“We learned through Mess. Cushman Co. that you are a constant user of Jireh Foods for some time past, and that recently a certain derogatory statement was brought to your attention relative to our product. We feel an explanation is due you for two reasons.
“First, because we want you to continue using Jireh Foods and thus receive the benefits of the same; and second, that the remarks called to your attention are not only libelous, but are in no way pertinent enough to detract from the value of our product. In the first place, we want to state that the particular journal in question has been endeavoring to injure our business for some time past and that we are not the only descent [sic] manufacturers of foods that are suffering in this way at the hands of the editors of this particular magazine. Since you are interested in the Jireh Foods, you may be more interested to learn why this particular magazine is so anxious to injure our reputation. The reason is very obvious if you will take into account the fact that this magazine is the official journal of the medical association of this country which is known as the backer of the medical trust. It is very clear to you, no doubt, that there are some physicians, particularly those that are associated with the magazine, who are anxious to stamp out of existance [sic] such concerns that offer a bona fide product, a meritorious product which actually produces the required results, without the aid of medicine.
“For the particular maladies for which we offer our foods, we have been very successful, consequently the antagonism on the part of this particular journal is the logical thing. In addition to this, however, and perhaps more important to us, is the fact that the editors of this magazine have made it known to us that they will not approve of our product until such time that we care to be dominated by the moving influence of the magazine in question. They want us to supply them with the private formula which we use for manufacturing our foods and to enlighten them and show them the various processes applied to our products to produce the required results. As a bona fide and ethical business house, we absolutely and unqualifiedly refuse to comply with this wish, and will always refuse to do so, no matter how often they may attack us. We stand strictly on principle in this matter and propose to run our business in our own way, and will not, under any circumstances, allow a magazine or anybody else dictate to us under what conditions we are allowed to do our business.
“The remarks which they make would perhaps hurt us some if they emanated from a source that was qualified to judge the merits of our food. The absurd side of the issue, and perhaps the comical side of it, is the fact that the honorable gentlemen who assume to condemn a product, know less about the disease for which the product is offered, and much less about diet and foods than the average layman. Consequently, we consider it simply absurd to allow them to step into our business and dictate policy to us. This is the jist [sic] of the discontent that prevails between the magazine editors and ourselves, and as long as we refuse to comply with their wish, we certainly cannot expect them to speak well of us. It has become a notorious fact in the medical profession that their criticisms are almost valueless, inasmuch as they stop at nothing in order to create sensationalism, and have attacked not only ourselves, but every bona fide manufacturer of foods and drugs in this country who has refused to fall in line with them.
“This explanation, we trust, will appeal to your good judgment and will convince you of what is said about us is untrue. Furthermore, our business has grown to colossal proportions, notwithstanding their endeavors to crush us. We call your attention to a most peculiar fact: that is, that they make no comment whatsoever as to the product and its therapeutic value in the treatment of diabetes. You notice they make an awful play on our literature, which was changed merely to suit conditions in business. We also wish to call your attention to another peculiar fact, and that is that a great majority of the physicians who are in with this magazine readily recommended our foods, and we also believe that your physician, after reading this letter, will feel the same way as most physicians do in relation to our foods. We believe that your physician is perfectly willing to be convinced that our foods are as represented to be, and the very best clinical evidence as this is the effect our foods have had upon you. Finally, if the foods are palatable and wholesome and have alleviated the annoying symptoms of Diabetes, then why should you be guided by the opinions of demagogues and yellow journalists?
“You may be pleased to learn that our foods have received the attention of Dr. Wiley, the well-known chemist and food scientist of this country, and we have now in our possession his reports showing the very high standard of our foods. This, in our opinion, is of more consequence than all the harangue which those venerable gentlemen of the magazine may indulge in.
“We want to convince you without an atom of doubt that we are honest and bona fide in everything we say, and we extend to you a hearty invitation to call at the first opportunity and shall be glad to tell you anything you may wish to know. Thus awaiting the pleasure of this visit, we beg to remain
“Yours very truly,
“Jireh Diabetic Food Co.”
We learn from this letter that The Journal’s “remarks” on the Jireh product are “libelous.” We have made them many times and for several years past; if libelous, the manufacturer has excellent grounds for damages. We learn, too, that our remarks “are in no way pertinent enough to detract from the value” of the Jireh products. Why, then, take any notice of them? We learn, moreover, for the hundred-and-first time, that The Journal is the official organ of the “medical trust,” and we are told that “there are some physicians” that are opposed to the Jireh Foods because these products cure diabetes without the use of medicine! The Journal, so the company says, wants the Jireh Diabetic Food Company to supply its “private formula” and to show the “various processes” by which the Jireh products are made. Such statements indicate that the Jireh Diabetic Food Company does not confine its mendacity to the mere advertising of its product, where the necessity for lying is naturally great.
The ambiguous remarks regarding Dr. Wiley are evidently intended to convey the idea that the doctor approves of the Jireh products. Dr. Wiley was sent a copy of the Jireh letter and his attention directed to the statements appearing therein regarding himself. He replied: