Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-07-18

iadulterated foods AS the most prom
inent leader Of the pure food move
ment and the governments chief eX-
pert, DIR. Wiley took the leading part
| In the committees Investigations. He
directed the taking Of testimony,
which filled q volume Of 500 pages
when complete.
The slowness Of congress to act upon
the committees report might have dis
| couraged any one but DR.. Wiley, and
the pure food movement entered In
1904 upon the final stage preceding
the passage of the national pure food
and drugs act two years later. Since
then the work Of the bureau OF chem
istry has greatly Increased, for Its duty
under the bill was to supply analyses
of foods and drugs as basis for
! prosecution and information to legis-
lators needing aid in the preparation
Of measures.
According to the policy Of Secretary
Wilson, DR.. Wiley, in whom the head
Of the agricultural department has
had full confidence. was allowed a
rather free hand. The food and drugs
act conferred enormous power upon
the chief Of the bureau Of chemistry.
DR.. Wiley's many enemies have dis
closed that he used his power arbi-
trarily, but those Of less prejddiced
mind are inclined to credit him with a
fair Interpretation Of the act and the
rulings made under 1t. His first chief
setback was received when the Rem
sen board two years ago, contrary to
DR.. Wiley's view, reported that benZo-
ate of soda as a preservative was not
harmful. DR.. Wiley threatened to re-
sign when the board was upheld, but
he didn't.
The reason that DR.. Wiley is so well
known to the public in general is due
to his popularization Of advice and
technical information regarding HARM
full foods and drugs So good whisky
faster was he that President Roose-
velt upheld Wiley's rulings on label
ling neutral spirits mixed whisky and
colored. DR.. Wiley has always kept
the public Informed upon the i'm
in cold storage. For the benefit Of the
people he fought hayseed jam, glucose
honey and white -four. Here in New
York city several years ago he startl-
ed the Sphinx club members at din
ner by telling them what they were
drinking was not whisky, although the
label on the bottles said 1t was. To the
members Of house committee on ag-
riculure he once served food and drink
to illustrate the difference between
the pure and the adulterated. Ac-
cording to DR.. Wiley shad had no
more sense about steering clear Of poll
luted waters than human beings have.
An instance Of the way in which he
would attract popular attention to GER
tain subjects was a paper that he read
In this city on arsenic in glycerine and
women's black stockings. He hates
tobacco and would close all bars. In
fifteen years he says people won't dare
smoke in public. He has also talked
about the day when men will be strong
and active. although eighty years old.
The poison squads established by DR..
Wiley ate food containing borax and
other preservatives. lived on a diet Of
cheese and underwent tobacco and al
cohol tests.
Manufacturers Of foods and drugs
affected by DR.. Wiley's analyses, rul-
ings and general activity have long
demanded his removal. His attitude
toward them may be summed up in
his own words: "I don't give hang
for the business world. What I care
for Is the health Of the people. Where
there are hundreds Of dollars involved
there are millions Of lives hanging in
the balance. It Is these I consider,
and not the business done by any cor
poration. New York Sun.