Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1911-06-30
PRESIDENT SENDS
IN A MESSAGE ON
PATENT MEDICINE
He Wants 1t Made Unlawful to
Sell Quack Nostrums Which
Promise Cure for Disease.

washington, June 22.--ln a message
prepared in New York and transmitted
through the White House today to
congress, President Taft arraigned the
manufacturers of what he denounced
as dangerous drug frauds" and urged
congress TO amend at this session the
pure food and drug law to strengthen
that act in vital points of weakness re-
Gently pointed out by decisions of the
United States supreme court.
President Taft believes that unless
the law is amended forthwith, the
country will again be flooded by In
furious nostrums'' and cure ais
which We're common before the pure
food law first was enacted.
Text Of the Message.
The presidents message In part fol
ITO the Senate and House OF Repre-
sentatiyes: Your attention is respect
fully called to the necessity of passing.
at this session, an amendment to the
food and drug act of June 80. 1906.
which Will supplement existing Law n
prevent the shipment in Interstate n
foreign commerce and the manufacture
and sale within the territories and the
District of Columbia OF worthless nos
trums labeled with misstatements Of
fact as TO their physiological action
misstatements false and misleading
even in the knowledge OF those who
make them.
..On June 30. 1906. after an agitation
or 20 years. the food and drugs act
passed by the seth congress-, received
the approval OF the president and be-
came law.
The law has been vigorously en-
forced. More than 1000 cases have
been prepared for criminal prosecu-
ton against the shippers OF adulter-
ated or misbranded foods and drugs,
and seizures have been made OF more
4 Than M "a 1880 -
More than two-thirds of these cases
nave been begun since March 4. 1909.
OF the crimina cases, more than 500
nave terminated favorably to the gov
eminent,
In every case in which the food
seizure was deleterfous to health, II
was destroyed.
Decision Makes Trouble.
The supreme court has held In a
recent decision tina the food and drug
act does not cover the knowingly
raise labelling OF nostrums as TO cura-
tive effect of physiological action. and
that inquiry under this Statutory statute
does not by its terms extend in any
case 10 the ineficiency OF medicine to
work the cures claimed for them on
the labels. 1t follows that. without
fear OF punishment under the law, un
scrupulous persons. knowing the
medicines to have 40 curative or rem
edial value for the diseases for which
they indicate them, may ship In inter-
state medicine composed OF
substances possessing any slight
physiological action and labeled as
cures for diseases which. in the pres
cnt state of science, are recognized as
incufable.
An evil which menaces the general
health Of the people strikes at the life
OF the nation.
There are none so creduious as sur
1 f,fsrA from olson p ~ FTff1n y rapdW 10 wuw-M
gent for legislation which viii prevent
the raising OF false hopes OF speedy,
cures of serious ailments by mis-
statements of facts as to worthless
mixtures on which the sick will rely
while their diseases progress un-
checked.
"Of course, as pointed out by the SUI
preme court any attempt to legislate
against them as expressions of opinion
would be abortiye: nevertheless, if
knowingly false. misstatements OF fact,
as TO the nature OF the preparations be
provided against the greater part OF
the evil will be subject to control.
The statute a be easily amended
to include the evil I have described"
Havenyer Testifies Again.
Washington, June Collaborating
his defense of trusts and the cOmbi-
nation OF sugar companies. Horace
O.. Havemeyer, son of the late I'll. O.
Hayemeyer, organizer Of the q
trust, today continued his testimony
before the House uga COMMITTEES.
The witness limited his approval TO
reasonable combinations as he de-
clared that combinations were eason
able when they took In small COM
panies that were liable to go into
bankruptcy. He classed the National
Sugar Refining company. In which he
is seeking In the courts TO establish
his control as reasonable"
Mr.. Havemeyer expressed a belief
that the consumer OF sugar had bene-
flied by the creation of combinations
because the producing cost had been
reduced.
The price OF sugar is governed by
the law of supply and demand de-
clared Mr.. Havemeyer.
England is the cheapest. place in the
world in which sugar may be pur-
chased, the witness said.
Why It that: because Of free
well, / don't know; I haven't
made q study of that" remarked the
young millionaire.
Lorimer on the Ground.
Accompanied by his personal counsel.
former Judge Elbridge Hanecy, of Chi
cago, Senator Lorimer arrived In
Washington today to remain through
out the Senate inquiry into his cleo
ton, Judge Eranecy viii remain con-
Stdntly Win MIN, ana IL is expected
they will have the assistance OF Will
liam j. Hynes. who has been engaged
as counsel in the special interest of
Edward Hines, the lumberman whoset
name has been connected with the coll
lection and disbursement OF the alleged
$lGc, 900 corruption fund
The hearings win be resumed at 1
o'clock tomorrow. and if he arrives I'm
time. former Governor Richard Yates
will be the first witness OF the day. He
has telegraphed that he cannot be here
until the afternoon. and IL It becomes
evident that there will be delay on his
account. some other witness Will be
| called.
After the dismissal OF Mr.. Yates. tina
commission will make an effort TO hear
witnesses In such order as will bring
out facts in proper sequence. Yates and
Mccormick were called out OF turn
because OF their desire TO be absent