The Washington herald., 1909-01-31

Tomorrow members Of the National
Canned Goods Association meet in Louis
vile to discuss ways and means for plac-
ing their wares more effectively before
the people Of this nation and before the
Inhabitants OF foreign lands. They VIII
discuss methods Of making better goods
and Of presenting them more attractvely.
They intend to increase the per capita
consumption Of their products and 10 look
into the improvement Of machinery for
their work Addresses. viii be made by
Attorney General Bonaparfe, DR.. Il. W
Wiley, Gov. Wilson. of Kentucky. and
the president OF the National Gamers
Association, the Machinery and Supplies
Association, the National Wholesale
Grocers' Association. and the National
Canned Goods and Dried Fruits Brokers'
Association.
A quarter Of a century ago canned fruits,
vegetables. and meats were luxuries that
the working man could rarely allow him
self. When green things were not in sea
son and when he was far from fresh
meat market ne had 10 provide his family
with salt meats. cereals, and such root
vegetables as he was able 10 keep. To-
day canned goods are in his reach and
have become a necessity. Especially IS
this true in the factory towns, where the
women as well as the men are wage earn
ers and where cooking must be reduced TO
its lowest degree Of personal trouble.
From tin cans and glass jars the house
wife in the mill town can evolve a meal
in a short time. one that is palztabie and
nourishing. one that has meat. fruit. and
vegetables and that has not cost her any
more than the same materials al the
market-even had she access TO a market
and the meal is ready 10 eat in one
fourth the time She may even have
canned puddings OF many kinds. the latest
being riee pudding. put up by an Indiana
firm.
The present per capita consumption Of
canned goods in this country Is less than
four cans a year for tomatoes. less than
two for corn and peas. and about a can
and half for fruits. This. according 10
the manufacturers. is entirely too small
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judicious campaign Of advertising TO
a=aken the interest Of the consumer. The
Gamers want to see a wider foreign use
Of the goods. The British are said 10 be
especially averse 70 timed vegetables.
and the American housewife in London
has a UoublOus time in her marketing.
for after she has. with difficulty. secured
the canned goods for her famiIy,s use.
she must provide something else for her
servants. The one canned vegstable OF
which the English are said 10 be especial
ly fond is green peas. but they prefer the
peas with the very vivid green tint that
is impaired only by sulphate OF copper.
Such adulteratioa is prohibited by the
laws OF England The French can put I'D
peas after the English liking but they
keep at home the more heaIthful. uncoI-
ored product for the use Of their own
families.
The Chicago beef scandal injured the
trade in canned meats for a while in this
country and temporarily stopped it IN
Great Britain. II was a costly lesson in
food adulteration. paid for BY sickness
and death in the army and BY serious
financial losses TO factories. But il brought
about pure food laws that have their ap-
plicatiOn in interstate commerce. in local
and foreign trade Under government
surveillance there is little chance afford
ed the putting of adulterated or tainted
meats on the market The DEPARTMENT
Of Agriculture maintains in its Bureau Of
Animal Industry q corps OF over 3.o90 en-
ployes. two-thir6s Of whom devote their
time exclusively to meat inspection.
They inspect nearly six billion pounds a
year. one-half the amount siaughtered.
The men who have tried 10 put inita-
ton products on the market have had a
hard rOsd 10 travel in the past five years.
The men who put Up packages in con-
Torrance with the law are having the
better time, for they have Law. public opin-
ion, and public health on their side II
was an uphill work TO bring people back
70 the canned goods habit after the Chi
cagc disclosures. but Il has brought about
a system Of advertising that has been one
OF the cleverest ever known 10 the con-
try.
Every packing-house and canning estab-
lishment Of any size nowadays has free
cook books or booklets for distribution
among the users Of their goods. showing
the various and manifold ways in which
that especial product may be used. They
are among the greatest spenders in the
world where advertising IS concerned.
one firm maintaining six Offices in .vari-
Gus localities. where high-prieed special
ists in that line write. paint pictsres. OF
devise new and catchy labels TO further
attract public attention 20 their goods
One firm a1vertises that it has 1900 per
sons on its pay rolls in different parts OF
the country. and promises that any one Of