The Detroit times., 1915-01-14
Ferris Cannot See Why Un-
scrupulous Dealers Should be
Shielded
MURTHA PREPARES TO
RESIST APPOINTMENT
Prospects For Success of Com
missiOner's Enemies Seem
Rather Poor
From a stan Correspondent.

LANSING, Mich, Jan. 14-Boiled
down, the charges brought against
State Dairy and Food Commissioner
James Helme by the delegation of II
members OF the Detroit Retail Gro
GERS association which waited on Gov.
Ferris yesterday In an eleventh'hour
attempt to prevent the reappointment
OF the present department head were.
TO use the words of one Of the party,
that "he went at things with ven
geance and he hadn't ought TO do II;
that he had been malicious In his ac-
tion against members OF the associa-
tion who appeared against him at
meeting In the Detroit Board OF Com
merce auditorium some months ago
and that he tried his cases in the
newspapers"
OF all the charges, the use OF public
ity against dealers who had run afoul
Of the state dairy and food laws ap-
peared TO be the most serious in the
minds OF the members OF the delega-
tion. One OF their number, against
whom the department took action be-
cause OF his use OF condemned type
OF scale, admitted that he would have
name used in the Detroit newspapers
In the way in which ii was.
Martin j Maloney, former president
OF the Detroit Retail Grocers' associa-
ton; r. j. Schmidt, director IN that
organization; w. +, Cusick, second
yico-president OF the Michigan Retail
Grocers' association, and r. A. Day,
editor OF a trade magazine presented
the case of the Detroit grocers before
the governor, All save Day have fig
ured In actions taken by the depart.
nents inspectors recently and all
alleged that their cases were the re-
suits of spite work" on the part OF
the commissioner.
AT the end OF the interview Gov.
Ferris declared that, while many
changes had been brought, he failed
TO see the wrong in giving the names
or INSCRIPTIONS retailers TO the news
papers and that he also failed TO see
how. any motive for trying to get"
any particular man could exist. He
promised TO take the matter under
consideration.
II Is certain. however, that Helme's
name. which was held off OF the list OF
appointments presented TO the senate
yesterday afternoon, in order to allow
the grocers to voice their protests.
viii be presented today or tomorrow.
While disclaiming any connection
with the visit of the Detroit grocers
Senator James Murtha, OF Detroit, an.
nounced tonight that he proposed 10
fight the confirmation OF the appoint.
ment. Several letters, one from a
deputy In the employ of the depart.
ment, have been sent To him in an
attempt TO call him off," he says.
IL Is understood that, falling in an
attempt TO prevent Helme's confirma.
tion, Senator Murtha will introduce a
bill providing for the abolition OF the
department and the consolidation OF
its work with that OF the public health
department.
The appointment by Lieut.. Gov.
Luren Dickinson or three Democrats
OIL the committee on executive bust.
ness. 10 which the governors appoint.
mcnts are invariably referred. NAV
prove a material aid 10 Senator Muir
tha In his fight to prevent Helme
confrmations---
majority OF the senate appear
willing to confirm the appointment
whenever 1t is presented TO them
however. and, should the members OF
the committee hold up It's presenta.
ton TO that body, could take It out<+,r
thelr hands. BALLENGER.