Evening star., 1911-08-27

geons columbia University New
York. and Dr. A. E. Taylor. professor
of pathology in the University of Cal
ifornia. The appointments were made
by Secretary Wilson,.
1T is superfluous for me to praise
these gentlemen or to say word In
defense of their character or scientific
reputation. No one at all familiar
called upon to do would venture to
call in question the fitness of these
members / may perhaps be permitted
to say in regard to myself that l have
not engaged directly in the expert
mental work upon which our conclu-
sions bave been based. l have acted
as chairman and exercised a general
supervision. Having studied medicine
before / studied chemistry. and hav
ing always been interested in the
and pharmacology. l think / am not
entirely unified for the work / have
been called upon to do for the govern
ment. l have repeatedly suggested to
my colleagues on the board that in my
opinion it would be best for me to re-
sign. but they have persuaded me
against my will not to do so. While
have become much interested in the
work and am convinced that it is of
value to the country, / should be glad
to be relieved of the burden. In this
connection, let me testify to the dis
interestedness of the services of my
colleagues They have given much
time to the work-;n some cases with
out interruption from one end of the
year to the other-and the compensa-
tion has been much less than would
have been paid these same men for
the same service. In all the discus
sfons between the members there has
never been any other desire expressed
than to learn the truth and nothing but
the truth. l do not see how the work
could have been done more honestly.
Lost Valuable Member.
Last winter the board lost one of it's
most valuable members by death. DR..
Herter, who had for some time been in
poor health. finally succumbed. To the
last he kept up his interest and took
part in our conferences. Weighing my
words, | have no hesitation in saying
| that l have never known a man OF higher
ideals. Scientific truth was almost an
obsession with him. No one could have
associated with him and worked with
MIN without being the better for il.
Another member of the board has un-
dermined his health by too close applica-
ton to the work and, though he is on
the road to recovery and we have good
reason to believe that he will soon be
himself again, his example is a warning
TO the other members.
The vacancy caused by the death of
DR.. Herter has been filled by the ap-
pointment of DR.. Theobald Smith. pro-
| fessor of comparative pathology in Har-
ward University and director OF the
pathological laboratory of the Massachu-
setts state board of health.
Having thus shown how the referee
board came into existence and under
what conditions it has worked and is
working. but little more is called for.
Thes Secretary of Agriculture certifies'
the questions to the board upon which
| he wants an opinion. 1t is then the duty
| or the board to answer the questions to
| the best of its knowledge and ability,
| making whatever studies may be neces-
sary for this purpose. 1t has nothing
| Department of Agriculture and is in
no wise responsible for these decisions.
| The department makes use as it sees fit
| OF the reports furnished by the board.
| Finally, a few words with regard to
/ the treatment the board has received.
| Attempts have been made to discredit 1t
| in the eyes of the public. Violent at
| tacks have been made upon ii. The men,
| bers have been accused of a great variety
! of sins OF omission and commission. The
| law has been invoked to break the force
OF some of the results obtained. In gen.
| eral. there has been much gnashing of
| teeth. But the board has not been dis
| turbed by these performances, and as
long it may continue to labor. it can
| not allow itself to be disturbed by such
irrelevant matters. 1t is important for
the world that such problems as are
| presented to the board should be solved,
| and the only way they can be solved is
| by patient scientific investigation carried
| on with the sole object of discovering the
truth. Scientific questions cannot be an
| swered by the erratic acts of hysterical
persons nor by political mancuyering."