Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-01-15
The Work of the Pure Food Law.

The Work of the Pure Food Law.
In recent speech before a conven-
ton Of scientists at Baltimore, DR.. H.
D. Wiley of the department of agri-
culture discussed the good already ac-
complished by the new pure food law.
The beneficient effects of this new leg
islation, which was enacted only after
long agitation and against the desper-
ate efforts of many manufacturers of
and dealers in impure foods and drugs,
have been felt in almost every home
in the country. DR.. Wiley says that
one of the most important effects of
the law is that upon the ethics of
trade. He declares that it is the uni
vers II consensus of opinion of all high
grade manufacturers and merchants in
food and drug products that the moral
ity of the trade has been distinctly i'm
proved. When low grade or debased
articles have to be named and speci-
fled and authorizations excluded there
Is ITO Tic IcCesSlly WHICH, ca
listed before of really high grade man
ufacturers STOPPING to the debasement
of their food products to meet compe-
tticn. In other words, the success of
business now does not depend upon
meeting low grade competition, but
high grade competition, and thus the
merit and excellence of the product,
other things being equal, will set the
pace for success of the business.
The second good which has been ac-
complished by the food and drugs act
according to Dr. Wiley, is the judicial
determination in many cases of the
principles involved in the law itself.
Judge Smith Mcpherson, of the United
States District court, western district
of Missouri, in a discussion which he
rendered on the food and drugs act.
stated: "This statute is to protect
consumers, and not producers. 1t is a
most heneficient and righteous statute,
and within the powers of Congress to
legislate concerning, and should be en-
forced Here we have the judicial
statement showing the substantially
of the act and its beneficient purpose
and the purpose for which it should
be enforced. The consumer in all cases
is the party to be protected, but in pro-
tecting the consumer the rights of the
manufacturers are also protected.
The third good which has been ac-
complished by the law is the improv-
ment in the quality of the food and
drugs supplies. This has been apparent
in both food and drugs. Cold storage
foods are no longer sold, or at least
ard greater care is exercised in the
sanitary preparations of foods than
ever before, so that the foods which
the people of this country are eating
today are more wholesome, and con-
sequently more palatable and more nu-
tritious than ever before. The i'm
provement in the quality of drugs is
not less marked A rigid inspection of
imported drugs keeps out of the coun-
try all that are not up to the pharma-
ceutical standard, and the careful con-
troll, although rot complete, Of inter-
state commerce tends to produce the
same effect on drugs passing from
state to state. The making and sale of
deleterious patent medicines has been
greatly restricted, especially in those
productions which relate to the intro
ductior of habit forming drugs into
patent medicines and of alcohol. The
ucts respecting the presence of these
bodies has served to warn a great
many persons of the danger of their
use and thus restricted their sale
While perhaps there is. much left to
| be desired in this direction, the prog
ress which has been made is most en-
ccuraging, and the good which has
| been accomplished already is pro-
nounced
"Finally," says DR.. Wiley, "the gen.
eral attitude of the public has been
strengthened respecting this law so
| that it has the support of more uni
| fed and enthusiastic public opinion.
Add TO this the almost unanimous sup
port of the courts in all cases which
| that the food and drugs act has been
firmly established and will continue
| the good work in which so much has
already been accomplished"