Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-12-06
ANOTHER FIGHT
ON PRESERvATVE
Benzoate Of Soda Coming in for
Good Share of Attention
From Congress.
PRESIDENT TAFT'S ATTITUDE
Forces Lining Up Against Use OF
Chemicals for Preserving Food
stuffs-Women Protest.

Washington, D. c., Dec. lon Dec.
6 Congress will meet in regular seS-
sion and as the house was organized
at the extraordinary session last March
there will be no delay in getting to
work Usually the presidents mes
sage is withheld until the second day
of the session. but as there will be no
preliminaries this time, 1t will go In
on Monday. There is considerable spec
ulation as to what specific recommen-
dations he will mako and keen inter-
est is being manifested in certain
quarters as to President Taft's attitude
on pure food questions. From a large
number OF sources comes the demand
that the pure food law be strengthened.
Those who claim to be well Informed say
that the president Is not as deeply i'm
pressed with the necessity of strength
enlng the law as he might be. and mis-
utterances on this subject In his an
nual message will be more In the ma
ture of commentator than recommen-
dation. Rightly or wrongly, the i'm
preston Is gaining ground that the
administration has been something
more than lukewarm toward the pure
food law. This construction placed
upon the attitude of the administration
is doubtless due to the strong support
given by Secy. Wilson to the report or
the Remsen board which led to the
lifting of the ban on benzoate Of soda.
This preservative can now be used III
unlimited quantities. provided the
amount used is stated on the label,
and as in most cases, the amount can
be determined only by n quantitative
chemical analysis the label Is general
ly accepted. although 1t never gives
more than one-tenth of per cent. Un-
less Congress acts unfavorably there
Is reason to believe that the other pre-
servativcs are preparing to creep from
under the ban and the situation Will
shortly be as 1t was before.
The forces lining UP against chemical
prcservatives are such, however, as not
10 be reckoned with lightly. Only a
few days ago action was taken by the
National Grange at Its annual conven-
ton In Des Moines which showed that
the farmers are taking an active and
intelligent interest In the battle over
prcservatives. The Grange has always
been one of the standbys of Secy.
Wilson and the passage of resolutions
| applauding Dr. Harvey y. Wiley and
| falling to mention Secy. Wilson In the
same connection Is regarded as one OF
the signs of his waning influence.
| Pointing out the unanimous condem-
nation of benzoate of soda by the ply
| sicians of the country. the Grange re-
| solved: That we vigorously protest
| AGAINST any laws or rulings that will
| permit the use of benzoate of soda, or
| similar prcservatIves in our foodstuffs,
| and that we heartily commend the
| stand taken by Dr. Harvey W. Wiley,
| chemist of the national department OF
agriculture, in opposition to their use. g
The National Grange sends Its exec
utive committee to Washington every
| winter to look after various legislation
| of interest to 1t. and one OF the mat
| ters to be urged by 1t this winter will
| be the strengthening OF the pure food
law. the Grange having been almost