The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-10-16
TAFT Will FACE
SERIOUS QUESTION
WILL BE ASKED TO APPOINT
COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE
CONCERNS WHICH USE
5ENzoATE OF SODA.

Washington, Oct 16-when Presi-
dent Taft returns from his swing
around the circle he will find a cues
ton confronting him which promises
to prove an vexatious as that of what
| Is Whisky" which he now has under
consideration. The Association OF
State and National Dairy and Food
departments at its recent convention
in Denver decided TO ask him to have
the subject Of the use of chemical
preservatives Investigated In a practi-
cal manner on broad lines and soon ar
ter his return the matter will be laid
before him. Strange as 1t NAV seem.
In view of the furore raised over fine
oderless and tasteless but powerful
preventative known as benzoate OF
soda, 1t never seems to have occurred
to the department of agriculture ia
investigate its employment from a
practical standpoint. DIR. H w. Wi
ley fed benzoate Of soda to some rosv
checked students and desisted only
when ne found them In danger OF be-
coming physical wrecks. He report
ed that the benzoate turned them into
sheil-pink or sky blue, it Is irnma
terial which. Secretary Wilson, who
is the patron saint of the farmers
took the other end OF the controversy
and the whole subject of the physio-
logical, psychological, pathological So
Geological and genealogical effect OF a
minimum dose of benzoate admins
tered to husky college boys was re-
ferred to board of distinguished
chemists. They reported that instead
OF their subjects threatening to turn
up their toes they waxed fat on hen
zoate and IL the experiment had been
continued would probably have grown
so fond of 1t that it's use would have
become habit seriously fascinatinp
To same time in comparing the several
reports Of the distinguished chief Of
the bureau OF chemistry and the
equally distinguished members Of the
Remsen board, one can take one re.
port and by marking down mo" where
lt reads yes" and vice versa. he can
get an accurate idea of the other re-
port But no one seems to have
thought 1t worth while to visit the fac
tories themselves and see what II Is
mat is preserved with benzoate of
SOFA, under what conditions 1t is pre-
pared and how 1t is marketed. In
otner words, to find out the real rea
son why certain food manufacturing
interests contend so strongly for its
liberation. Such an investigation nv
a dfsinterested body of practical men.
1T is now proposed to ask at the hands
OF President Taft. There is no doubt
that under the Interpretation given the
pure food law by the present attorney
general. President Taft can apopint
SUCH a commission, and its expenses
can be paid out of the funds set aside
Tor enforcing the pure food law. iust
as those Of the Remsen board are
paid, the members of which get s25 per
day while employed. Failing the an
pointment Of such a commission bv
President Taft the opponents of ben
zoate OF soda propose to carry the war
into Africa and go directly to, Con- |
gress and ask for a special commit |
tee to investigate the condimental food
business from top to bottom and pro-
mise that II such an Investigation n
made the revelations will be the most
startling since those which led to the
OF the meat inspection act.