A Demand for Pure Foods
By Editor
A Demand for Pure Foods.—Such demands are multiplying, and especially in the great cities of this country. Before us lies a circular announcing that a "Pure Food Congress" is to be held at the Chamber of Commerce Hall, in San Francisco, April 30. The object is more widespread than for mere municipal purposes. It is desired to so agitate the subject that pure foods may be found everywhere throughout the State, not only in municipality, but at the country grocery store. Laws of this kind are certainly needed. Cities have no trouble in guarding the evil in their own borders if they possess good laws and faithful and energetic officials, but if the work of driving out adulterated foods be confined to cities, the wretched compounds, compositions and decompositions, of all degrees and kinds will be pawned off upon the dwellers of smaller towns and the country. The law demands that the purchaser shall pay in current coin of the realm the prices of the commodities he purchases. It should also demand that he should get what he is supposed to be a purchaser of and not some wretched counterfeit, or adulterated compound. The label on the article should state just what it is. California raises enough of that which is good and pure, and so does the world for the matter of that, to furnish the people with pure foods. It was not long ago that such laws were unnecessary, in the days when a man's word was as good as his bond. The word is worthless now without the bond, and the bond needs a surety! The foods need the deposition of a reputable analytical chemist. 'Tis sad 'tis true. Well, we wish the Pure Food Congress success.