The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-08-16

The food for your table. the paint
for your buildings the drugs for your
sick. the fertilizer FOR your land. the
prepared food for your stock--these
are now pure, or If not, then they are
labelled to that effect. This has come
largely through the untiring and per-
sistent efforts OF Professor Ladd, food
commissioner Of North Dakota says
The Dakota Farmer, published at
Aberdeen, s. ID.
When he began his Investigations
nearly all canned goods were adulter-
ated-many of them preserved and
favored with chemicals, colored with
aniline dyes, sweetened with sacha-
rine, diluted with water, and short
measure in the bargain. Paints were
adulterated with water and benzine
for linseed oil, chalk and barytes for
white lead--drugs diluted and often
containing dangerous compounds. BY
throwing the flash light of investiga-
ton onto these receptions they stand
out In the open where they could be
seen and "they are no more"
Who is this Man
Before whose magic wand Of facts
the forces Of deception and dishonesty
have retreated? OF Norman English,
Presbyterian stock. transplanted to
New England in 1914, raised on farm
in Maine that grudgingly gave up it's
crops. This training on the farm was
followed by a course in agricultural
chemistry in the Maine agricultural
college. On graduation, he came to the
New York experiment station as as
sistant to Babcock, inventor Of the
Babcock test, but then chief chemist
of the New York experiment station.
Four years later, Prof. Babcock went
to Wisconsin and Professor Ladd be-
came chief chemist, which position he
held for three years, and then came to
the North Dakota Agricultural college
and experiment station as chief chem
list. He had for some time been think
ing Of coming west, but only long
enough to learn the conditions. He
considered positions in Iowa and Ore
gon. but chose North Dakota. He be-
gan his experiments with investiga-
lions in soil and wheat. In analysing
fertilizers, he found some that had as
low as 1924 worth Of plant food per
ton. He secured the passage Of a law
that stopped this.
Made Pure Food Commissioners.
when the pure food law was passed.
its enforcement was left to the expert
ment station, and DR.. J. H Worst, the
director, appointed Professor Ladd.
food commissioner. There being no
money appropriated, he secured $3.50
from the agricultural board, bought
foods, analysed them and published
the results in bulletin No. SO On. ID.
Exp. Sta.) which revealed the condi-
tions mentioned above.
II is interesting to know, too, that
no member OF the legislature would
introduce the first pure food bill he
drew up. In the next legislature IL
was introduced, but failed to pass. The
third time 1t was passed, but the ap-
preparation was cut out.
AS soon as this bulletin No b3 came
out. the food manufacturers and job
bers brought a libel suit for 100000
against the professor. Then they sent
him a letter stating that IL he would
retract publicly what he published In
bulletin No. SO, they would drop the
suit. He replied in his characteristic
wav that he would retract nothing,
that he reiterated all he said, which
didn't tell half the truth. The suit
was never brought to trial, but he had
~ 90 To the expense Of getting ready
for it.
What Pure Food Bill Requires.
That no harmful ingredient shall be
added to the food, that nothing snall
~ ahaYracted. that the ingredients
ana net weight shall be given on the
label Ground olive stones can yet De
sold. but they must be sold for what
+bev are not for pepper or other spices.
Backed BY u. s. Supreme Court.
p,,lletin No. 81 was his first report
urder the paint law. It brought out
tha analysis Of the paints sold IN the
state. An injunction was brought on
tba ground that it was unconstitu-
t,orai The United States district
Cont held IT was constitutional, and
tba Trnited states supreme court sus-
tatrad +ne lower court The paint men,
struck with this mans knowleuse
paint and paint manufacture, ciupoeu
together and furnished nip the tuiiuS
to enlarge his paint inRestlgatlons'
which have become the most extensive
carried on anywhere. The coliese
campus is full OF panels and FENCES on
which different kinds OF paint ana
naint mixtures are being tried. Many
houses are also used. A complete
naInt mill has been installed In the
10 sament of the new building. II mas
become a regular mecca Tor paint men,
Bluff Didn't Go.
II burletin No. IL. the ANALYSIS Of
or eastern made paint revealed IL
per cent water. The manager ., .ne
company began action at once. WIN
his chemist and two attorneys ne came
to Fargo. where he engaged TWO inole
attorneys, and boosted that ne nau
1900 900 to put Professor Laoo m JAN.
The next day they called on Proiessor
Iadd in his office. After having as
cussed the matter for some time, FRO
lessor Ladd invited the chemists 70
the laboratory. produced can OF their
natnt and left his assistant, Professor
Holley. with the chemist 20 test LOT
tba water which they said was not
there The rest he dismissed. In
feuu hours the chemist returned to the
off,ca and admitted that there was
water in the paint. but that they had
been doing it for q good many Years.
Tha professor gave them ten days TO
get their adulturated paint out OF the
state Then they made up paint that
was all paint and supplied their North
Dakota trade.
The Whisky injunction
The whisky being sent TO the state
was mostly diluted alchol. colored
rararnal and Favored with chemicals.