Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1906-04-08
Side Lights On Leaders
Of Pure Food Crusade

In one bucket he found the REMAND OF
three large plugs OF tobacco and I'm the
other two. by the liberal use OF water
aud the nicotine FROM these plugs
many barrels of whisky had been
made To grow where but two grew be-
fore.
It Is just as well 10 remark here In
passing that when the members OF
congress awakened TO the fact that
their liquors were being tampered with
they became Interested. There comes
q time when most any worm viii turn
Another member OF the upper house
that has been Ia the pure food fight
even longer than Hepburn 10 Porter j
hcCumber OF North Dakota McCum.
Der Introduced many bills. or rather.
o.ie otn many umes. 20 90 away WITH
laboratory provender and LIQUID re-
freshment. but as often as presented
the measure was allowed 10 die the
death OF the abandoned. The North
DakotH senator Il just as enthusiastic
for Heybuag's bill as he was for his
own. being happy that at last he he
gins 10 see result from hts long labor
blind Pigs"
One story is told OF McCumber that
illustrates his quality At one time he
was prosecuting attorney OF his coun
~. prohibition law was OF the stat
ute books. but the liquor men man.
aged TO eyade Il by kkping what were
called blind pigs" McCumber thought
he had been elected To enforce all
laws. and he went after the "blind
pigs" tooth and nall, with the result
that he drove nearly all or them out or
the county. The liquor men tried TO
make terms with the fearless prosecu.
tor, but found there was nothing do
Ing They then swore TO get even and
made the oath good by defeating Nc.
Cumber for reelection. But they did
not figure that their old foe would turn
up later IN the United States senate
McCumber. who In under fifty years
or age. was born and reared on "A west.
ern farm. He studied law at Ann Ar.
Dor. Prior to his election TO the senate.
which came about as the result OF a
deadlock. he served several terms I'm
the North Dakota legislature.
In the house the pure food fight has
been led by Colonel w. T.. Hepburn OF
Iowa. Hepburn II one or the old mem.
beers both Ia point of Service and IN
years. as he Will be seventy three his
next birthday He Is one or the most
forceful and eloquent speakers IN Ell
Their house. He Is popularity known as
Pete Hepburn by his colleagues. but
this familiarity does not breed con
tempt, whatever II may do in the
adage. Any man who has ever been
up against the Iowa colonel Ia loren
sic battle has wholesome respect for
him thereafter
The action or the house committee
In substituting the Hepburn pure food
bill for the Hepburn bill places the
Iowa mans name Oh two or the most
important measures before this con.
gress. as he Is also author or the rail-
road rate bill. While the substitution
changes only IA ~" To ''p." IL compll
Gates matters in u way 10 endanger the
nnal outcome or the tight.
Originator Of "the Poison Squad"
But behind all the congressional spon
sors for pure food stands the figure OF
man not IN congress. but who. after
all is the real leader ia the war against
food aud drink hdulteratiOn. He II
Professor Harvey. w Wiley. chemist
or the agricultural department Pro
lessor Wiley Is over sixty years OF
age and has been chief OF the bureau
OF chemistry for nearly twenty I'VE
years. He 1t was that made the famous
experiments ms TO food authorizations by
feeding number OF government clerks
on meats preserved with boric and
+ salicylic acids and other like prepara-
tions. chemical limitations OF food. doc
tored vegetables and fruits and Ito.
uors concocted after the fashion OF
those usually handed out to the gen.
eral public. His subjects were popular
ly known as "the poison squad" Just
as the experimenters were called "thc
/ borax brigade" When the victims got
too much or certain kinds OF tlnkered
/ up foods they were allowed TO rest un-
\ I'll they could stand another dose. The
effects were carefully noted, and the
evidence thus gathered has played a
considerable part in subsequent pure
I food discussions. Professor Wiley and
his associates started with no precon-
ceiyed notions or what the result OF
the tests would be, but they had not
progressed far until they concluded
that at least the larger number OF these
preparations are harmful. None Of "the
/ poison squad" died but most of them
lost weight. and many, though not pos
itiyely III. found they were dull and
( listless and could not do their work.
though this last fs not exactly an I'M
( usual condition with government clerks
One OF the poison squad had the
laugh on the rest OF the victims. II
was while they were on the sallcyfc
acid meat. This particular man had
rheumatlsm, for which the salleyllc