The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-08-13
CLASH OVER
PURE FOOD LAW
WILEY LEADS STATES IN DE-
FIANCE TO NATIONAL LAW
is OUTCOME OF THE
CHARGES AGAINST
SECRETARY ]. S.
WILSON.

A serious clash between the states
and the nation over the pure food law
was foreshadowed by the proceedings
of the convention of associations OF
state and national pure food depart
ments held at Mackinac Island, Mich.
The action taken practically amounts
to defiance by the state OF the ma
tional pure food act.
By unanimous resolution the
convention decided to draft model
food law which all the states in the
union would be urged to adopt, and
which would contain only such pro-
visions of the national laws as the
state associations deem best adapted
to the requirements of the different
states.
1t was also decided to draft uni
form sanitary inspection law, calling
for strict sanitary regulation OF all
food factories of all the states repre-
|
This action is the outcome OF the
charges against Secretary of Agri-
culture ]. S. Wilson and the recently
appointed referee board, to the effect
that they were permitting themselves
to become parties to a scheme TO de-
feat tn ends of the pure food legis-
lation and allow chemical preserva-
tives to be used in the preparation
of food products.
The states in their opposition to
the federal methods appear to be
guided by Dr. w. H. Wiley, chief OF
the Bureau of Chemistry, who is in
practical control of the convention
and who also is the controlling power
of the Board of Food and Drug In
spection. which, UP to the time OF the
appointment of the referee board,
was regarded as the most powerful
authority in national food affairs.
Hence the states claim the Board OF
Food and Drug Inspection, with 9TH
err natinoal officers, as powerful allies
n their war against the relgning ma
tional food officers.
The whole controversy, it is believ-
ed, grows out of DR.. Wiley's oppo-
sition to the recent governmental or
ders curtailing the powers OF the
Board of Food and Drug Inspectian
and disseminating the forming OF
standards.
The action of the convention in
opposing the national law is a radical
departure from all its previous pro-
ceedings. The association was or
gained for the purpose of bringing
about uniform food laws and regula-
tons. and before the national law was
enacted it was declared that uniform
ity was impossible without national
la was a guide. Hence there is much
surprise among food men that the as
sociation should now decide code OF
uniform state laws independent of the
national law. The surprise is increas-
ed by the fact that the convention is
on record as indorsing the national
food law and pledging the states to
the adoption of laws in conformity
thereto.
| Any state food law that Is in op-
position to the national law can not
help but cause confusion, and the
conditions in the different states are
so varied that there are no two states
(which would adopt laws conforming
to the national laws.
| Under the new turn of affairs it is
probable that the states will no long
err observe standards fixed by the ma
| tional government, but will be guided
by those placed by the joint food
standard commission composed oil
members of the association of state
and national food and dairy depart
ments an dthe association of official
agricultural chemists.
Vice President Fairbanks addressed
the convention and heaped shower
OF compliments upon DR.. Wiley 70,
his fearless and persistent fight on
food adulerations. Every time the
name of DR.. Wiley YVES mentioned
the convention burst into a storm oil
applause, showing clearly the great
influence welded by the chemistry
bureau chief among the state food
officers.
The convention voted to meet mex,
| wear in Denver