The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-09-18
wilso, supports DR.. wiley.


Sioux City, Ia, September 1i.-tirl0
support for DR.. Harvey w. Wiley in
his controversy over the enforcement
of the pure food laws of the country
stood out prominently in speech by
Governor Woodrow Wilson at the In
terstate Fair to-day He drew atten.
ton 10 what he conceived to be the
Intellectually Of boards OF experts.
such as the board Of chemists estab-
lisheJ under the administration OF
President Roosevelt. He used it as an
illustration OF his objection to COM
mission or board Of experts to handle
either the tariff or the trust problems
of the day
Governor Wilson voiced for the nrst
time his objection to the tariff board
idea as contained in the Republican
as we'll as the Progressive platforms.
declaring i, would mean "a postpone
ment Of tariff legislation"
Discussing the pure food question.
Mr.. Wilson said: Everybody now sus-
poets and the suspicion is based upon
a great many facts that can be estab-
1ished by proof that these pure food
laws are not lived up to: that the in
spection 10 not always what 1t ought 70
be, and that q great many things are
the pure food laws.
Il suppose that most Of you know
that q great raurmur arose because DR..
Wiley. who was In charge OF the pure
food investigation objected to the use
Of benzoate OF soda in certain things
that were -old 70 you. particularly in
cans for food. Now q very nice thing
occurred.
The gentlemen Who wanted 70 use
benzoate Of soda persuaded the Presi-
dent, Mr.. Roosevelt. that this was a
scientific question. and therefore he
ought to have a board Of chemists to
determine IL. and Mr. Roosevelt picked
out some of the most eminent and hon.
est chemists in this country. headed
by a personal friend of mine. the presi-
dent of John Hopkins University. and
submitted to them this question: Is
benzoafe Of soda hurfful to the human
stomach OF to the human digestion
when taken internally Observe that
that was the only question submitted
to them. and that was exactly what the
people who wanted to use benzoate of
soda for wrong purposes wanted TO
limit the inquiry to. These gentlemen
had to say that benzoate Of soda In
itself was not harmful TO the human
system. As I believe Il 10 not. But
they were not asked this question: Can
benzoate Of soda be used TO conceal
putrifcation? Can IL he used in things
that have gone bad to conceal the fac:
that they have gone bad. and to induce
people to put thgn in their stomachs
after they had gone badT
They were not asked that cues
ton. because 10 they had been they
would have said: Yes, II can be used
In that way. and DR.. Wiley knew that
IL was 30 used In that way
J want 20 warn the people Of this
country TO beware Of commissions Of
experts. I have lived with experts all
my Efe. and know that experts dom,
see anything except what 10 under
their microscope. under their eye. They
don't even perceive what 10 under their
nose. and an expert feels in honor
bound 90 condne himself 20 the par.
ticular question which you have asked
him.
Suppose 700 wanted 10 settle the
iiavcr question by asking = body of
experts whether sicchoI wss poison or
not. : believe Shey would have "a
tell you that u isn't poison
but does that settle the Hqucr
question? There IRE Q great many
things shat you caa take into yesr
(Nnm01wa~A - R1~A0A DNODN