New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1911-04-29
END OF THE FAMOUS COCA
COLA SUIT,

| W - ~ - w, "a iidhtfN tflt lbI
lowing comments concerning til,
| decision of the United State
| Court IN the trial of Coca CoIi
Company:
THE result Of the hearing j,
the case of the United State
against the Coca-Cola Company
before the federal district court
Judge r. ID. Sanford presiding
was a complete victory for tn,
company. On practically every
point on which the company askec
a favorable ruling il was right
and the points excepted. the, gov
eminent withdrew Those. VIII
have heard the evidence i'm The
case We're prepared for the result
since the government failed. rs
the court concludes. to show that
the beverage was injurious; that
it had any deleterious effect what
ever upon health, or that it had
any habitforming qualities that
might ultimately lead to the i'm
pal1ment of either physical or
mental powers. The decision puts
at rest what has appeared TO many
to be a causeIess complaint. and
draws attention to the necessit V
for some sort of restraint on the
pure foods bureau in its oyer-zeal
in attacking established business
SEES. .tE .-. -....
The Coca-Cola people, as well
rs the government, have been put
to an enormous expense in test
ing a question which. it would
seem. should never have been en-
tertaihed. In the present widely
divergent opinions Of chemical ex-
perts upon the effect Of certain
ingredients Of beverage com
pounds. if would seem to. the lay
mind not only to be folly. but
rank injustice to hale.men. before
the courts upof a purely, empiric,
opinion of a. single interested in
dividual-Dr. Wiley. All of the
Investigations might easily. hays
been made in the government lab
olatorlcs and the E. opinions of
eminent doctors and chemists be |
fore bringing suit, in which case
it is fair to infer the government !
would have been saved large |
sum o + money and the Coca-Cola |
company the enormous expense
and trouble he useless Litigation
has oecasioned. 1t. would seem
that, an official chemical bureau |
ought to know that certain bev-
erage. food preparation or other |
commodity coming under govern
ment supervision is ,1nquesti0n-
ably injurious and hsrmfal, be-
fore invoking d 1uriiciah hearipgs
Men may differ "a ppng each; 9th |
pr on matters affecting their per I
,onal rights and interests, but the
orernment ought to he, sure Of
is ground. especially, when bust
hess of large Importance is put in
jeopardy. on a. charge about
which there, should not be any is
lae. .s...t "a!
= Judge, Sanford has won golden
'piiffons, of all classes Of men byt'
be thoroughly judicial temper he
as maintained throughout the
He has filed with |,
hin'ent fairness to all concerned
nd has borne with patience and
are good nature the long and
etlious legal controversy. st'ldyl
ng with marked interest the mass
{ technical testimony elected. /.
lis opinion, printed elsewhere, as
he attorney remarked Yesterday, |
hoWs that he knew more about
he ease. the legal points involved,
ne rights of athe company and
he protection due the public! than
ny of the lawyers on either side, Il
he. opinion is given in clear, and
onvincing language and is al
fodel Of good English as well AZ
os,nd reasoning. ,awAGI0 {
e Let us hope that the outcome of
his case will SERVE as a warning
8 the health department not to
ring suits against citizens, here /.
fter until it, knows that it.. is
,sph+ - t,... es.t.