The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-04-30
Hurrah for Ferris and for
Citizens Who Used Stamps

Hurrah for Ferris and Tor
Citizens Who Used Stamps
Praise Is due public official who per-
forms his duty. even though he is sworn
70 fulhll that duty.
Gov. Ferris must, therefore, be praised
for the manner in which he insisted on
the confirmation by the senate of his
roaupointment of James w. Helme as
stats dairy and food commissioner.
He might have yielded to the Repubh-
en- senate, bent on abolishing Demo
cratic Office; he might have given in to
his rood friend, Senator Murtha; he
knew that among the city press. The
IInes would be the only mourner if Mr..
Holns lost his official head, and that he
couId have deserted the commissioner
without stirring up host Of critics
hut he didn't.
When Senator Murtha went to Lam
6fn9, II january, he went as representa-
~ of the Second district of Michigan,
"a Of the Yots-Swappers' league.
The Vote-Swappers' league had been
nads very peevish by Commissioner
Ho1me because Mr.. Helme had hurt the
fselinss Of many Of its pets.
3 ~ had not only warned them that GER
tain practices must be stopped, but he
had brought them to court, made pub
rs expoee Of the manner in which they
wcsU drawing Illegal profits from guile
~ public, and forced them to do legi-
tlmats business or quit.
He issued bulletin in which he called
: spade spade, and wrote down the
uame Of the owner Of the spade, and told
TIE public what the spade was made of,
md Why It wasn't good spade, or per-
hnps that II wasn't spade at all, but a
podd]e, or mares nest, or a thingum-
bob, Tor which they had been paying
their good money.
He exposed patent medicines, hair
@opics, impure and mis-labeled foods,
dirty markets, unclean restaurants, filthy
hotsl kitchens, false advertising.
\ Herculss in the Augean stables had
shout q nice job Of cleaning to do as
jim Helme found in Michigan.
Hercules turned two rivers through
tho kings stables; Mr.. Helme turned
looss . river Of publicity, and the
cleansing was most effective-but how it
id hurt the uncleani
So they yelled, and their friends Of the
Vote-Swappers' league asked Senator
Uurtha to do something about it.
Nurtha did what he could, and did it
- ven that It looked black for Mr..
Ho1me.
But Gov. Ferris knew what the com
missioner had done; he knew that Michi-
ran was acquiring nationwide reputa-
hon for having real food commissioner,
and he decided to support his most noted
eppointee.
He notified Senator Murtha that If his
opposition to Mr.. Helme's reappointment
Wa successful, not q single favor could
Detroit expect at his hands.
He told him in so many words that he
hod thrown down the gauntlet for clean,
sr11ciont administration of the food and
6niFy department, and didn't intend to
p1ck 4 up again.
And Senator Murtha yielded as grace.
fuIIy - he could, though the senate con-
(, tInned TO hold of until almost the last
< rneunont before confirming Mr.. Helme's
>nDpointment
n : liter TO The Times, Commission.
- xEollne acknowledges the support
= III paper has given him since
49, known his policy.
- lines backed Mr.. Helme in every
- he campaign. gave him pub.
VAn cher papers were afraid Of