Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1908-08-25

The Department Of Agriculture has
lust seized, IN one OF the large Wash
lington department stores, number
OF toilet remedies which rave been
ordered condemned and conhscated on
the ground that they we're wrongly
labeled. It is charged that the articles
we're misbranded in violation Of the
pure food law, ia that the packages
and labels bear certain statements re-
garding the drugs which are false
and misleading.
One remedy bearing the high
sounding name Of gThe Blush OF
Youth is claimed TO restore the
complexion to childIIke purity but
the Agricultural Department claims
it doesn't give the old women who
buy At q sweet sixteen" complexion,
and SO has put II under the ban; like.
wise an Excelsior Skin Food" is de-
ciared misbranded because Il doesn't
feed the skin"
The seizure, which Is the first Of
its kind under the law, viii attract
an unusual degree Of interest through
out the country To be sure, this
first case is test case, and may not
be finally upheld; but the great ma
joiity OF the American people Will be
outspoken in their approval Of the
departments course, whether II sue
ceeds in banning riisrepresented
goods or not
The passage OF the pure food act
was one OF the greatest things that
ever happened for American industry.
II has put the premium ON honesty,
rather than dishonesty, in foodstufls.
You now know what you are getting
when you buy something to eat; be-
fore you had TO live in hope that
your canned chicken really was chick.
en-, and your meat was not rdoped"
70 save refrigerating expense.
II the department succeeds in ex.
tending its campaign to include toilet
preparations and the like there is
still more promise OF greater honesty
in American business II isn't that
the campaign against face prepare
lions and hair tonics is such vital
thing IN itself, but It involves great
II the department succeeds
IN this, the honest goods movement
win receive another great impetus and
The peoples voice win be heard again.
this time demanding that other goods
besides foodstuffs be safeguarded.
why should we not be able to &C.
ccpt the statement that a cloth is ,aIl
wool with the same faith that we can
now believe that our baking powder
is pure? Il surely Is as logical TO be
assured that linen Is linen, as that
our sugar isn't sanded. The average
buyer couldn't ten that his meat was
"embalmed' until after he had bought
Il and eaten NJ why should he not be
as much when he buys
shoes, against shoddy material and
workmanship?
This Is matter which deserves
the attention OF the thinking people
OF America; and the great strides that
are now being made can be made
greater Just as fast as the people
wan, better conditions. That the pop.
ular demand for honesty In manufac
ture Is having its effect II manifest
by the increasing number OF "guaran.
teod" goods, The best manufacturers
are so sure their goods are good that
they DO not hesitate 10 guarantee 20
see that every article they make
comes up to standard: u It doesn't
they will give a new one. or return
the money paid,
The upuit IN American industry
WIN be Ereatly helped n the people OF
every community would patronlEe the
honest manufacturers and dealers.
particularly those who do not need
Federal guarantee Of honesty, bat who
put their own guarantee on what
they make or sell, such support
would help 70 drive the dishonest