Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-10
MUST HAVE VERY BEST VETS"
SECRETARY WILSON NOT A BIT
WORRIED BY CRITICISM.
But Delegates to American Veteri-
nary Medical Association Resent
Interference With Courses.

When Secretary OF Agriculture Wilson
starts out to do a thing he doesn't pro-
pose to be scared off by comment, nor
browbeaten by criticism. even though 1t
may come from SO dignified and inf1uen-
tial body as the American Veterinary
Medical Association in it's forty-fourth an
nual convention assembled. The Depart
ment of Agriculture is conducting i'm
portant Investigations and doing great
things for animals and such like, and it
needs in it's service veterinarians of a
high grade of scientific attainment. AL
ready it has several hundred such men
on its rolls, and it doesn't propose
to accept men of smaller caliber, even
though they may be armed with preten-
tious diplomas from colleges with high
sounding proSpectuses and ambitions, I'M
less the law compels it to do so, which it
doesn't.
"Let EN- Criticize" Says He.
THE doctors can criticise me all they
please, but l will protect the government
in the class of men that come into this
department., declared Secretary Wilson,
with great emphasis, when his attention
was called to criticisms by members of
the American Veterinary Medical Asso-
citation in Philadelphia yesterday concern
ing the Secretary's attitude in rating the
various veterinary schools with reference
to the eligibility of their graduates for
service with the government, and suggest
ing certain courses and how they should
be arranged. following a report made tc
him by committee of the association.
1t was declared at the convention that
Secretary Wilson was without authority
to dictate what the courses or the man
agement of the schools should be.
There have been veterinary schools
organized that have not faculties ca
pable Of educating in some parts Of the
country" said Secretary Wilson. We
appointed a commissioner to inquire into
and report upon the matter, SO as to
protect the United States government
in the character Of men we shall employ
their diseases and the meat food of the
people, etc. OF course, where that re-
port criticised an Institution anywhere
we sent that institution a copy of what
pertained to itself"
Must Be Highly Trained.
Referring to the work Of the bureau
of animal industry which employs about
seven hundred veterinarians. the Secre-
tary said: Il think we have probably
spent ten years and a quarter of a mil
to prevent hog cholera. We have sue
ceeded finally. It could not have been
done except by the most highly trained
veterinarians. We are really getting rid
Of many of the common diseases among
animals. For instance, the sheep scab dis
ease west of the Missouri has been cured
Cattle scab is also being dealt with at
very great expense to the government
We have the question now of tubercu-
losis that vitality affects the consumers
of meat, as well as the producers Of it.
Any Old "Vet" Won't Do!
Therefore. we cannot take any kind
Of a fellow and put him on our rolls with
any hope of the successful elimination
OF this disease. We must have men
well educated in their several lines. This
Is the great meat-exporting country Of
the world. The people abroad are very
particular in regard to what we send
them. and the hope, therefore, of meet
ing the requirements Of commerce rests
largely in the highest intelligence of the
men who are put upon our lists"