The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-06-05
COME TO DEFENSE
OF DOCTOR WILEY
Officials Amazed at the Lat
est Attack Made on Pure
Food Advocate.
palladium Specially

Washington, June 5.-Members OF
congress and public ofYicials are am
AGED at the latest attack on DR.. Har-
vey W. Wiley contained In a circular
signed by Frederick w. Hooper as
secretary of the Advertisers Protect
i've association. The fact that neither
Hooper nor the alleged association
can be located has led TO the general
belief that both are fictitious and that
the circular is merely the latest ema-
nation from the press agents OF the
food .dopers. II Is addressed to edit.
ors and after reminding them OF the
falling off In patent medicine adver-
tising as we'll as that from the food
dopers and stating that the members
Of the association have one hundred
million dollars a year to spend In ad
vertising, invites them to attack DIR.
In letters to their senators and repre-
sentatives In congress. In return the
editors will be rewarded by an i'm
provement In their business.
A number Of editors have written
their congressman and also DR.. Wiley.
but not in the spirit intended by
Hooper. Instead of denouncing DR.
Wiley, the editors have denounced the
circular. it's putative author. the al
legged association and the methods of
the food.dopers to influence public
opinion. A number of the congress
men have turned over the circulars
and tho letters to the committee on
expenditures in the department Of
agriculture which is about to conduct
IN investigation of that department
II have been startled ut the charges
contained in this remarkable docu-
ment." said Representative Moss. of
Indiana. chairman of the committee.
ut looks to me like an attempt to
coerce the newspapers as well as gov
eminent officials. the former by
threatening a loss OF patronage or Of.
fering an increase of advertising, &C
cording to whether the editors sup
port or attack DR.. Wiley. and the lat
ter by indirectly threatening him with
more OF Mr.. Hooper and his associa-
ton"
DR.. Wiley declined to discuss the
matter for publication further than to
say he had received many copies from
editors with letters condemning the
circulars and that his advocacy of
pure food principles would not be
checked by any such scurrilous at
tacks. An influential member of con-
gress who will participate in the in
vestigation of the department of agri-
culture and for that reason preferred
not to be named. said: 1T Is "A bold at
tempt to blackmail the press. OF
course reputable editors will not be
Influenced either by the threats or
brides offered in the circular. On the
contrary many OF them are denounc-
ing II In red hot language. We are
directly interested in the matter as
Hopper. II that Is his name. charges
that DIR. Wiley has squandered the
public money to advance the interests
Of himself and his particular friends.
As his bureau is part OF the depart
ment of agriculture and receives its
support from congress the matter Is
II DIR. Wiley has been squandering the
public money as Hooper alleges we
want to know 1t, and on the other
hand. II some one else has been doing
the squandering we want to know
that fact. Personally. II looks to me
as though DIR. Wiley has been spend
Ing money to enforce the law and
that others have been spending the
public money to defeat the purpose of
the law and the will and intent of
congress. II Hooper can be located
shall favor summoning him to appear
before our committee and give the
basis for his charges against DR..