DR. REMSEN'S AVERSION TO NEWSPAPERS

Page 292-293.

MR. HIGGINS: Did you desire to make any other statement that has not been covered by the questions that have been asked?

DR. REMSEN: There is just one point that I should like to refer to, that has not been brought out in the examination. This board has been aware for some time that there is some influence at work to undermine it and discredit it. We do not pretend to know and have not discovered what the source of that influence is; but it is perfectly clear that that influence is at work.

MR. HIGGIN: How does it manifest itself?

DR. REMSEN: Newspaper articles. So far as I know the newspapers almost without exception are opposed to the Remsen Board. Why, I am sure I don't know. The Remsen Board is an innocent board and does not quite like to be considered guilty before it has been tried, at all events. I have noticed that within the last month nearly every reference to the Remsen Board that has appeared in the papers has put the board in a bad light, and anybody reading those articles day after day would get the impression that Remsen and his whole tribe ought to disappear from the face of the earth. Sometimes friends of mine come up to me with long faces and say, "Remsen, it is too bad about this matter." I say, "What's the matter?" They say, "Haven't you seen that article about your board?" I say, "Oh, no, and don't show it to me; I have seen enough." Now, those articles would not appear day after day, at least I can not imagine they would appear, without there being some influence at work to inspire them. I merely make this statement to show my state of mind. I am getting, as I have confessed, somewhat thicker skinned, and I rather rejoice that I have been through this experience because I think on the whole a thick skin is worth something.

The attack upon the Remsen Board by the public press was nation-wide. The only people who were pleased with it, aside from the high officials of the Government, were the adulterators and misbranders of our foods. At the hotel in Denver I saw a most remarkable phenomenon. There was gathered at Danver a strong lobby of the supporters of the Remsen Board. At the head of this lobby, which apparently numbered 100 at least, was Warwick M. Hough, chief attorney for the rectifiers. There seemed to be little enthusiasm among the people of Denver for the Secretary of Agriculture, his solicitor, and the members of the Remsen Board. There was, however, tremendous enthusiasm of the lobby above referred to for all of these individuals. After adjournment of the afternoon session I saw this lobby gathered around the members. of the Remsen Board and Warwick M. Hough's arm was lovingly encircling the shoulders of Dr. Ira M. Remsen, eminent chemist and president of Johns Hopkins University, and according to his own statement, discoverer of saccharin. Although each member of the Remsen Board was personally known to me except Dr. Alonzo Taylor and Dr. C. A. Herter, not one of them spoke to me during the three or four days they were in Denver except Dr. Herter. He came up and introduced himself to me and attempted to make some apology for his part in the activities of the Remsen Board. He realized very keenly the condition they were in, in espousing the cause of adulteration, becoming the paid agents of the adulterators, and incurring the universal condemnation of the press and the people of the country. Dr. Herter was then a very sick man. In a few months from that date he died. I have often wondered with what misgivings he approached his end and what feelings the other members of the Board must have had when they realized the universal condemnation which was heaped upon them. I doubt if any reference is ever made in the biographies of these men, as they pass away one by one and their deeds while living are recorded, to the service they rendered their country as members of this Board.

Page 293-294.

THE CHAIRMAN: Might not the fact that you gave certain testimony and the fact that you appeared at the Denver convention making speeches there be at the bottom of some of this influence that you are speaking about as being inimical to the Remsen Board?

DR. REMSEN: I am sure I don't know, but I can say that it was found that the influence, whatever it was, was at work long before the Denver meeting.

THE CHAIRMAN: When the Remsen Board was appointed of course no one expected that it was going to do anything more than give advice to the Secretary of Agriculture in his official duties, and yet, according to your testimony, the Department of Agriculture has suggested to different members to appear in court and give testimony, has paid their expenses at that trial, when the effect would be to affect the decision of the courts in the State of Indiana.

DR. REMSEN: Well, it might affect the decision of the court in so far as it would enable them better to get at the truth, which I suppose was the object of the court.

THE CHAIRMAN: That may be the object of the court, but it surely was not the object of the creation of this referee board, was it?

DR. REMSEN: Of course the referee board was never defined exactly--exactly what it should do.

THE CHAIRMAN: Well, let us define it. Do you understand it now to be part of the purpose of the referee board to in fluence the decisions of the courts of this country?

DR. REMSEN: Why, no; in no sense, except--

MR. HIGGINS: Except so far as the truth is concerned?

DR. REMSEN: Except so far as the truth is concerned by telling the facts, and if I am asked to do so I should do so, so far as it would influence the action of the court I should think it would be proper for the board to do so.

THE CHAIRMAN: However, I believe you admit that your official report is not evidence?

DR. REMSEN: Yes, sir.

THE CHAIRMAN: And it is voluntary with you whether you should appear and give this testimony?

DR. REMSEN: I think I could have been subpoenaed. I am not sure.

THE CHAIRMAN: And you referred the matter to your superior and it was upon his advice that you gave this testimony?

DR. REMSEN: Yes.

THE CHAIRMAN: That is the point I wanted to get at, and that you advised Dr. Chittenden also to give his testimony?

DR. REMSEN: Yes; I did the second time.

THE CHAIRMAN: Yes; and that Dr. Chittenden's expenew were paid by the Department of Agriculture?

DR. REMSEN: I believe so. I am not entirely clear about that.

MR. HIGGINS: And the Indiana courts had the benefit of the decision which your board had reached as the result of its scientific investigations as to the effect of benzoate of soda?

DR. REMSEN: That was the effect of our appearance, that is all. We did not argue the case, of course.

Page 858.

To Secretary Wilson:

THE CHAIRMAN: You are speaking there about the Board of Food and Drug Inspection; you are referring to some advice to be given to Dr. Taylor about some testimony to be given at Indianapolis, Ind., and you state there: "I shall consult with our people on the Board of Food and Drug Inspection (that is, Dunlap and McCabe)." What meaning do you attach to that language--if you dare to attach any?

SECRETARY WILSON: There is no hesitation in my mind in telling you all that was in my mind there.

THE CHARMAN: I recognize the fact that you need not answer unless you wish.

SECRETARY WILSON: Oh, I am going to answer it, My answer is this: You are pretty well aware that there was friction between those men, there. You have got that pretty much every bit in your testimony. It would have been an insult to Dr. Wiley to have consulted him in regard to anything concerning benzoate of soda.

THE CHAIRMAN: Why?

SECRETARY WILSON: Because he despised it, and everything connected with it, and believed that a big mistake had been made, and a big mistake had been made by ever getting the Referee Board; that is why. I do not gratuitously offer insults to any of my people.