The Washington times., 1912-10-09
How Roosevelt Backed Up Wiley

eral Bonaparte and Secretary Loeb. In
the face of all OF the pressure Of close
advisers and personal friends. Presi-
dent Roosevelt gave the verdict in Dr.
Wiley's favor.
Was It not uncandid of the good
doctor to omit all reference to this
service? In his political speech at In
dianapolis he declares that President
Taft .'stooped from his high office to
DO a favor to the worst lot Of adulter-
ators in Christendom"-in other words,
that Mr., Taft reversed the whisky rul-
ing Of his predecessors. But, according
Ignores R e%e 'ePid PPTesident Roosevsit's ] IS services
sistance to the doctor himself. Why?
The writer yields to no one in his
en FOR ths sdns
But even the doctors friends know him
to be this sort Of man-that every fight
with him Ia more important than the
preceding fight; that's what makes him
quality warps his judgment Of men
particularly when the doctor mods He
won the whisky night. but afterward
lost his fight against benzoate of soda
Theodore Roosevelt, who appointed the
"'sh In sis political recital Of this con-
troversy br. wiley is ingenuous-if I
may 1uuge from tne report Tue uoctoi
made to me Immediately after the
meeting in President Roosevelt's office.
attended by Secretary Wilson. Congress
man Sherman. two catsup manufactur-
ers, and DR.. wiley's arch enemies, NC
Cabe and Dunlap. The President asked
DR.. wiley II the use Of benzoate, OF
soda In food was Injurious to health.
and when the chief OF the Bureau OF
Chemistry replied In the affirmative.
ins M Tii mSnufsciiurers and striking the
table a ringing blow with his fst, ex-
claimed, Gentlemen. II this drug Is in
furious, you shall not put 1t In food
Way For Settlement.
Here DR.. wiley's report made to me
at the time and his very recent political
speech part company. As he recounted
the incident Sin the shadow OF the
crime" he said that after the Secretary
of Agriculture and his three associates
left the Executive offices and got into
the official carriage, Secretary Wilson
| opined that the way to settle the mat
ter--the matter already settled-was to
refer It to a commission of experts. In
| that hour DR.. Wiley put the blame for
a commission entirely on the shoulders
of Secretary Wilson. 1t was the Secre-
| tary who made the suggestion to the
| President, and Mr.. Roosevelt-here l
| speak from personal Notwithstanding
| Ing IN tnlB way 10 quiet tne HOWilHs VI
| certain food manufacturers, reluctantly
agreed to the proposal. I know for a
| fact that he expected the commission 10
sustain DIR. Wiley. ! know he was dis
! appointed In the decision. The trouble
was that the details were left to Scene
tary Wison-a politician first. last, and
| all the time. hold no brief for the
Remsen board. which decided the ben
zoate Of soda question against DIR.
| Wiley. do know, however, that presl-
dent Roosevelt endeavored to obtain
board composed of acknowledged scien-
tiic experts; that he wrote TO the LEAD
ing college presidents OF the country
and from their recommendations deter
mined the personnel of the board, end
that from these scientists. OF all men,
he looked for fair, impartial verdict.
Dir, WILEY Is now electoneering In
behalf OF the Democratic ticket. The
doctor knows that the House of Rep
resentatiyes is In control OF the Domo-
cratic party. The doctor also knows,
bv this time, that at the last session
OF Congress, when the agricultural APP
preparation bill was considered in the
| House, a motion was made, the effect
of which was to strike out the appro-
priation for the Rensen board. Does
the good doctor forget that the Demo-
Gratis saved the obnoxious board for
future usefulness'-or "to prey upon
the people?''
u Even Hvmer mods.