56 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



other adulteration or misbranding which the packer may find profitable 

 after the carcass has passed veterinary inspection. The packers are con- 

 sidered to be opposed to a law which will prohibit or make public these 

 added adulterations. The butter people have secured all the special 

 legislation they desire and of course take little interest in a general food 

 law. In fact a general food law may in the end restrict the use of 

 artificial color in butter. 



The brewers support the bill. This is brought about by the in- 

 fluence of strict regulations in Germany. The wine growers favor the 

 bill on account of the advantage which the port inspection gives foreign 

 wines over the uninspected American wines. Wines, however, are 

 largely distributed through the wholesale liquor dealers. The majority 

 of wholesale liquor dealers are also rectifiers. The rectifier, either 

 through lack of confidence in his product, or some misunderstanding 

 regarding the purpose of the bill, is its strongest opponent. The wines 

 of any firm openly supporting the bill are therefore liable to be dis- 

 criminated against. 



Some manufacturers of catsups and other condiments fear that 

 the law will prohibit the use of antiseptics. Others announce that 

 such articles can be put up without these preservatives. The manu- 

 facturers of imitation jams and jellies supported the law at first, be- 

 lieving that it would bring about a uniform system of labeling. The 

 enforcement of the labeling provision under the state laws, however, is 

 now proving that consumers prefer the genuine product. The inde- 

 pendent firms which put up pure foods of all kinds are for the bill; 

 but such firms are not organized, maintain no lobby, and with several 

 aggressive exceptions write few letters to congressmen and do little 

 of anything else to offset the influence which the organized interests 

 array in opposition. The reasons for using antiseptics, artificial 

 colors and flavors and otherwise adulterating foods may be controverted, 

 but no one will deny the right of consumers to know it whenever such 

 adulterations have been practised. Manufacturing firms realize this 

 and they are preparing to meet what they know consumers will demand 

 when law compels such labeling. The head of a large association of 

 food interests well expressed this in saying : " I have lost sleep for 

 several years trying to see some way around the movement, but there 

 is only one thing to do and that is to prepare to meet it." The ma- 

 jority of the food interests are preparing. Firms which began several 

 years ago to so shape their business are ready. Others will be ready, 

 but they would like to see such laws postponed for one or two more 

 3 r ears. When the expense of making the change is incurred and the 

 pure food policy has been inaugurated, business itself will demand 

 the enactment of strict inspection laws. 



All practical reform must be financed. Pure food is a sentiment 

 until put into practise in the dairy or factory. The practise does not 



