The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1912-10-10
BY HARVEY W. WILEY.
Former Chief Chemist of the u. s,
Department Of Agrieulture.)

Department Of AsrieuIture.)
My appeal is chiefly to those who,
like myself, have been lifelong Repub-
leans. 1 believe that no kind of an
administration is going to ruin the
country. have a high personal re-
gard for each one of the candidates for
president and vice president on all
the tickets. All the political platforms
are mainly sound, and all promise eff
fort in behalf Of the whole people. My
choice is not based ON a platform. 1t
was determined by my impressions of
the real attitude Of the candidates re-
specting the public welfare. We are
creatures Of heredity and environ
ment. In our attitude toward great
public questions we are almost alto
getheT creatures of environment.
What two men are by environment
least liRely to be swayed by SPECIAL
interests and most likely to be guided
by devotion to public welfare? Two
of the candidates have already been
tried in the presidential chair, and we
know by experience what may be ex-
pected If either of them resumes his
former seat on March 4 1913. Mr..
Roosevelt by reason of his attitude to-
ward the food and drug act aban-
doned the consumers of the country
to the rapacity of a few mercenary
manufacturers. Under authority of
congress I had carried on extensive
experiments with my 80 called poison
squad and found that certain sub
stances-viz, benzolo compounds, sui
phurous compounds and sulphate of
copper (bluestone)-were injurious to
health.
The law conferred upon me as chief
of the bureau of chemistry the duty of
acting as a grand jury and determin
Ing whether foods and drugs were adul'
teratea or ElisbH4Ads4s 'Iaztsta W ,AAe
pealing frSn nag 6ssssSesss teSgts UgxsaSs
rs the law requires, the users of these
poisons appealed to President Roose-
velt He not only listened to them, but
he abrogated the plain provisions OF
the law, appointed board not con-
templated by the law and directed that
these predatory interests might con-
tinue their attacks on the health Of the
people until this board, unknown to
the law, should decide otherwise.
Can we safely trust the campaign
for public health to Mr.. Roosevelt?
cannot believe that to be the proper
course. Mr.. Taft inherited this exceed
Ingly bad condition of affairs from his
predecessor and has not only continued
this illegal board under whose patron
age adulterators are still poisoning the
people, but he did worse. In the mat
ter of the adulteration Of distilled bev-
erages in which Roosevelt upheld the
legally constituted authorities Mr.. Taft
reversed that policy and threw the
mighty weight of the executive office
to the support Of the worst lot OF adul-
terators that ever disgraced country.
Mr. Wilson and Mr.. Marshall by
their strenuous efforts in behalf Of the
food laws of their respective states
have given positive promise to end
such a threatening state Of affairs,
They will support to the utmost the
officials under the law who are trying
to protect the public health and will
make short shrift Of those who have
brought about these present unbear-
able conditions.
Wilson and Marshall by their educa-
ton and environment are free from
bias in favor of predatory interests
and are inspired by true patriotic zeal
in behalf of public welfare.
/ support the Democratic nominees In
full knowledge that many of the prom
inent Democrats In congress have |
been in full sympathy with the paral- |
ysis of the food law in behalf of the |
unholy dollar. But when the Demo
cratic president and vice president
lend the aid of their powerful synpa
thy in behalf OF the public health
those Of their own party not in sym
nathy with them Will be robbed OF
their power for evil. If Roosevelt or
Taft be chosen the soldiers of fraud
and adulteratioA will be- impregnably
for another foHr years and
benxeates, suIphates and adulterated
beverages WIN have a new
lease of life.
| believe also that. President Wilson
will reRovate the department. of agri-
culture, reekfng, as 1t has been for
The past twelve years, with scandals
md favorltism. He will see to 1t that
The bureau of animal industry will
protect the public health Instead of
he efforts of the packers to sell dis
sased meats under the deceptive
phrase ~. s. Inspected and Passed"
Under President Wilson no more Pin.
.hots will be kicked out of the service,
10 naese umsRs9tsaehts h1c@R@es W. o.
,rcise d4ctatorlal powers. Where win
% no more cotton leaks and jungle
atrocities, no more Everglade swim
lies. Buccaneering, boasting and bun
.ombe will give place to sane efforts
or the promotion Of real agriculture
md the public health.
Under Wilson the department Of
gricuitEe will be restored to speak
nc terms with the state agricultural
olfeges and experiment stations; and
he state officials will no longer be
ngarded as inferior beings, living only
n the largess Of washington cabl.
ask all who want honesty and faith
u service in the department Of agri-
ulture. the promotion Of public
ealth and executives who have
rown to manhood and lived in an en-
ironment favorable to that which
lakes for the public welfare to vote