Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1912-03-22
Wiley, ,H|NDERED
IN WORK, RESIGNS
PURE FOOD EXPERT TELLS WHY
HE QUIT HIS GOVERNMENT
POSITION.
WOMEN EMPLOYEES IN TEARS
Hundreds of Clerks, Their Eyes Moist,
File in Doctors Office and Say
Good Bye to Faithful Servant
of Uncle Sam.

Washington, d. C.-With one last
blast against his superiors in
Office who he declares deliberately
muzzled him so that he could not ef-
fectually warn the people against
poisonous and polluted foods, which
plainly violate the law and which,
with official sanction, are held every
where in the United States, DR.. Har-
vey Wiley sent in his resignation and
retired from the bureau of chemistry.
Following a meeting Of the cab
net kilograms were sent to all the
leading technical colleges and univer-
stiles in the United States urging
them to make suggestions as to a
successor to Doctor Wiley.
A scene quite unprecedented in
Washington official life marked the
close of Doctor Wiley's fevered ad-
ministration. With tears streaming
down their cheeks hundreds Of wo-
men clerks. many employed in other
sections Of the department of agricul-
ture filed in to say good bye.
In a statement Doctor Wiley re-
1ates that in an effort to even further
restrict the operations of the pure
food law than they have already
done, his colleagues in the depart
ment of agriculture plotted through
false charges to forcibly separate him
from the public service and he was
only saved by the timely interven-
tion of the president.
Doctor Wiley's Statement.
''After the president and a committee
of congress had completely cxonerated
me, / naturally expected that those who
had made these false charges would no
longer be in n position which would make
a repetition of such an action possible.
j am still left to come into daily contact
with the men who secretly plotted at my
destruction. For the past 20 years have
endeavored to discharge these duties ac-
cording to the dictates of my conscience,
the knowledge at my command and the
obligations of my oath. In retiring 1t
seems that I should state briefly the
causes which have led me to this step.
The fundamental one is that I believe I
can find opportunity for better and more
effective service to the work which Is
nearest my heart, as n private citizen,
than 1 could ony longer do in my late
position. After a quarter of a century of
constant discussion and effort the bill
regulating interstate and foreign COM
merce in foods and drugs was enacted
into law. Almost from the very begin
ming of the enforcement of this act I
discovered that my point of view in regard
to 1t was fundamentally different from
that of my superiors in office.
For nearly six years there has been
growing feeling In my mind that these
differences were irreconclable and have
been taxed of an official environment
which has been essentially inhospitabe.
/ saw the fundamental principles of the
frrl and 4
me, one by one paralyzed or discredited.
It was the plain provision of the act that
the bureau of chemistry was to examine
all samples of suspected foods and drugs
to determine whether they were adul-
t~rated or misbranded, and that IL this
examination disclosed such facts the mat
-er was to be referred to the courts for
decision. Interest after interest, engaged
IN what the bureau OF chemistry found to
be the manufacture II misbranded or adul-
terated foods and drugs, made an appeal
to escape appearing In court to defend
their practices. Various methods were
employed to secure this end many of
which were successful. One by one
found that the activities pertaining to
the bureau of chemistry We're restricted
and various forms of manipulated food
products We're withdrawn from its consid-
GRAFTON and referred either to other bod
les not contemplated by the law or direct
ly relieved from further control. A few
of the instances of this kind are well
known. Among these may be mentioned
manufacture of so-called whislSey from
alcohol colors and fiavors. The addition
TO food products of benzoic acid and its
salts of sulphurs acid and its salts; of sui
phate of copper OF saccharne and Of alum;
the manufacture of so-called wines from
ponlace, chemicals and colors; the float
ing of oysters often in polluted waters for
the purpose of making them look fatter
and larger than they really are for
the purposes OF sale.
THE official liberation and valuation
OF such practices have restricted the ac-
tivities of the bureau of chemistry to a
very narrow field. AS "A result OF these
restrictions. l have been instructed to
refrain from stating in any public way
my own opinion regarding the effect OF
these substances upon health and this re-
striction has interfered with my academic
freedom Of speech in matters relating di-
rectiy 90 the public welfare. j am now
convinced that the freedom that belongs
to every American citizen can be used
by me more fruitfully in rallying public
opinion to the support OF the cause OF
pure food and drugs than could the lin
tied activity left to me i'm the position
which have just vacated. j propose TO
devote the remainder OF my life, with
such ability as i may have at my COM
mand and with such opportunities as may
arise to the promotion OF the principles
OF civic righteousness and industrial in
tegrity which underly the food and drugs
act, in the hope that IL may be admin
istered in the interest of the people at
large instead OF that OF a comparative
few mercenary manufacturers and deal
ers.
'In severing my official relations with
the secretary OF agriculture ] take this
opportunity OF thanking him for the per-
sonai kindness and regard which he has
shown me during his long connection with
the department"