The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-10-04
STROBE FRIEND OF
Or. HARVEY WILEY
Champions His Cause IN the
Duluth Convention.

8. e. Strobe IL the first Democrat to
held the Office Of state dairy and food
commissioner, and his administration
has set new record for efficiency In
the history Of the department. Spend
ting $4,000 less the first year than
did his predecessor during the last
year OF his administration, the reve.
nue. to the Golfers Of the state as the
result Of the work of the department
have been $4,000 more.
He suddenly sprang into national
prominence when he turned the tide
at the Duluth convention Of food Of
ficials in July. 1911, for DR.. Harvey
Wiley and pure food. At the time he
was busily engaged putting on an ex.
hibit at the Ohio State Fair showing
the work Of his department, with a
view to educating the public to be
more discriminative In their buying.
and had commissioned his predeces.
sor to represent him. The convention
was under the control OF the food
adulterers, who sought to get rid OF
DR.. Wiley by throwing the influence
Of the association against him at the
very time President Taft had under
consideration the charges OF Irregular
ity In hiring chemist, as trumped up
by Solicitor McCabe and approved by
Attorney General Wickersham: 30
they refused to seat Strode's delegate.
Strobe was wired. Realizing the seri-
ousness Of the situation to the cause
Of pure food, he made q hurried trip
to Duluth, arriving just In time to
turn the tables in DR.. Wiley's favor.
This action, no doubt, Influenced the
president to exonerate DR.. Wiley Of
these charges q little later.
II President Taft had dismissed DIR.
Wiley's prosecutors. Solicitor McCabe
and Attorney General Wickersham.
agents of the food interests. and dis
missed the board created by RoOse-
welt to outvote Wiley and reverse him
in all his important rulings; and then
have restored Di. Wiley to full con-
troll, as was intended by the act Of
1906, he would today have stood In
much better light with the consumers,
who are now thoroughly awakened.
While willful and persistent viola
tors Of the food and drug laws have
been vigorously prosecuted, yet Mr..
Strobe has devoted the greater part
Of his time in trying to be helpful to
all who desi.'e to keep within the law,
while without such help they might
unintentionally become violators OF
the law.
Another phase Of the departments
work that has received Mr.. Strode's
special attention has been the thor
ough inspection Of drug stores and
places where food products are pro-
duced. prepared or offered for sale.
Sanitary rules are required to be OBJ
served by all manufacturers and deal
ers, and the records of the dairy and
food department show that there Is
marked Improvement In the sanitary
condition OF all such places.
When a young man Mr.. STROBE was
an earnest and efficient teacher In the
public schools, and for some time was
q telegrapher and railroad agent.
Later he became o successful farmer.
and for eight seasons previous to his
election AZ dairy and food commits
sioner he was farmers institute lee.
turer, a. well as an associate editor
Of one Of the most influential agricul.
tural journals of this country. He Is
q keen Judge Of human nature. pos
sesses exceptional executive ability,
and 10 earnest. efficient and fearless
in the performanc Of duty.