The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-06-03
FIGHT FOR PURE FOOD.
1t Has Almost Put an End to Adultcr.
alton Once So Common.

Adulteration of food products by
American manufacturers whose busi-
ness extends beyond the shadows Of
their factory walls has almost gone
out OF existence. mo profit in adul-
teration is the explanation. Even the
most persistently dishonest manufac-
turers are learning about the lack Of
profit.
Cause of this moral regeneration (?
Food and Drugs act of June 80, 1905
called the pure food law in popular
speech-the poor food law by those
who have worried their heads with
questions as to how the act shall be
administered.
No one has yet gone to jail on ac-
count Of a violation Of the law. Rob-
ert N. Harper, president of the Wash
ington board Of trade, president Of a
national bank and an all-round res
pectable citizen Of the nations CAPT.
tai, would have gone behind the bars
had President Roosevelt been able to
persuade Police Judge Ivory G. Kim
ball that that Is the best place for
him.
Not q Brain Food.
Harper was found guilty by a jury
Of his peers Of concocting a prepara-
ton and selling it as cure for head
ache and brain food. He called it
''curforhedake" and "brainfude," )"
hoping by the crude imitation of
Rooseveltian spelling to evade that
provision Of the pure food law which
forbids the use of brands or labels
that are false or misleading. The fall
sity lies in the invitation to the pros
pective purchaser to believe that he
is buying a cure for headache which
at the same time is brain food. AS
a matter Of fact, the buyer was get
ting an acetanilid preparation that
eased the ache by putting break on
the heart.
Mr.. Harper, having manufactured
the stun in the District Of Columbia,
was fined $500 for the offense. Hav-
ing sold it in the District Of Columbia,
he was fined $500 for that. Had he
made it in Maryland and sent it into
the District Of Columbia to be sold he
would have been fined only 5000.
That Is because the federal govern
ment has no power to punish a man
for making dope within the terri
torial limits Of a sovereign state. Its
Jurisdiction attaches itself only after
the stuff crosses a boundary into
another state.
Doctoring Coffee.
That there Is no profit in adultera-
ting articles of food may be inferred
from the fact that 4s large burl&E
bags Of coffee. worth probably $500
were burned by the government Off.
cials who had seized 1t because nc
one would claim it. They found it ir
a freight warehouse at Nashville
Tenn. Each grain had been coated
with lead chroniate, which II
probably better known as chrome vel
low.
Each berry looked good to the ey,
Before the enactment Of the pur,
food law 1t would have sold well OF
the market because Of it's beautifu
looks. But the owner or owners
when they learned that the govern
ment inspectors had possession of IL
knew that they would have to pa.
more In fines for their attempt t,
hide the defects than the whole con
signment was worth. So all the mel
in Nashville who sell coffee solemnl,
declared that they knew nothing
about its ownership.
A few weeks ago 10000 gallons o
wine were seized in New Orleans be
cause the liquid had been adulterate,
and misbranded. The man who mad
1t simply threw up his hands AM
asked the government to give 1t bacl
to him SO that he could put an homes
brand on the containers. The govern
mcnt put him under a heavy bon'
conditioned upon the faithful perfor
nance Of the agreement, and let hin
take 1t back.
Glucose in Syrup.
Another New Orleans seizure was 8,
barrels of syrup branded "open ket
tie" The government chemists fount
that instead Of being OF the highes
quality cane syrup. the liquid contain
ed a considerable percentage Of corr
syrup. or. as it is probably better
known, glucose. That stuff was alst
taken back by the now saddenet
| manufacturer, who shed tears as n,