Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-07
FOOD OF POISON SQUAD
MR.. HAY INTRODUCES A RESo-
LUTON OF INQUIRY.
Wants to Know Whether DR.. Wiley's
Tests Contributed to Robert
Freeman's Death.

Representative James Hay of Virginia
today introduced a resolution in the
House requesting the Secretary of Agrlcul-
ture to inform Congress whether, in the
opinion of the department, the adulterated
food tests conducted by Dr. Harvey w.
Wiley, chief of the bureau of chemistry,
with the aid of his poison squad were
responsible for~the death of Robert Vance
Freeman on November 10 last at the home
of Freemans mother. GIT 18th street
northwest. The Secretary Is also asked TO
explain under what authority the tests
were made, and whether it is planned to
conduct similar tests in the future. The
resolution was referred to the House COM
mittee agriculture.
1t will be remembered that just after
the death of young freeman MIS-:
sons illness and death were directly due
to the adulterated food with which he was
furnished by DR.. Wiley during the pol
son squad test. She made the 1urther
dropped capsule of the borc aclo sent 10
him with his food from the experimental
table, and that it's contents were So
strong that the paint came or the MOOR.
Object of the Resolution.
"Jn nv opinion said Representative
Hay to a Star reporter today, 1T Is Sig
nificant fact that this young man was an
employe of the Department OF Agrlcui-
ture NV resolution is SO framed that
the Secretary of Agriculture Will pe
called on to explain whether Freeman. be-
ing AN employe of the department, thought
1t was his duty to undergo these tests or
whether the inducement was held out 10
him that by UNDERGOING tne aesu ris
chance for proriotloii III 'iS
~ also think 1t a good thing to deter
mine whether such tests are realIy ilieli-
70 of
whether they are conducted by the gov
eminent or not. / do not think that human
life should be so endangered, II the tests
really constitute menace.
Facts to Be Brought Out.
As result of the publicity that will
,,,douhtedIv be given to the Secretarys
! onSwer tn the resolution, Mrs. Latham
will have opportunity to present her side
of tho case and will probably determine
whether she has any grounds for a claim
| against the government on the basis that
| bar CON was her means of support, and
also whether she has any ground for
civil action or a claim of any kind against
Dr. Wiley personally. AT the time OF
Young Freemans death DR.. Wiley con-
| sistently declined to discuss the matter
and would not indicate his precise views
| on the matter, although he did say at
| one time that 1t was perfectly ABSURD TO
| suppose for a moment that the auuiter
ants eaten by young Freeman during the
course of the poison squad experiment
had anything to do with his illness and
death. But if Mr.. Hays resolution is
passed Dr. Wiley. or. rather, the depart
ment, speaking for him, must give an Of
| fetal opinion as to the erect OF the
adulterants upon the unfortunate young
man.
| Young Freeman died of consumption
according to DR.. Percy Hickling and other
| musicians who attended him. His mother
claims that the disease got hold on him
as a result of his weakened constitution
due to the adulterated food given him at
the test table.