The Elbert County tribune., 1906-03-01

a right TO. and now demands. a law
under which he can make Intelligent
selection OF food.
Many pure food bills have been In
troduced and some passed by State leg
islatures; many have been offered to
Congress, but all thus far seem objec-
tionable.
Il has seemed difficult for politicians
to formulate satisfactory bill that
would protect the common people and
yet avoid harm to honest makers and
prevent endless trouble to retailers.
No govt commission or officer has the
right to fix food standards" to define
what the people shall and shall not eat.
for what agrees with one may not
agree with another. and such ac, 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 a close knowledge of the
needs Of the people and the details of
the business of the puryeyors tthe re-
tail grocery, and, guided by this expert
ence have prepared a bill for submls-
sion TO Congress which Is intended to
accomplish the desired ends. and mas
much as a citizen of the u. S. has a
liShN W lOOu DIOittAlOu even MHtn ne
enters another State, it is deemed
proper that the govt take control OF
this matter and provide a 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 other
wise.
Sec. governs the retailer who may
open a barrel and sell the food In
small quantities. When he puts the
gonds into paper bag he must also
inci0se : printed copy of the statement
of the maker which was affixed to the
original pkg. and inasmuch as the
retailer cannot undertake to guarantee
the statement of ingredients he must
publish the statement of the makers
and add his own name and address as
a guarantee of his selling the food as 1t
is represented to him, which relieves
the retailer OF responsibility of the
truth of the statement and throws 1t
upon the maker, where it properly be-
longs.
The remaining sections explain them
selves.
The Postum Cereal Co.. Ltd, for ex-
ample, have from the beginning of its
and every pkg. of Postum and Grape
Nuts food a truthful and exact state
ment of what the contents were made
of in order that the consumer might
know precisely what he or she was
eating. A person desiring TO buy, for
instance. strictly pure fruit jelly and
willing to pay the price has right to
expect not only an equivalent for the
cost. but further right to certainty
as to what he eats. Or he may be will
ing to buy at less cost a Jelly made
part of fruit juices. sugar and por-
tion of glucose. But he must be sup
piled with truthful information of the
INGREDIENTS and be permitted 10 use
his personal liberty to select his own
food accurately.
The people have allowed the slow
murder of infants and adults by tricky
makers OF food, drink and drugs 10 go
on about long enough. Duty to oneself.
family and nation demands that every
man and woman joiL in an organized
movement to clear our people from
this blight. You may not be able to go
personally to Washington to impress
your congressman. but you can, in a
most effective way tell him by letter
how you desire him to represent you.
Remember the Congressman Is In
Congress to represent the people from
his district and II goodly number of
citizens express their views to him, he
secures a very sure guide to duty Re
member also that the safety of the
people is assured by insisting that the
will Of the people be carried out, and
not the Vaccinations of the few for
selfish interests.
This pure food legislation Is a pure
movement of the people for public pro
lection. 1t will be opposed only by
those who fatten their pockets by de-
ceiying and injuring the people. There
fore. II your Representative in Con
gress evades his patriotic duty hold
him to strict accountability. and II
necessary demand equitable and hon
est service This is very different
condition than when faction demands
class legislation of the Congressman.
Several years ago the butter interests
of the country demanded legislation to
kill the oleomargarine industry and by
power of organization forced class leg
islation really unworthy of a free peo-
pie Work people wanted beef suet
butter because 1t was cheap and better
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 LEI people who desire purchase Il