Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-09-28
Or. Wiley's Hands Tied?

- II all reports from Washington are
true. the people of the country have
:. not the strong cause for congratula-
ton, in President Tafts exoneraIlon of
DR.. Wiles. that they had supposed. A
correspondent in the capitol city writes
interestingly on the subject. bur car
ries the impression that the public has
been deceived by accepting the Presi-
dents approval of the pure food expert
as guarantee that Dr. Wiley au-
thofity has. been restored. This cor
respondent writes
Wiley remains a nonentity as far
as the enforcement of the pure food
act is concerned. As this fact becomes
more generally known. the popular APP
7sproxal of the Presidents action sub
sides, and evidence aecumulates that
: the people are dissatisfied. His exonera-
ton Of Wiley has been discounted.
Even if the President contemplated dis
missing Wiley at the. instance of the
high officials who sought his undoing.
lie might Well have hesitated TO do so
in the face of the universal demand
for his retention in office But the
President stopped With exoncration
and left Wiley as helpless as the shorn
and bound samson in the prison at
GAIA.
Nothing has been done to date, to
change the conditions 50 graphically
described before the Moss committee.
The Board OF Food and Drug liIspec-
ton continues in control Of the adj
ADMINISTRATION of the Pure Food Act. It
still consists of Wiley, MeGabe and
Dunlap, and it Is Uncomfortable that
their relations will be more harmoni-
Gus because of the failure OF the
scheme of McCabe and Dunlap to Gust
Wiley. The latter testified that the
vote was so often two to one against
him that he generally refrained from
voting and the public is inauiring
whether there Will continue to be u
two TO one Note in the future when
ever {, question arises between the in
terests of, the doped food manufactur-
ers aud the interests of the people.
without a thorough housekeeping
at the Department of Agriculture the
interests Of the people will have profit
ed little By the President action and
whether there Is to be a mucbneeded
housekeeping and whethr It viii be
undertaken by Secretary Wilson or his
successor and how soon. The public
demands that President Taft should
40 further and promptly and effective
Is uubind DIR. Wiley's hands
We cannot give full endorsement to
our correspondents words in this mat
Ter, believing it unlikely that President
Taft, even III the Whirl of events at
the time Of his decision in the case of
Wiley. would allow AN erroneous inn
preston to spread over the country.
If DR.. Wiley is still helpless, after the
Presidents endorsement of him, it is
ample evidence to the public that
something is rotten in Denmark, and
the Presidents suggestion of a gener-
al shake-up of the Agricultural De
partment assumes a new meaning,
FAR better than the public thinks it
understands the necessity gof a general
turning over and cleaning out of that
+. department.
lo3 Dr. Wiley has held a peculiarly
y strong position in the affection of the
people Of this country, for several
years. In his work, there has been
2 ever that element Of assurance which
breeds confidence and which has re-
tanned with him the people against
food dopers. There is suggestion
that the constant endeavor of these
poisoners of what we have to eat, may
result IN something surprising 70 then
and highly satisfactory to the people
at large. II is not beyond the bounds
of possibility that Harvey W. WILEY
!. may yet be at the head of this branch
OF great department. of which as {
member he has done more to purify
and render clean and wholesome, tn,
product of thousands of food manufac
+ turing concerns throughout the coun
5. try, than all other forces combined
+ gTaiis fart siei seoIntry recognizes, an,
gives to him the credit. 1t is doubt
81 III IL any other man would be greete'
snsfhi srcian general approYal a. tn
head, pf this branch Of the goverpinen
WHICH Needs heuseelaaning tina,
would Mr.. Wiley.