
Of the Ardmoreito. A recent article in
State Topics, published at Austin,
recalls TO memory our knowl.
edge OF an incident that occurred in
1901. In that year there was intro.
ducod In the Texas legislature a bill
which afterward became known as the
"Crimp Cigarette Bill" It's caption
read something like this: "a Bin 90
DE- Entitled An Act to Protect tho pub.
lie Health by Prohibiting the Manu-.
facture and Sale Of Adulteratcd Gig.
areites." An adnlterated cigarette was
q IN defined as a cigarette made Of
any v,her ingredients than paper, 10.
bacco and water" IA some adhesive
substance. 10 hold the paper to gether.
IN used IN the manufacture OF all Gig.
arettes save those made by what is
known as a ''crimplng machine" on
which there 10 n patent. II IL selfev.
ident that. had the bill become law
Il would have given the exclusive sale
OF cigarettes in Texas 10 the "crimp.
Ing machine" people. for any one else
10 have made n "crimp cigarette
would havo been 20 infringe on their
patent The hackers OF the bill used
the argument that Il was asked FOR by
tho Woman's Christian Temperance
Union. and with this understanding It
was "railroadcd" through the house
When II reached the senate, however
It's true character had been discl0aod
by some of the senators. and & wos
defeated. as g richly deserved. Thi.
bin was onglneored by Gum Shoe
1911 stone now United Si0tos senator
of Missouri. who visited Austin about
that time. presumably In the Interest
~ certain holders Of Austln's dam
bonds. II was so adroltly handled tha
mention OF a. even az the time 70 was
introduced, never rot into the papers
and II was by the merest accident that
some OF tho senators learned It's tru,
character Just In time 10 prevent ~
passage In tho senate This Is n fair
sample Of the bills that are introduced
In IN different legislatures ito pro
tect the public health" by prohibiting
the manufacture and sale OF adult :
ntod food" etc. and. ninety.nlne times
out Of hundred. investigation will
| disclose the fact that these bills are
prompted by tho same motive which
prompted the "crimp cigarette bill.
Tho solicltudc OF these pure food
graftNs have for the public health is
on a par with that Gum Shoe" Bill
had for the health OF the people OF
Texas when he tried To give n concern
by which he was employed the exclu
awe sale OF cigarettes in that state
for at least two years.
The pure food" combine II said
10 be a strong organization. and &c
have a doodle fund greater than thai
OF the big Three" and which II uses
with a similar lavishness In corrupt
Ing congressman and state legislators
Give the pure food" grattors all that
they ask and the impurities in foo
will soon become far greater than the
now are Tho pure food" grafters arr
after the Almighty dollar, and Their
only dream now is TO get legislativ,
onactments which will enable then
20 crush all competition. They tell yo,
that they are trying TO protect th'
public health. but their one and only
object 10 20 put money in their owl
| pockets
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