The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-29
Will Make Things Clear

"I am not prepared to say now. If I determine to withdraw, however, shall issue statement which there will be no difficulty in understanding.
 This statement, 1t is said, would con tain a complete review of Dr. Wiley.s work in enforcing the pure food and drugs law, on account of persistent efforts 70 nullfy his activity and strong criticism of Secretary Wilson of the agricultural de- partment.
 Dr. Wiley said he had recently ex- pressed his views to Secretary Wilson.
 Secretary Wilson said tonight that this was "all news to him. that he had not seen Dr. Wiley in two weeks.
 pr. Wilcy's present attitude follows long drawn out and bitter controversies over the enforcement of the pure food and drugs act After the Wiley -McCabe con- gressional investigation last summer, the failure of the effort to oust the chemist on technical charges and the rcorganiza- lssan f ti,s. pssn4 .s,ssAs i,tistrt s=es-to give Dr. Wiley control, it was supposed that the fight was over. Recent events, how ever, are said to have convinced the doc tor that his victory was empty.
 May Enter Politics
 It is suggested that pr. Wiley is con templatng entering politics. Recently some of his friends have suggested him as candidate for vice president on the democratic ticket.
 A new attack from some covert source not known has been started on Dr. Har- vey w. Wiley, chief of the bureau of chemistry. The new attack Is in the na- ture of ready made newspaper stories that are slipped under the door of the offices of the Washington correspondent of out of town papers.
 The stuff Is not mailed, but is deliy- cred by hand and in envelopes that bear no name, address or other clue as to who is sending out the matter.
 The enclosures, which are bitter at tacks on the chief chemist, bear no sig nature or other information of the author of the source of information that is pur- ported to be given
 Baking Powder Case
 The basis of the present attack. it seems, is a recent action of pr. Wiley in temporarily holding up the condemnation of a certain brand of baking powder until further investigation can be made of the ingredients that go into the manufacture.
 The rulings and orders that are copied in the anonymous correspondence are pri- vate executive documents that necessarily must have been given out by some one connected with the department of agri- culture, though the source has not yet been traced.
 Some of the correspondents resented the method used by the enemies of Dr. Wiley in sending out such matter based on such fmsy excuse in an anonymous fashion and carried the first letters to pr. Wiley himself very few of the correspond- ents were thoughtless enough to use the matter and some of it has been printed. One of the Washington papers used the first story that was sent out. but has evidently thought better of it and declines 10 use matter from an unknown source.
 Begin Investigation
 pr. Wiley and others have started an investigation to find the source of the covert attack and especially to ascertain in what manner executive matter got out of the department
 While it is necessarily believed that some person or persons connected with the department of agriculture is assisting in this new and underhand attack there IS evidence to believe that the work is be- ing done from outside the department. ibc new dttdth on LIT. Wiley is ex tremey vicious and the manner of the campaign is causing much indignation among the friends of the chief chemist
 Wilson Avoids Publicity
 Secretary of Agriculture Wilson today denied request of Dr. Wiley, head ,,f the pure food board, that all the core spondence in recent suit against a bak- ing powder decision be made public. pr Wiley denied several editorials which criticised baking powder as being dele terious and that pr. Wiley acted at vari- ance with his oft repeated statement that in cases of doubt he always gave the doubt to the public.
 The editor claimed that Dr. Wileys baking powder decision ''let the public hand 1t would have embarrassed the food trust"
 Dr. Wiley recommended that a case against certain baking powder company be placed in permanent abeyance until the quantities of it's admixture could be definitely established in percentum of the product
 Wait for Remsen Report
 Secretary Wilson said nothing will he made public with regard to the matter until after the Remsen board had made its report.
 pr. R. F.. Dooittle of the pure food board agreed with pr. Wiley that .'in view of a small amount of lead in this sam pe,'' the case should ''be placed in a5ey- ance.' but Dr. r. l.. Dunlap. third mem Der of the board. held that as Head is a cumulative poison, it has no place In our food stufs, wherefore he recommended prosecution.