Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1913-03-14
AIMS BILL AT PURE FOOD LAW
Wall Street Concern Renews Battle
Would Sell Glucose as Corn
Syrup

Pure Food Laws and State Dairy and
Food Commissioner ]. c. Emery by
having bill introduced in the as
sembly amending the pure food law
to enable them to sell glucose syrup
in this state under the label of corn
syrup" This is long drawn out
piece Of warfare Ever since May,
1909, Commissioner Emery has sue
cessfully defeated every effort of
this giant monopoly with its great
wall street backing to break down
our pure food laws 1t has beep
fight to the hilt on both sides.
The pure food act says expressly
that glucose syrup shall not be sold
in this state under any other label
than glucose syrup" The Corn
Products people were branding their
glucose as corn syrup" and under
this false labelling have built up an
immense business imposing upon the
public a very cheap commodity at
an excessive price. In May, 19. 8,
Commissioner Emery commenced ac~
ton in the municipal court Of Dane
county and successfully convicted two
parties, McDormott and Grady, for
violation of this, act
The manufacturers Immediately
came to the rescue Of the dealers
and appealed the case to the cir
cult court CT Dane county, whore
Judge Stevens decided that such mis-
branding was in direct violation Of
the Pure Food act. Appeal was I'm
mediately taken to the supreme
court and pending that trial Judge
A. B. Sanborn Of the United States
District court, issued an injunction,
at the instigation Of the Corn Prod
ucts people, restraining Commission
er Emery from enforcing that por-
ton Of the pure food law until the
question had been finally tested in
the supreme courts That injunction
is still in force.
The Corn Products Refining com
pany was defeated before the state
supreme court Not content with
three successive defeats the trust
Immediately went to the United
States Supreme court and the case
was argued in Washington during
the middle Of January Of this year.
The decision is expected daily.
The concern is not content with
the legal fight. but in the meantime
have made repeated efforts to pre-
vent the proper branding of their
products by securing changes in the
Wisconsin pure food law.
No sooner had the first prosecu-
ton under this act been begun than
the Corn Products refining company
set about to have the purposes OF
the law annulled by the legisla-
tive amendmnet. The session OF 1909
was near and a bill was introduced
to Iegalize the sale Of Karo syrup
in Wisconsin. The bill was reported
for indefinite postponement by the
committee and killed in the assem-
bly,.
Before the 1911 session the com
pany had been defeated in all courts
EXCEPT the United States supreme
court and realizing the possibility of
defeat there, made concerted ef-
fort to amend the law. Drastic meas
ures were used at that time. Long
before the convening Of the legisla-
ture the Corn Products people We're
laying extensive plans to force their
issue. They interviewed grocers OF
the state to stir UP their ire by un-
yelled threats of loss Of business.
Likewise they lined up the legal tai
ent to include influential political
lights.
A fight was waged on the re-
appointment of Commissioner Emery
In 1911. Politicians were unable to
account for such a flood Of vicious
opposition to his. reappointment. 1t
subsequently developed that the halo
of light encircled the law firm Of
Kronshage. McGovern and Fritz.
When the bill reached the assembly
Mr.. Fritz appeared as principal .coun-
sci and Mr.. Kronshage along the
skirmish line to prompt other attor-
neys. 1t was rumored about the cap
itol that Mr.. Emery's reappointment
was in danger and the LaFollette
men put up an organized fight for
the retention of the veteran pure
food leader, and he was reappointed.
The corn syrup bill went down In
history as the hardest fought meas
ure of the session. With commission
er Emery and his chemist, Or. Fis-
cher, upon one side defending the
people of the state and an arrey Of
legal talent upon the other side the