The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1906-03-02

Many pure food bills have been intro
duced and some passed by State legisla-
lures: many have been offered TO Con-
gress but all thus far seem Objectionable.
1t has seemed difficult for politicians 10
formulate a satisfactory bill that would
protect the common people and yet avoid
harm to honest makers and prevent end
less trouble to retailers. No govt COM
mission or officer has the right TO fix
food standards" 10 define what the peo-
pie shall and shall not eat, for whatagrees
with one may not agree with another and
such act would deprive the common
citizen OF his personal liberty. The
Postum Cereal Co, Ltd, perhaps the
largest makers Of prepared foods in the
world, have naturally close knowledge
OF the needs OF the people and the details
OF the business of the purveyors, (the
retail grocer and, guided by this expert
ence have prepared a bill for submission
to Congress which is intended 10 accom-
plish the desired ends, and inasmuch as
citizen of the L. 5. has a right TO food
protection even when he enters another
State ii is deemed proper that the govt
take control Of this matter and provide
national law TO govern all the states. a
copy Of the bill is herewith reproduced.
Sec. l governs the maker whether the
food is put up in small packages sealed,
or in barrels, boxes or otherwise.
Sec 2 governs the retailer who may
open a barrel and sell the food in
small quantities. When he puts the
goods into a paper bag be must also
enclose a printed copy of the statement
of the maker which was affixed TO the
original pkg. and inasmuch as the
reailer cannot undertake TO guarantee
the statement OF ingredients he must
publish the statement of the makers
and add his own name and address as
qua rantee of his selling the food as IL is
represented to him which relieves the
retailer OF responsibility OF the truth of
the statement and throws il upon the
maker, where it properly belongs.
The remaining sections explain them
selves.
The Postum Cereal Co, Ltd. for ex-
ample. have from the beginning Of its
existence printed on the outside OF each
and every pkg. of Postum and Grape
Nuts food a truthful and exact statement
of what the contents were made Of in or
der that the consumer might know pre-
cisely what he or she was eating. a per
son desiring 70 buy, for instance, strictly
pure fruit jelly and willing TO pay the
price has a right TO expect not only an
equivalent for the cost but further right
to a certainty as to what he eats. Or he
may be willing to buy at less cost a jelly
made part OF fruit juices. sugar and
portion OF glucose. But he must be sup
piled with truthful Information OF the
Ingredients and be permitted to use his
personal liberty to select his own food
accurltely.
Thepeople have allowed the slow muir
der OF infants and adults. b. tricky
makers OF food. drink and drugs TO go on
about long enough Duty 10 oneself,
family and nation demands that every
man and woman join in an organized
movement to clear our people from this
blight You may not be able to 20 per
sonally 10 Washington TO impress your
Congressmen, but you can, IN a most eff
fectiye way tell him by letter how you
desire him to represent you.
Remember the Congressman is in Con
gress TO represent the people from his
district and II goodly number OF citi-
zens express their views TO him. he Sc
cures a very sure guide TO duty Remem-
Der also that the safety OF the people Is
assured by insisting that the will Of the
people be carried out. and not thu ma
chinations of the few for selfish inter
ests
This pure food legislation is a pure
movement Of the people for public pro-
lection. II will be opposed only by those
who fatten their pockets by decoiving
and injuring the people Therefore. IL
your Representative in Congress evades
his patriotic duty hold him 70 strict ac-
countability and II necessary demand
equitable aad honest service. This is a
very different condition than when fac
ton demands class legislation Of the Con-
gresham. Several years ago the butter
interests OF the country demanded legi5-
latiOn TO kill the oleOmargarine industry
and by power OF organization forced
class legislation really unworthy Of a
free people. Work people wanted beef
suet butter because II was cheap and bet
tor than much unclean milk butter, but
the dairy interests organized and forced
the legislation. The law should have
provided that pkgs. OF oleomargarine
bear the statement OF ingredients and
then let people who desire purchase 1t for
Just what IL is. and not try to Kill II by a
heavy tax. Manufacturers sometimes
try TO force measures in their own inter-
ests but contrary 10 the interests Of the
people and the labor trust is always ac-
tive to push through bills drafted in the
interest OF that trust but directly con-
uary to the interests of the people as