The Elk Mountain pilot., 1909-09-02
WILSON WINS IN
BENzOATE FIGHT
FIRST DAYS SESSION OF PURE
FOOD CONVENTION BRINGS
MUCH INTEREST.
DOMINATES
PROPOSITION TO HOLD SECRET
SESSION MEETS WITH STERN
REeUkE.

Denver.-Sharp and pungent As the
preservatives over which they are war
ring. was the opening of the annual
convention of the Association of State
and National Food and Dairy Commits
sioners in the ballroom of the Brown
Palace hotel Tuesday.
But sharp though the fight will be.
the end is already apparent. Friends
Of the federal administration are in
the majority two to one. The domi-
nant figure of the convention is Sec
retary of Agriculture James Wilson.
The anti-benzoate of soda people.
the advocates OF a model food law. be-
lieved by the friends of the admins
tration to be intended as substitute
for the present food laws built up un-
der the able leadership OF "Tama
Jim." seem doomed even this early
to an overwhelming defeat.
1t is probable that out of this con-
vention will grow a meeting OF state
food and dairy commissioners at
Washington summoned by Secretary
OF Agriculture Wilson. to bind even
closer the bonds between federal and
state supervision and regulation cf
food stuffs. and to put the finishing
touches upon the victory which the
administration forces now expect to
will with comparative ease. Commits
sioner Wilbur F. Cannon Of Colorado
suggested that Secretary Wilson call
such a meeting in his address yester-
day before the convention. 1t was a
timely word. received with enthusiasm
and commended by several OF the sue
ceeding speskers.
President Emery and SECRETARY Al
len contended that the only persons
who were entitled to membership and
. vote were those who had paid $40
at the meeting last year At ,Mackinac
Island. Canada. and joined the associ-
alton. This was regarded as an at
tempt TO shut out he'friends OF 5ecre-
tary Wilson. The atten1Ance ~ Den
vevr In larger than for years past.
Many delegates would be unable to
take part in the convention were this
rule enforced. and Of this number \
great many commissioners are Secre-
tary Wilson's friends.
But an expedient was found to make
the anti-benzoates pull in their horns.
Commissioner Cannon of Colorado
questioned the adoption of such res
olution Ms described by the president
and secretary last year. and called for
verification In the proceedings of the
convention. Although the money ap-
propriated was to be used for printing
the reports none have ever been
printed. Only the original copy is In
existence. II Is said that during the
secret session at Mackinac resolutions
condemniny Secretary Wilson and his
policies were passed. That with Sec
retary Wilson. evidence OF whose
fighting qualities had already been
given in the morning. sitting among
the commissioners. the secretary felt
a delicacy about producing the records
OF the previous convention. Therefore
they were not produced. although Com
missioner Cannon frequently made a
call for them.
In discussing benzoate OF soda. Pres
ident Emery reviewed the efforts
made at Washington to have the fed
eral government frown upon the use of
the preservative. After experienced
chemists had shown that benzOatc OF
soda as used in many of the common
food products was harmful. he said.
the referee board. beaded by DR.. Ira
Remsen of Baltimore. Md. conducted
series of experiments with the result
that the government was informed
that the preservative was not harm
full.
This board conducted experiments
upon a limited number of healthy
young men with what they called
small doses of benzoate of soda added
to foods for two months, and with
what they called large doses for one
month";" said President Emery. we
realized that il the finding OF this
board was accepted by the govern
ment a crisis had been reached in our
efforts to purify food. We pointed
out the following objections to benzo-
ate OF soda: That 1t is harmful; that
physicians usually Danish 1t from their
homes; that it is unnecessary. since
foods properly prepared do not need
chemical preservatives: that 1t per
mits the use of unfit materials in
food; that II encourages unsanitary
practices and encourages substitution
for refrigeration and sterilization: that
Its use sends out through the dairy-
man. butcher. soda dispenser and gro
Ger a drug which is harmful to the
nubIjc health We held that II the M.