The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-05-29
ALUM BAKING
POWDERS In
CONGRESS.
Senate Committee Report That the
Evidence Of Their Harmfulusss
Is Overwhelming.
Efforts to Pass Pure Food Laws OPP
posed by the Alum Trust-speech
Of Senator Mason.

which the public health Is eHposeu lrO''i
alum baking powders.
The committee on manufactures were
sone time ago directed TO investigate
food authorizations, and at numerous
sessions in the principal cities accumu-
lated a volume OF testimony upon the
subject from the best informed parties
and highest scientific authorities in the
country,
one of the greatest sources OF danger
to our foods, the committee stated IN
their report, exists in alum baking pow
ders. The committee found the testi-
mony, they say. Overwhelmingly con-
demnatory of the use of alum in baking
powders. and recommend that such use
be prohibited by law.
senator Mason, discussing the report
Of the committee and the several bills
introduced to carry the recommended
tons Of the committee into effect SAID:
Alum Absolutely Unfit for Food.
When we made this report we made 1t
based on the evidence before us. and
the evidence is simply Overwhelming. l
do not care how big lobby there may
be here for the alum baking powder
do not care how many memorials they
nrb,isb there is no place IN the human
acSnony 81 human food for this thing
coIIed alum. The overwhelming evil
d1nco OF the leading physicians
and scientists OF this country
10 that II is absolutely UNIT 10
pn into human food. and that in many
cases-if the gentleman Will read the
evidence. some of the physicians say
that, can trace cases in their own prac-
tire-there are diseases of the Kidneys
dns 10 the perpetual use OF alum In their
doTiy brend. 1 want 10 give the senate
nm idea Of the class Of men we nave
called. They are the leading scientists
from every college Of the United States
that we could get hold OF. we had open
doors, and no witness ever came Detore
that committee in the twelve months we
were hearing evidence but who was per-
mitted to testify.
The leading physicians OF the Woriu
say that cream Of tartar Is pure, nat
NAL healthy food product. 1t is pro-
duct Of the grape. and when II is put III
solution in the bread with soda, II there
Is a reslduum left itSdoes not hurt the
stomach. and Il does not so into nor IN
lure the brain OF the blood or the Kid
neys.
Alum a Mineral Poison.
When you mix mineral poison. as
they nll say that alum is. 1t is impossi-
BILE to mix it always to such a degree so
there will not be u resIduuH: left OF
alum. which produces nlumina and
which contributes largely to the dis
eases of the people in this country.
viii tell you now OF the men whose
evidence came before the committee
who condemned the use Of alum baking
poWder, some in one language and some
in another. l have not all the names.
I simply asked my stenogrnpher TO go
through hastily and give me those thht
could be found readily out OF 200 or $40
pages OF evidence there:
Great Scientists Testify oondemning
Alum.
Ames, Howard f., surgeon, United
States navy, Washington, D. c.
Appleton, John Howard, professor OF
chemistry. Brown University, Provi-
dence. II. I.
Army, United States, refuses to allow
the use Of alum in anything like 1000
product In the United states army.
Arnold. ]. w. s., professor University
OF New York
government experimental station,
Washington, D. c.
Barker. George F.. professor. Univer-
sity OF Pennsylvania.
Busey, 5. c. professor, Washington
D. c.
caldwell C. c., professor Cornell I'm
iversity, Ithaca, n. Y.
Chandler. c. F.. professor, Columbia
University. New York.
ChIttenden, Russell H.. professor, Yale
University. New Haven, Conn.
Cornwall. II. b.. professor. univerSily
OF Princeton. New Jersey.
Champion, c. A., professor, division OF
chemistry. Washington, D. c.
Cuthbert, DR., NJ. F., physician Wash
inEton, d. c.
De Schwelnltz. Emile, professor, Unit
ed States department OF Agriculture
washington, d. c.
Fairhurst, Alfred. professor. chemist,
University OF Kentucky. Lexington, Ky.
Fleming. Walter NJ. physician, New
York city.
IeRe. Pennsylvania
Freeman. George F., surgeon, United
States naval hospital. Washington d.
Jenkins. Edward H.. professor, de-
partment OF agriculture. state Of Con-
necticut.
Johnston DR.. William w, washing
ton, d. c.
johnson. Joseph Tabor professor OF
surgery. Washington. d. c.
Johnson. s. w. professor, Yale Col
legc. New Haven, Conn.
Kerr, DR.. William r., eX-health Off
Ger. Chicago. Ill.
Maliet, John William professor, Uni
vcrslty OF Virginia.
Tho Marine Hospital Service reject In
their rules all alum baking powders or
any food containing alum. 1t Is a drug,
and no chemist has ever testified that IN
nny food that goes into the stomach OF
nny animal the particles that form alum
ARE found II "a n poison. and II is so
testified TO by every one Of these Wit
nesses, some in one form and some in
another.
McMurtic. william, professor, con-
sultlns and analytical chemist
New. w. NJ. professor Army and
Medical department, United States gov
eminent
Morton. Henry. president Of stevens
Institute. Hobokcn, y. j.
Munroc. Charles Edward, professor OF
chemistry. Columbian University,
Washington. y. G.
Mott. Henry A., professor. New York
city,
The United States Navy refuses.
under the direction Of the surgeon gem
eral. to have alum used in any OF the
products that 20 into the food Of the
men OF the navy.
Prescott. Albert D.. professor, Univer-
sItv OF Michigan, Ann Arhor. Mich,
80. 4 Il r-,nALnll hlrnnlnr ItnlInl