_To Indian Agents and School Superintendents in charge of Agencies:_
The attention of the Office has been called to the fact that many
licensed traders are very negligent as to the way in which their stores
are kept. Some lack of order might he condoned, but it is reported that
many stores are dirty even to filthiness. Such a condition of affairs
need not be tolerated, and improvement in that respect must be insisted
on.
The Office is not so inexperienced as to suppose that traders open
stores among Indians from philanthropic motive's. Nevertheless a trader
has a great influence among the Indians with whom he has constant
dealings and who are often dependent upon him, and there are not a few
instances in which the trader has exerted this influence for the welfare
of his customers as well as for his own profit.
A well-kept store, tidy in appearance, where the goods, especially
eatables, are handled in a cleanly way, with due regard to ordinary
hygiene, and where exact business methods prevail is a civilizing
influence among Indians, while disorder, slovenliness, slipshod ways,
and dirt are demoralizing.
You will please examine into the way in which the traders under your
supervision conduct their stores, how their goods, particularly edible
goods, are handled, stored, and given out, and see to it that in these
respects, as well in respect of weights, prices, and account-keep-ing,
the business is properly conducted. If any trader, after due notice,
fails to come up to these requirements you will report him to this
Office.
In connection with this investigation, please give particular attention
{016}to the proprietary medicines and other compounds which the traders
keep in stock, with special reference to the liability of their misuse
by Indians on account of the alcohol which they contain. The sale of
Peruna, which is on the lists of several traders, is hereby absolutely
prohibited. As a medicine, something else can be substituted; as an
intoxicant, it has been found too tempting and effective. Anything of
the sort under another name which is found to lead to intoxication you
will please report to this Office. When a compound of that sort gets a
bad name it is liable to be put on the market with some slight change of
form and a new name. Jamaica ginger and flavoring extracts of vanilla,
lemon, and so forth, should be kept in only small quantities and in
small bottles and should not be sold to Indians, or at least only
sparingly to those who it is known will use them only for legitimate
purposes.
Of course, you will continue to give attention to the labeling of
poisonous drugs with skull and cross-bones as per Office circular of
January 12, 1905.
Copies of this circular letter are herewith to be furnished the traders.
Yours, respectfully,