The Washington herald., 1907-04-17
GIVES NO GUARANTY
Government Not IndOrsing
Any Foods or Drugs.
ADVERTISEMENTS ARE WRONG
Secretary Wilson Issues Warning.
Drastic Measures VIII Be Adopted
II Manufacturer Continue 30 Mis-
represent Meaning OF LabeI-Law
VIII Be Administered Fairly,

Secretary OF Agriculture James wilson
yesterday announced that some prominent
manufacturers OF foods and drugs would
get into serious trouble with the govern
ment if they did not stop telling the peo-
pie that the government guaranteed the
purity Of their products.
THE serial number and the statement
that the food or drug is Guaranteed un-
der the food and drugs act. June 80, 1893,
does not mean that the United States
government guarantees the purity If the
article, or guarantees that It is what The
label says it is" said Secretary Wilson.
'On the contrary" he continued, the
statement means that the manufacturer
OF the article guarantees It TO be pure,
free from adulteratlon. and that he war
rants every fact stated on the label to be
true. It is the guarantee of the manu-
facturer. not the guarantee of the govern
ment
The department allows manufacturers
TO file a general guaranty. covering all
their food or drug products. It then as
signs a number to the guaranty aud per
mits the manufacturer 10 print the num-
Der and the statement that the arti-
Gle is guaraRteed on the label of
each package. The government as
sumes no responsibility for the guar
anty- On the contrary. as a glance at the
law VIII show, the serial number is as
signed 20 fix the responsibility where it
belOngs-upon the manufacturer, and to
protect innocent dealers who have right,
under the Law, TO rely upon this guar
anty."
Advertisement Are Misleading.
such advertising as After January !.
1901 the L. S. government will protect
you by an official serial number that you
may easily recognize and other state
ments Of similar character. must be
stopped, and be stopped at once. re-
marked the Secretary emphatically. "or
I viii do a little advertising myself in
behalf OF the people. am growing tired
OF seeing these untruthful statements on
the advertising pages of the magazines.
the walls OF the New York subway, and
the advertising spaces of the street cars
OF the principal cities.
IF this outrageous Misrepresentation
does not cease. the department viii pub
lish list bearing the names Of the man
ufacturers who are indulging in this cam
paign Of deception. In this list the de-
partment viii state that it has not ana
lived the products represented by the ad-
vertisements, and hence has no actual
knowledge Of their purity or impurity.
but that st advises the consuming public
to judge the purity or impurlty Of the
product according TO the false representa-
lions made concerning the guaranty In
other words. manufacturers who viii de-
ceive the public about the guaranty Will
lie abeut the quality Of their product.
No Snap Judgment.
7 want everybody to know" said the
Secretary in conclusion. that this pure
food law is going to be administered fair
ly. The primary purpose OF the law Is OF
course, 20 protect the consumer; but no
honest manufacture need fear that the
department viii take snap judgment on
him or harass him in any way Every
body will be given an opportunity TO put
his business within the law. The depart
ment is using every means 90 inform the
manufacturers Of the country Just what
the law requires.
After this information has been sup
piled and everybody has had opportunity
to become familiar with the requirements,
any manufacturer who continues 20
violate the law must expect vigorous