New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-19
ASKS WOMEN TO AID PURE FOOD BILL
Miss Lackey Says Children Should Be
Taught to Test Prepared Eatables.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir; In view OF DR.. Darlington's statement to
the adulteration of sacramental wine. published IN
The Tribune OF the 14th inst, It is interesting to
note in The Congressional Record" of February
II that Senator Knox presented memorials from
the manufacturing firms of Pennsylvania ere
monstratng against ths clause in the so-called Pure
Food bill requiring the formula TO be printed
packages containing blended liquor" and that such
a formula would materially interfere with the sale
the liquor is possible when reads the analyses
Of certain samples OF wines, brandy, etc. recently
examined IN that State
According to photographs made by the Depart
ment of Agriculture OF Pennsylvania, these wines
were labelled. MADE from the finest selected
grapes Pure blackberry brandy. for medical
use." 1.-The contents Of this bottle are guaranteed
to be pure and wholesome and bottled expressly
for family and medicinal USE" blackberry brandy.
purity guaranteed The analyses were follows:
Contains no grape Juice. colored with a coal tar
dye preserved with salicylic acid,' wool thread
attached colored with the coal tar dye" Col
ored with a coal tar dye preserved with salcylic
acid not made from blackberry juice" etc
The question as to whether or not the ingredients
of these so-caIled wines were harmful does not
affect the case; they certainly commercial
frauds and yet, because there is no food law gov
erning Interstate commerce in adulterated and mis-
branded goods, the manufacturer OF these so-caled
wines" goes unpublished. Had the bottles been
truthfuly labelled how many would have been
sold?
The Hepburn bill is to come before the Senate
the 21st inst. for vote VIII this BILL which is a
brief for honesty and truthfulness. become a law,
or will 1t again fail OF passage similar bills have
failed these many wears? There be little doubt
that concerted effort the part of the women of
the land would have insured its passage; even the
same energy that has been directed to the preserva
ton Of Niagara Falls and the unseating OF Mr..
Smoot, If concentrated on the Hepburn Pure Food
bill. would have convinced the Senate that the
women were interested IN a measure for promoting
public health and honesty.
Whether the bill passes this year or not, the
movement for pure food requires the intelligent In
terest Of every hornemaker In this country. II the
study OF food authorizations and instruct pupils in
how TO test simple foods" they would materially
hasten the day of pure products
The Tribune has published a series or these ex-
perfments by DR.. Bigelow, which very con-
Hncing. But. first OF all. the students of domestic
science need awakening to the necessity of
choosing pure goods. After listening to an earnest
public appeal for the Pure Food bill. four women
went into a grocery store and asked for preserved
fruit two kinds were shown them-one pure at 20
cents a far and the other adulterated at 10 cents
a Jar. The women selected the aduiterated brand
saving that 'it had not hurt them yet.
one can only attribute this wilful selection of
fraud goods as a wanton disregard Of the great
economic principle involved. Certainly pumpkin
R pretty to look at, but they have value food.
and are dear at any price Women who buy such
nroducts are helping the dishonest manufacturer to
get rich and also sustaining him IN his opposi-
aIlv themselves with the honest manufacturers ana
support this movement which means an annual
saving TO the country of S.VcOOOOts0. now being
noastad FOR aduterated and misbranded foods. they
would advance both the public health and public
r,oreIs ALICE LAKEY.
CRAWFORD. N J.. Feb. IT, 1906