The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1907-04-28
DEALERS LIKE new
NATIONAL FOOD LAW
Retailers Say 1t Has Made
Buyers Exacting and Re-
stored Confidence.
INCREASES BUSINESS TOO.
MEN IN CLOSE TOUCH WITH
PEOPLE PREDICT BENEFICIAL
FUTURE EFFECTS FROM RE-
CENT LEGISLATION.

Expressions from Richmond retail
dealers indicate four important facts
IN connection with the operation OF
the new federal pure food law
1. The concensus of observation
among retailers is that the great pub
lie that buys foodstuffs has been
growing much more discriminating in
what 1t buys since the law went into
effect. The greatest amount of dis
elimination is shown in what is
known as the high-claSS trade
those buyers who are careful of what
they eat and care more for quality
! than for price. Out of very large
number of statements made by retail
grocers to the Palladium and Sun
Telegram, only one or two say that
their trade is Indifferent to quality
and these explain that the location
of their stores in the poorer districts
accounts for this Indifference.
Even with the law in operation
only three months, the grocerymen of
Richmond say that the tendency of
the new order has been to increase
the volume of trade. Almost univer
sally has the law had the effect. so
far as the retail trade is concerned,
Of cutting down the trade in adulter-
ated goods and increasing the trade
in goods of known purity. This con-
dition has not increased, in many
cases. the total volume; but in no
case does any retailer report falling
IF To ha l,x
Confidence Is Returning.
3. One of the most significant facts
deducible from the interviews given
the Palladium and Sun-Telegram by
retailers is the slowness with which
the consuming public is regaining its
confidence in the purity of foods. So
completely has this confidence been
shattered that even with the protection
of the present law, the public is still
The reports show, how
ever, that the evidences of returning
confidence are SO numerous and mark
ed as to render it absolutely certain
that within a short time the public will
forget the wrongs perpetrated on it by
manufacturers in the
past. In fact. it is entirely probable
that before the lapse OF another three
months the consumers will take for
granted that they are being adequately
protected by law.
4. Without exception the retail gro
GERS of Richmond praise the federal
law, so far as the reports show. Such
expressions as "the law Is godsend"
are numerous. Among reputable
nothing but the most enthu-
siastic praise is to be found for the
law Heretofore one OF the chief banes
Of honest dealers has been the unfair
presented by the men who
sold adulterated and lust as good"
products This has been done away
with. and all honest merchants are
glad.
Appended will be found some Of the
of retail dealers in Rich
mond as to the effect the law has had
so far on the public on their business
with opinions as to the ultimate effect
of this far-reaching piece of national
Bowina Bros. 535 South e street.
''The law has tended to increase both
confidence and trade. The general
public has taken great interest in the
pure food issue and the result has
been stimulating. The law is god
send to the honest grocer
Harry BuIIerdick. AZ North Fifth