The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-05-02
MORE PUBLICITY,
URGES DR.. WILEY
Pure Food Expert Declares
Himself Firmly at Milk
Commission Meeting.
Milk Producer Says More
Stringent Regulations
Will Force Famine.

DR. Harvey w Wiley, the pure food
expert OF the Department of Agricul-
ture. went on record at the session of
the Milk Commission yesterday after
noon, as the champion of the general
publicity given to the question of a pure.
safe milk for consumers in the District.
The incident occurred near the close
Of the meeting when a letter from r. r.
Horner, a large milk producer. and a
member OF the commission. was read.
The writer discussed temperature of
milk. pasteurized milk. municipal dairies,
certified milk. and what he termed rea-
sOnable regulations.
Mr.. Horner took the view that the aH-
tatiOn for pure milk was being carried
too far: that the members of the COM
mission were looked upon as aIarmists
and theorists. and that the publication
OF the frequent articles in the papers
had frightened consumers to such an
extent that they imagined all kinds OF
disease lurked in the milk. until they
were afraid 10 drink it. General Stern
berg. chairman Of the commission,
mildly resented these statements. but
DR. Wiley was quickly on his feet to
register his strenuous disapprovaI. when
he found that Mr.. Horner was present
He said in tone evidencing his deep
carnestnesS:
Believe in Publicity.
Il want TO say that 1, too. like the
gentleman whose interesting letter has
just been read, have twenty years close
personal knowledge Of the milk bust
ness. Not unlike all other men who
have dared TO take step IN advance Of
fixed ideas. / have been called an alarm
ist and theorlst. and denounced as such
Ideas and principles that / advocated
twenty years ago, that won for me these
titles, are today accepted without ques-
ton ! am lighting frauds, decepJiOns
and authorizations OF foods, and paTticu-
l5rly milk, i'm all their forms, and favor
the greatest publicity through the press.
that great educator of the public, that
forms public opinion.
If We are q set of alarmiSts and theo-
rists, and have not the interests of the
public health at heart what are we
here for? If We are to keep this matter
and our meetings a secret. excluding
the members OF the press, how is the
public to know its danger they would
suffer thereby Let the truth be known
10 matter who II hurts. / charge that
eighty per cent of the sickness of the
community Is due 10 impure milk. in one
form OF another, and / want to see the
fact published. The members of the
press, I see are here, and have been
here making fair and truthful reports
asked 70 leave? / have not heard of IT,
and believe they are welcome. Let the
truth be known
Fears a Milk Famine.
Mr.. HOrner arose and disclaimed any
intention to cast any reflection on any
member Of the commission. He sup
Dlemented his letter by saying that he
thought the present regulations Of
dairies and dealers was all that is
necessary; that the present agitation is
driving men out of the business, and
that If the proposed tuberculin test and
other stringent regulations were put in
force a. milk famine would follow His
letter was referred to the general COM
mittee.
George NJ Oyster. chairman Of the
committee on transportation reported
that his committee was not ready to
make its report, by reason OF the fact
that IL had not been able TO near. finally
from the railroad companies He said
however. that the roads we're consider
ing special milk train services. especially
the Baltimore and Ohio. but that II
was doubtful If refrigerator cars for
summer service would be conceded
The report of the sanitary committee,