Evening star., 1911-08-18
The Man and the Law.

II is of small Importance to the puDhc
whether the enforcement OF the pure food
law is vested in the Office of the chief
chemist or the solicitor of the Depart
ment of Agriculture. as far as the per-
sonal question is concerned 1t is, how
ever of the gravest Importance that the
man i'm charge OF this work should pos
sess the full confidence Of the people.
that he should be animated by sincere
desire to execute the statute In the inter-
est of the general health Between Nc
Cahe and Wiley the consumers of foods
and drugs would have no preference If
they were satisfied that both of the men
were actuated by consideration of their
welfare. But, unfortunately for the de-
partment's present arrangement. the pres
tige of DIR. Wiley is far greater than that
of the official who. perhaps by his own
activity and maybe at the instance of
his superiors has practically deprived the
chief chemist of his authority and re-
duced him to technical place in the
chemical work Of the department.
The people have good reason to be
suspicious of changes In personnel and
system after several years of success
ful enforcement of the statute. They de-
mand explanations. Why was DR.. Wiley
supplanted in the prosecution of the food
and drug aduiterators and mislabelers? :?
Was he unreasonably severe on them?
Did he carry his Interpretation of the
law too far? Did he become tyrannical?
Why, then, was he not definitely set
aside by executive order. after full and
fair inquiry? Why was he sidetracked by
stealth and combination and subterfuge
and quiet. almost secret. departmental
changes in the assignment Of duties?
Why. finally, was 1t attempted to Sc
cure his separation from the service by
a ridiculous technicality. smacking at
every turn of trickery and deceit?
The methods employed in the tying of
DIR. Wileys hands and in the effort to
oust him are all of the kind to suggest
that those who want him removed have
not been willing to hale him openly be-
fore the President or Congress, or the
bar Of public opinion. They are just the
sort Of methods that would be used by
, corrupt interest working to rid the
department of an obstacle to it's enjoy
ment Of unlawful privileges and profits.
What wonder that in the public mind the
moves against DIR. Wiley, eliminating In
the recommendation that he be allowed
to resign" because he had done. with
his Secretary's full knowledge. that
which his accusers had themselves done
before him, have been attributed to just
such an interest? 1t would be remark
able, and a reflection upon public in
telligence. II these conditions that are
coming to light through congressional in
vestigation were interpreted otherwise.
And so the case becomes intensely per-
sonal, whereas at first 1t might have de-
yeloped impersonally. without raising q
question of integrity between two men. or
involving any issue OF motive. The oon-
sumers of food and drugs are now de-
:idedly concerned in the identity OF the
man who is charged with tho enforce
nent of the law. They want to know all
about his training for the place, his rea-
sons for acting in this or that case. and
The factors influencing him in seeking and
iiseharging the powers he now possesses
The Wiley case" makes no further ap-
peal TO the people. 1t has become the
'McC abe case and is absorbingly in
teresting TO every one who eats food.