The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-07-13
LADD'S TALK ON
N. D. FOOD LAWS
WAS THE PRINCIPAL FEATURE OF
YESTERDAYS MEETING-sEs-
sloNs CLOSE TONIGHT.

Minot N. D., July 12.-That the re.
tail merchants Of North Dakota have
shown during the last year great In
terest in the enforcement of the pure
food laws of the state and nation, and
that they have co-operated to a high
degree with the state authorities is
the statement of Prof. e. r. Ladd
North Dakota food commissioner, made
at the annual convention of the North
Dakota Retail Merchants association
which viii close in this city tonight.
II desire to commend the spirit
which has developed In your associa-
tion," said Professor I1add, "that has
made possible cooperation between
your members and the food deartment.
1t is not always a pleasant duty to
prosecute those who you believe are not
Intentionally wrongdoers, or to prose-
cute those who under chain of cir
cumstances have been made the VIC
Tins OF the cupidity of manufacturers,
the greed of wholesalers or the cum
ming of statesmen.
Sometimes, however, it becomes
necessary to make such prosecutions
in order to reach the parties who are
higher up and really the guilty ones,
but are outside Of the state. In such
case no discredit or disgrace is brought
upon the man against whom the prose-
cution is made. On the other hand,
not every grocery man is honest. To
be frank with you at this time,
might state that my experience has
taught me as a whole that the grocery
men are endeavoring to do what is
right as whole.
Ninety per cent Of the grocery
men of North Dakota are honest In
their intentions and endeavor to COM
ply with the pure food law. Five per
cent are not fitted for the business in
which they are engaged They do not
understand it; their hearts are not in
the work and some of them are ma
turally slack and careless in their
methods. Not far from per cent are
downright crooks, but such are found
In every avocation and must be dealt
with as we find them. Such men win
continue to be dishonest In spite of the
law; they will continue to purchase
products which are deceptive in char
acter and substitute the same for the
genuine article whenever they have q
chance. 1t is these few that the law
is intended to reach"
Professor Ladd gave q review Of the
new legislation passed by the last leg
islature, explaining the provisions OF
the new net weight and measure law,
which provides that the weight shall be
stated in pounds, ounces and grains
avoidupots; the law on lard compound
and lard substitutes which provides
that substitutes for lard must state the
ingredients OF which they are COM
posed; the new bread law, which pro-
vides that loaves Of bread weighing
less than two pounds. must be labeled
the exact weight: the laws prohibiting
the use Of alum, benzote OF soda, coal
tar dyes and other harmful tngredi-
ents. which were strengthended by the
recent legislature. and the new SAM
tafy law. which places restrictions
around the handling end storing OF
food products.
Already there has been a marked
Improvement In the sanitary c0ndi-
lions Of our meat markets, slaughter
houses. restaurants, ice cream factories
and even grocery stores, and still
there is opportunity for further Inn
provements as the people become
educated to the necessity Tor greater
care in sanitary matters"