The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15

Washington, OcloDeF lf-NoPSei'at3 That man is truly great who loves duty more than money or position
 There are so few of this class in this day and century that the occasional ex- ception stands out like a guidepost on the course of human history
 When manufacturers Of this country representing an investment and an infiu- ence of more than sio0.o0o.Oo0 organized and went after the scalp of Dr. Harvey W. Wiley, the chief of the United States Bureau of Chemistry, the man who was determined to enforce the pure food jaws or bust, that official could have stepped out of the way at any time to his own great financial advantage.
 He has had standing offer for years of positions that would have paid him more than double the salary that the government pays him. He could step out today and more jobs of this kind than ole would chase him to the ends of the earth.
 But Dr. Wiley will not resign to accept any of them. He will not be fired If he and the people can help it.
 He believes In pure foods and drugs. He is q fanatic on the subject He knows that impure and poison foods and drugs mean sickness and death. The people must have purity if It is possible. He sees his duty and nothing will turn him from it.
 pr. Wiley has only held three positions In his life Two were professorships in colleges The third Is the one he now holds and which he has held for % years.
 Dr. Wiley has many cranky ideas, but they all tend in one direction-the moral and physical betterment of the race Not one of his 500 employees in the bureau or chemistry is allowed 10 smoke cigars CT cigarettes while on duty He does not use tobacco in any form and recently made the prediction that within b years there would be no public smoking in any form In the large cities of the country. He declared that smoking contaminated the air that by right belongs to all of the people and should not by right be so des- ecrated and befouled.
 pr. Wiley made his first money dropping corn for a nelghbor farmer in Indiana when he was a boy He had reputa- ton for being the champion boy corn grower in his country. He did not oriy produce the most corn to the acre, but he did it with amazing method. He dropped his seed corn in such a way that 1t fell in even rows across as well as He was so expert at this .hat he was one day asked by q neighbor 10 come and help him. He went and worked all one day, 12 or IA hours. When he went home that night he had a bright, new quarter. He declares 1t was the most money .he ever had and would give $50 for that quarter right now.
 He had no early school advantages for the reason that there were no schools near his home. But when he entered Hanover college four miles away, he stood at all his classes and always carried off 100 I CT cent averages in all his lessons.
 During the four years I was at Hon over" said the doctor, "f never had an overcoat or a collar, except such IS borrowed on special occasions for ap- pearance sake. l paid 90 cents q week for a room and did my own cooking
 When he graduated at Hanover he was offered and accepted the position of Latin and Greek teacher in Butler college at Indianapolis. While performing these du- ties he studied medicine and intended to practice until offered the chair of chem istry in the college from which he had just graduated. He accepted the place with the understanding that he should take a course at Harvard first At Har- yard he was permitted to enter the senior year and graduated with high honor.
 pr. Wiley believes in hard work. He practices what he breaches. As often as he can get away he runs out to q farm he has in Virginia and goes right out into the field, doing a mans work from early till late. He has another farm in Mary land and an interest in his fathers home stead In Indiana.
 Dr. Wiley never permits himself to worry about anything. During the recent shake up in his bureau. when 1t looked for while as if he would be put on the toboggan slide he never for once seemed to lose courage. His smile re- maned as genial as ever and he was lust ready to tell n good story.
 He is one of the best story tellers in Washington and often makes himself the butt of them. He greatly enjoys joke on himself.
 When the doctor was asked to tell some of the principle features of his fife s~Ses~~~s~~s~~s~ce~~~~~ s~~s~s~~~es>ce~~>~S>~;