Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-25
Case Laid Before Taft by Sec.
retary Wilson.
NO RULING FOR FEW DAYS
Report Said to Be Antagonistic to
Pure Food Champion.
SPECULATION ON THE RESULT
President Returns From Visit to
Beverly In Time for Cab
met Meeting.

The Wiley case is at last squarely be-
fore President Taft. having been put
there today by Secretary Wilson.
The President returning from his week
end visit to Beverly. Mass. reached
Washington at 1925 this morning. Rep
resentative Mccall accompanied him from
Boston.
The President went directly to the
White House, where a meeting Of the
cabinet was called for II am.
The head Of the Department Of Agri-
culture went to the cabinet meeting to-
day with the fattest-looking portfolio he
has carried In many weeks. He admit
ted that the extra bulk was caused by
his recommendations as to the head
chemist of the department.
Please tell us what your recommenda-
tions are" an ardent young reporter
asked the Secretary.
How long have you been in the busl-
ness?'' Mr.. Wilson inquired. with a sad
look, as he went on into the cabinet
room. where he soon laid before the Pres
ident the views he holds as to what dis
position should be made of the foe of i'm
pure foods.
There are strong circumstantial reasons
for the belief that the recommends tons
of Mr.. Wilson are positively antagonistic
to DR.. Wiley and that he stands squareiy
by his personal board and Attorney Cen
eral Wickersham in suggesting that DIR.
Wiley be allowed to resign.
Did Not Consult Taft.
Secretary Wilson is known to have in
timated to several frien 5 that he would
make his recommendations without con-
sultation with the President and without
knowing whether they would be satisfac-
tory to the chief executive. 1t was evil
dent from remarks he made before the
cabinet meeting that the President had
not attempted to color the report to suit
any decision he might have reached in
advance. Mr., Wilson. too, has said that
the President always has given the wild
est latitude to his cabinet officers in the
handling of affairs in their respective de-
partments and that he did not feel it nee
essary to sound the President in advance
as to what the President might or might
not want.
Mr.. Wilson, it became known today,
holds that there would be no cause for
trouble between himself and the President
should the chief executive entirely over
rule his recommendations. He holds that
the President has the right and authority
to render a decision entirely at variance
with abinet officer without that fact
causing friction between the two. II Mr..
Wilson has advised the enforced retire
ment of DR.. Wiley from government serv-
ice, as it seems likely he has done, the
President could hold DR.. Wiley in the
service without Mr.. Wilson feeling that
he had been turned down in a manner
to produce resentment.
Said to Be Only Course.
Persons familiar with the situation in
the Department of Agriculture have
long expressed the opinion that Secre-
tary Wilson could do nothing else but
oppose DR.. Wiley's retention in the
government service. Affairs in the de-
partment long ago reached the point
where DIR. Wiley was, in popular opin-
ION at least, above Secretary Wilson.
and where the chief chemist is said to
have frequently ignored the wishes Of
the Secretary on certain subjects.
In passing on the case Of DR.. Wiley
it is now well understood that the per-
sonnel board consulted Secretary Will
son in advance and that Mr.. Wilson ap-
proved the decision in advance. It
would be impossible for him to change
his views at this time, it is stated. The
head officials of the department are
committed to dumping DR.. Wiley, and
Secretary Wilson is in agreement with
them.
1t is understood that Secretary Wilson's
recommendations today go farther than
the present case against DR.. Wiley. They
go into q number Of facts tending to
show. it is said, incessant insubordfna-
ton on the part of Dr. Wiley to the au-
thorities above him. which the Secretary
will claim he has overlooked because OF
the valuable services DR.. Wiley has rem
dered the country.
Attorney General Wickersham, whose
name has been brought into the case by
reason of his recommendations to the
President that DR.. Wiley be allowed to
resign, was present at the cabinet meet
ing today, and Is said to have firmly
backed the Recommendations OF Mr. VII
son, thereby arraying both cabinet Off
GERS against popular opinion as to what
should be done.
The Presidents decision is not expected
for several days. as he proposes to give
all the papers q most careful reading
and probably confer with the principals
before making announcement.
No General Discussion.
At the close of the cabinet meeting 1t
was learned that President Taft and Sec
retary Wilson had had a conference over
the Wiley case, but that there had been
no general discussion Of the subject by
the cabinet Cabinet officers who are not
immediately concerned in the case say
that the question is one Tor the Presi-
dent Secretary Wilson and Attorney
General Wfckersham to handle.