The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-09-01
WILSON UNDER FIRE.
Secretary of Agriculture Defends
Roosevelt

Denver Col, Aug. 24.-That the
adulteration of food will soon cease
In this country and that the Remsea
reform board, appointed at the in
stance of President Roosevelt to in
Vestigate the use of benzoate as pre-
servative would be sustained by his
department were assertions of Secre-
tary Wilson at the opening of the an
nual convention of the Association OF
State and National Food and Dairy
Departments today.
Secretary Wilson's remarks follow
ed bitter attack by J. O. Emery of
Madison, Wis, president of the as
sOciation.
Pointing his finger at Secretary
Wilson, Mr.. Emery disputed the re-
port of the Remsen referee board that
benzoate had been found harmless
and then accused Secretary Wilson Of
having urged President Roosevelt to
block a re-investigation of the SUBJ
/ ject.
Let me say" declared Secretary
| Wilson, jumping to his feet, that IL
we had money enough in Washington
to employ DR.. Ira Remsen and the
other four chemists on his board, we
should try to get them into the de-
partment of agriculture. I have told
the president that We want the big
gest men in the country in the de-
partment, or the department will
cease to grow, and when it ceases to
grow, 1 do not want anything more to
do with it.
81 am glad to see you have invited
DR.. Remsen and other members of
the board to appear before you. Z
trust you will give them a fair hear
| ing"
"Why shouldn't we give them fair
hearing?" shouted Mr.. Emery: This
insinuation comes with poor grace
from the secretary when We recall
that it was he who blocked our re-
quest to have benzoate IF soda REIN
| vestigated"
Secretary Wilson, who described
himself as "an interested spectator
and not a delegate, was invited to
speak by A. H. Jones, food commits
sioner of illinois,
I'VE in Illinois believe there is no
more faithful and useful servant of
the people than Mr.. Wilson," declared
Mr.. Jones. His efforts to drive
poisoned food out of the country have
been help to every State commits
soner in the Union"
In his address Secretary Wilson,
said:
From President Ersery's report
you might infer We have done nothing
down in Washington. We are endeav-
oring to operate the law with as lit
tie friction as possible, showing leni-
| ency where honest mistakes are made.
We have instituted many criminal
| pa OSSCuliOHS anu SelZeu d great
tity of impure stuffs. We hope to have
our department cooperate with the
various state departments. / am con-
vinced that it will be only short
time before the aduIteration of
foods in this country will cease alto
gether."
The delegates from many States
promised cooperation. 1t is expect
ed the benzoate of soda question will
come up again on Wednesday wfreIi
four members of the Remsen board
: will speak
committee Of II, composed of ag-
ricultural college professors and State
food experts will then submit a re-
port embodying the results OF AN in
vestigation Of the referee boara>
1t is expected that an agreement
Will be reached between the two
factions. one of which favors the
adoption of the federal law by the
States and the other of the framing
a model" State law, Independent CT
the federal law.
Secretary Wilson defends the sesT-
eral law.