The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-10-16
FOOD TAINTERS
faint The news
METHODS or ADVOCATES OF
BENzoATE or SODA AS FOOD
Preventative SHOWN
UP.

Washington, Oct 16.-For some
time past 1t has been evident to those
who have followed the benzoate OF
soda controversy that those who advo-
cate it's use SIS food preservatiye
We're resorting TO desperate methods
70 misiead the public I'm regard to the
facts in the case. 11lese methods
have been ventilated in the news
papers and magazines, one putting the
case: '"T'he same folks who faint
your food are trying to faint your
news" One Of the methods utilized
is for press agent in New York to
write articles to the newspapers nm
der fictitious name, posing as q
scientist interested in the matter from
purely scientific standpoint. An
other scheme was editorfalIy exposed
In The Outlook last month as fol-
lows: And. finally, the manufac-
uarers VINO believe sincerely In the
right and propriety of their use OF
benzoate OF soda are not really doing
their cause good by some OF their
methods of creating public opinion.
An organization bearing the high
NAtAG VI tie NaIIODa1 Assoc
citation for the Promotion of Public
Health, and purporting to be a philan-
thropfc and pulblic-s spirited society. is
really maintained as an advertising
or press agency by some at least Of
the manufacturing group which use
benzoate of soda. This press agency
recently submitted to The Outlook for
publication, an article by physician
which, under the guise of a charitable
appeal for poor children suffering
from infantile paralysis, was a thinIy
disguised advocacy of the use of benz
zoate OF soda in preserved foods. The
outlook OF course declined the article.
and It can hardly be said that it's con-
fdence in the commercial advocates
OF benzoate of soda was greatly in
creased by the incident"
1t was not until a few DAYS aeo
however. that Washington had a dem
onstration Of how far they would go
In attempting to mislead the public
through the press and SO sktllfullv
was the plant prepared that it is no
wonder that even SO thoroughly re-
liable and irreproachable an organiza-
ton as the Associated Press fell for
1t. On Oct. s the trustees of the Amer
lean Institute Of Homeopathy met In
washington to consider matters per-
tanning exclusively to that organiza-
ton. They adjourned that evening
and most Of them left the city. That
night man of eminently respectable
appearance called at a number of
newspaper offices, among others the
Washington office of the Associated
Press. In his hand he carried a num-
Der Of copies of a statement and on
one OF them appeared the 20. K" of
DR.. J. Ritchey Horner, Of Cleveland.
secretary Of the board whether in
tentionally or otherwise, he conveyed
to the Associated Press representative
the idea that he was DR.. Horner and
on the strength. of thia the Associated
Press carried dispatch which began:
''Characterizing the action of the
American Institute of Homeopathy re-
Gently In condemning the use Of ben
zoate of soda as a preservative as
having been too "hasty'' the trustees
Of the association which met mere to-
day, adopted a resolution recommend |
Ing that the institute at its next an |
nual meeting reconsider its STEP" |
Continuing the dispatch quoted DIR. |
Horner, the representative of the AS
sociated Press being under the belief |
that he had talked with DR.. Horner. /
At the Office OF a Washington news |
paper the same party showed up and
~ result Of his visit an article APP
oeared the next morning stating that
he trustees took hand in the BEN
-
nously adopting a resolution asking
me next annual meeting of the insti-
ute to reconsider the action of the
gathering in Detroit last June
,ondemning the use OF benzoate IS
1.-The names of the trus-
ees were given and 1t was mentioned
hat two had travelled across the con-
inent to attend the meeting the in
erence being that they mad come to
yote on the benzoate of soda resolu-
ion. 1t is unfortunate that neither
he Associated Press dispatch nor the
article in the local newspaper was
rue A resolution asking the insti-
ute to reopen the question for fur
her consideration was presented to
he board but instead of being adopted
or any other way as
vas represented by the party convey
ne the information to the press 1t
vas referred to the committee on res
buttons, point OF order having been
made against 1t by DR. J. B. Gregg
curtis, of washington, that the trus-
ees had met to consider other mat
ers and that the benzoate of soda
controversy had no place in their de-
Iberations. This was confirmed by
he stenographer who reported the
Meeting, DR.. w. o. Forbes, Of Hot
springs. Ark, and Dr. Gusts. DR..
Iorner was interviewed over the long
istance telephone and denied that he
ad visited the Associated Press or
iven anyone the right to use his
anne as authority for a statement
hat the board had adopted" the res
luton, which, he said, was referred
, the committee on resolutions. Dr.
ustis is the chairman of the commit
i designated by the institute to pre-
snt the condemnatory resolutions to
resident Taft. He has done so and
Ill see President Taft about them ?
80. - Az ~aA-~