Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-16
PROBE TO CONTINUE

CONTINUED from First PaceD
there has been a growing feeling in my
mind that these differences were irrecon-
cilable. and | have been conscious of an
official environment which has been eS
Sentially inh oSpitahle. I saw the funda-
mental principles of the food and drugs
act, m they appeared to me, one by one
para1yyed or disc credited.
1t was the plain provision Of the act,
and was fully understood at the time of
the enactment. stated in the law it
self. that the bureau of chemistry 10
examine all samples of suspected foods
and drugs To determine whether they
were adulterated misbranded. and
that if this examination disclosed such
facts the matter was to be referred to
the courts for decision.
Interest after interest, engaged i'm what
the bureau of chemistry found to be the
manufacture of miSbranded or adulter-
atcd foods and drugs, made an appeal to
escape appearing i'll court To defend their
practices. Various methods We're en-
rloyed to secure this end many of which
We're successful.
Curbed in Activities.
"Onc by one found that the activities
pertaining to the bureau of chemistry
were restricted and various forms of ma
nipulated food products were withdrawn
from its consideration and referred either
TO other bodies not contemplated by the
law or directly relieved from further con-
troll few of the instances of this kind
are well known. Among these may be
mentioned the manufacture of so-called
whisky from alcohol. colors and fiavors:
the addition to food products of benzoic
acid and its salts, of sulphurous acid and
Its salts, of sulphate of copper, of sac
charm and of alum; the manufacture of
So-cailed wines from pomace. chemicals
ho 1r
IN polluted waters for the purpose of
making them look fatter and larger than
they really are for the purposes of sale:
the selling moldy. fermented. decomposed
and miSbranded grains: the offering to
the people of glucose under the name of
corn syrup. thus taking a name which
rightfully belongs TO another product
made directly from Indian corn stalks.
The official liberation and valuation of
such practices have restricted the activ-
tiles of the bureau of chemistry to a very
narrow field. AS result of these re-
>trictions, / have been instructed to re-
frain from stating in any public way my
own opinion regarding the effect of these
substances upon health. and this restric-
ton has interfered with my academic
freedom of speech on matters relating di-
rectly to the public welfare.
Expresses Gratitude.
These restrictions eliminated in the
summer of 1911 with false charges of
misconduct made against me by col
leagues in the Department of Agriculture
which, had il not been for the prompt in
reference on the part of the President
or the L nfted States, to whom | am
profoundly grateful, would have led to
my fercible separation from the public
service. After the President of the United
States and committee of Congress, as a
result OF searching investigation. had
completely exonerated me from any
wrongdofng in this matter, l naturally
expected that those who had made these
false charges against me would no long
er be continued in position which would
make repetition of such an action pos
sible. The event. however, has not sus-
tanned my expectations in this matter. II
was still left TO come into daily contact
with the men who secretly plotted my
destruction.
Il am now convinced that the freedom
which belongs to every private American
citizen can be used by me more fruitful
~ in rallyins public opinion to the sup
port OF the cause of pure food and drugs
than could the limited activity left to me
IN the position which l have just vacat-
ed l propose to devote the remainder
OF my life, with such ability as l may
nave at my command. and with such op-
portunities as may arise, to the promo
ton of the principles of civic righteous
ness and industrial integrity which I'M
derie the food and drugs act, in the
interest of the people at large. instead of
that of the comparatively few mercenary
manufacturers and dealers.
Statement to Wilson.
This hope is heightened by my belief
that great majority of manufacturers
and dealers in foods and drugs are
heartily in sympathy with the views |
have held. and that these views are in
dorsed by an overwhelming majority of
the press and the citizens of the country
In severing my official relation with
fhe Secretary of Agriculture | take this
oportunity of thanking him for the per-
sohai kindness and regard which he has
shown me during his long connection
with the department"
In supplemental statement DIR. Wiley
says To Secretary Wilson:
In transferring the management of
the bureau of chemistry to other hands
desire to direct your attention to a few
matters in which / think YOU will be in
terested
Il have always been a believer i'm the
ClVil service law, and have endeavored
10 carry out both its spirit and its letter
For this reason | have strongly opposed
except in cases of extreme necessity the
appointment of any person in the bureau
not secured from the civil service reg
ister
1t is also a matter of extreme rrati6-
cation Ia me that in the twenfv-nfua
ears which j have been chief of this
bureau that to my knowledge there has
never been a cent wrongfully expended
and no officer or employee of this bureau
has ever been accused of msappropria
ti"n OF public funds
HORSE AND BUGGY LOST.