The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1911-08-02
AND HIS
POISON SQUAD
Career Of Chief Figure In
Latest Administration
Controversy.


must gain more knowledge to keep II
with the Hoosier minds, he spent til
year 1STS-79 doing research work i
chemistry at Berlin. Indiana mad
DR.. Wiley state chemist in 1881, an
he remained in that position tw
years, until going to Washington t
become the chief of the division o
chemistry in the department of agri
culture. His career as a servant o
the government-his enemies say b
was more of boss than a servant
has caused the Hoosiers to point a
him and say, HE is one of u.s." Ken
county considers that Wiley bestow
special honor upon it by being borl
within its limits.
Not Satisfied to Test Fertilizers.
When Wiley got to going in Wash
ington he displayed the power to ca
work. Those under him and man,
above him did not hold the same opin
ion as to exerting themselves for Un
Gle Sam. DR.. Wiley thought that hi
office ought not to confine itself to see
ing IL fertilizers were up to snuff el
not. 1t was the new chiefs aim tc
create a division of chemistry for the
study Of food adulteratiop, and In 1885,
his Office was authorized to study the
adulteration Of foods.
While in Germany DR.. Wiley's inter
est in the chemistry Of foods and il
physiological chemistry had beer
greatly increased by work in the
health laboratory Of Berlin, under the
direction Of DR.. Sell. After DIR. Wiley
had become state chemist Of Indians
he set about to create a popular de
mand for pure food and Legislation
relative to food inspection. Not unit
the division of chemistry was allowed
to take up the study of food adultera
ton did DR.. Wiley begin to see thu
possibility Of the realization of hi
ideas on the exposing of adulterateC
foods and drugs.
A part of bulletin 13 in 1887 con
tains the first report of his researches
The interest aroused by the publica
tion led to Senator Faulkner's intro
duction of a comprehensive food in
spection bill similar in many respects
to that passed by parliament in 1874
After leading a harassed life for sew
eral years this bill was finally killed
by the house Of representatives. 9th
er bills that DR.. Wiley was behint
failed to pass.
But DR.. Wiley was not discouraged
by these setbacks. Largely through hi
efforts the national pure food conven
ton met in Washington in 1896. tt
whose duty it was to investigate adul
terations resulted In the appointment
of the mason senate committee,
whose duty it was to investigate adul
terated foods. AS the most promi
nent leader Of the pure food movemen
and the governments chief expert, DR.
Wiley took the leading part in tn,
committees Investigations. He direct
ed the taking Of testimony, which fill
ed Il volume of 800 pages when com
pletr0
Finally Wins Long Fight.
The slowaess of congress to act upOI
the committees report might have dis
couraged any one but Dr. Wiley, anC
the pure food movement entered il
1904 upon the final stage preceding tn
passage of the national pure food an(
drugs act two years later. Since thel
the work of the bureau of chemistr!
has greatly increased, for its duty I'm
der the bill was to supply analyses o
foods and drugs as a basis for prose
cution and information to Legislators
needing aid in the preparation of meas
ures.
According to the policy Of Secretar!
Wilson, DR.. Wiley, in whom the heaC
Of the agricultural department ha
had full confidence, was allowed {
rather free hand. The food and drug
act conferred enormous power upon tht
chief of the bureau Of chemistry. DR.
Wiley's many enemies have disclosed
that he used his power arbitrarily. hu
those of less prejudiced mind are in
cliDed to credit him with a fair inter
pretation of the act and the rulings
made under II. His first chief setback
was received when the Remsen bOarC
two years ago, contrary to Or. Wiley
view, reported that benzoate of sodi
as a preseryative was not harmful
DR.. Wiley threatened to resign wheI
the board was upheld, but he didn't.
The reason that DR.. Wiley is so wei
known to the public In general is du,
to his populariZation of advice and tech
nical information regarding harmful
foods and drugs. He has kept the publ,
Informed upon the improvement or de
terioratiOn Of products In cold storage
For the benefit of the people he Tough
hayseed jam, glucose honey and whit
-four. In New York city several year'
ago he startled the Sphinx club mem
bers at dinner by telling them wha
they were drinking was not whisky
although the label ON the bottles sale
it was. To the members of a house
committee on agriculture he once
served food and drink to Illustrate tn,
difference between the Dufe and thI