Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1912-09-28


Been Republicans.
BY HARVEY w. WILEY.
(Formsr Chief Chemist Of the U. Q.
Department Of AsrieuIturs.)
My appeal IS chiefly to those who.
like myself. have been lifelong Repul
llcans. believe that no kind OF an
administration Is going TO ruin the
country. have 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 reople. My
choice is not based on 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
gether creatures of environment.
What two men are by environment
least likely 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 II either OF them resumes his
former seat on March 4. 1918. 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 few mercenary
manufacturers. Under authority OF
congress I had carried on extensive
experiments with my so called poison
squad and found that certain sub
stances-yiz. benzoic compounds, sui.
phurous compounds and sulphate Of
copper (bluestone)-were injurious TO
health.
The law conferred upon me Us chief
of the bureau OF chemistry the duty Of
acting as n grand Jury and determin-
ing whether foods and drugs were adul
terated or misbranded. Instead OF APP
pealing from my decisions to the courts
as the law requires. the users Of these
poisons appealed to President Roose-
welt. 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
20 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 n positive promise to end
such n threatening state OF AFFAIRS
They VIII 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
lnent 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 sympa'
thy In behalf OF the public health
those OF their own party not In sym.
PATTY with them VIII be robbed OF
their power for evil. II Roosevelt or
Taft be chosen the soldiers OF fraud
and adulteratIon win be impregnably
lntrenched for another four years and
benzoates, sulphates and adulterated
alcoholic beverages will have a new
lease OF life.
! believe also that President Wilson
will renovate the department OF agri'
culture. reeking. as It has been for
tho past twelve years. with scandals
and favorItlsm. He viii see 10 II that
the bureau OF animal industry will.
protect the public health instead OF
The efforts OF the packers to sell dis
pased meats under the deceptive
phrase "U. s. Inspected and Passed
Under President Wilson no more Pin.
chots will be kicked out OF the service
no more unspeakable McCabcs viii ex.
srcise dictatorial powers. There will
be no more cotton leaks and jungle
atrocities. no more Everglade swim
dies Buccaneering. boasting and bun.