The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-10-05
Compulsory Printing of
Formulas Declared
an Injustice.
INTERESTS KILL
PROPOSED LAWS
Association of Paint Men Spent
Most Of Second Day of Con-
vention in Social Pleasures.
Important Business SEES
sions to Be Held
To-Day.

That most OF tho pure paint laws
passed by regent Legislatures are both
inquisitortal and obnoxious; that the
vast majority OF persons VINO are at
tempting to frame legislation for the
protection OF paint buyers are incom-
petent, and that a public demand for
the printing OF paint formulas on the
package, Notwithstanding those VINO
are aEitating the matter for the pur-
pose of political thunder, does not
exist. were some OF the emphatic state
ments made by Arthur S. Somers. Of
New York. in the heated discussion
which followed his report for the CEN
trail committee on legislation at the
morning session OF the National Paint
Oil and varnish Association. in sec
ond days convention at the Jefferson
Hotel yesterday. Mr Somers's report
was the last one to be heard at yes
tcrday's meeting. and touched a topic
which eeems to be at present the sub
ject OF wide agitation in paint and
varnish circles.
Your committee" aeid Mr.. somers.
has made every effort TO procure the
enactment OF an equitable law on this
matter. No one is more interested
than is the reputable paint manufact-
urer that tho consumer should be pro-
tected in his paint purchases. THIS
association is particularly anxious that
the unwary buyer should be protected
against the shyster who mikes worth
less mud with water and puts IL on
The market as paint But every effort
your committee has made 10 secure
the passage of a law which would in
sure protection to the manufacturer as
we'll g to the buyer. has been defeated
by hostile political interests.
lnfringes on Rights.
ITO compel manufacturer to make
public a formula which he has dscov-
cred. in many instances. after years
of costly experiment.. and thus permit
its duplication by any and everybody.
is an infringement of the right of the
individual, and a oonfscation OF his
labor. To show you how far this has
been carried. let me tell you OF an
instance The Iowa State Food Com :
mission has recently filed request
with manufacturers to furnish 1t With
dummy packages OF their product.
which. IL It passes the State require
ments. the commission proposes to ex-
hibit at the State Fair as accredited
and meritorious. with the object. 10
De Inferred. OF damning competing pro-
ducts which have not obtained place
in tho exhibition. This may be called
by some protective legislation-to me
IL seems more like club" legislation.
"one OF tho strongest influences we
have to combat" declared Mr.. Somcrs,
rs that OF the Master Painters and
Decorators Association. which seems
to regard It as Its mission on earth
20 compel every, manufactures to make
public the formula of his preparation"
State Committees.
The organization. wherever possible,
oy manufacturers of State committees
to look after legislation in their own
states. was advocated By Ira d. Wash
ourn, OF Cincinnati. reporting for the
legislative committee. Touching paint
legislation. no said
There have been more obnoxious
paint bills introduced in the different
state Legislatures this past winter
than ever before The work OF de-
feating them has been more difficult
than usual, because of the long and
persistent lighting almost everywhere.
Many new, bills were introduced after
The originals had been defeated"
The report Endorsed the initiative
and referendum as instruments which
will in the end tend to regulate a
great deal of harmful and obnoxious
Legislation.
American Flax.
Two reports followed on the flaS
industry The first of these was tho
report of the fax acreage committee
by Mr.. Peters, of New York. and the
second. that OF the flax fibre commit
tee, read by q. E. Martin, of Chicago
Both were optimistic with regard &c
the future of the great staple in this
country. and predicted large in
crease In acreage devoted to its cul-
ovation in the course of the next few
years.
1t is high time to rid ourselves OF
notion that the raising of fax involve:
severe drain on the fertility of the
SOIL" said j. w. Daniels, of Mime
apolis. in the discussion which fol
lowed the acreage report. II have
heard this asserted ever since I wa:
a boy, and. like many other people
had come to believe it. The theory
has been completely exploded by Pro
fessor Bolley. of the University OF
: Minnesota, who has proved by serie!
of experiments that, properly Guilt
waited. fax makes no severer drain or
the soil than wheat and oats"
Entertainments Galore.
With the exception of the single
business session in the morning. yes
terday was entirely taken up with en-
tertainments. First of these were s
golf tournament at the Country Clul
at P. NJ, and an automobile tour t
the National cemetery, Seven Pine!
and other points OF interest In tn,
city aid suburbs More than fifty au
tomobiles were pressed into service
to accommodate the large number tax
ng the trip. The Valentine Museum
was thrown open to the women &C
companying the delegates between tn,
hours of and IL.
Most enjoyable perhaps of All tn,
functions scheduled for the entertain
mont of the visitors. was the recep
ton rendered last night to the asso
citation by Governor and Mrs WI