The Atlanta constitution., 1900-07-30
ALUM BAKING POWDERS
IN CONGRESS.
SENATE COMMITTEE REPORT
THAT THE EVIDENCE OF
THEIR HARMFULNESS IS
OVERWHELMING.
Efforts To Pass Pure Food Laws OPP
posed by the Alum Trust.
Speech of Senator Mason.

ate upon the subject of pure food en-
braces a clear statement of the danger
to which the public health Is exposed
from alum baking powders.
The committee on manufactures were
some 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 recommendations
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. 1
do not care how big a lobby there may
be here for the alum baking powders, /
do not care how many memorials they
publish. there is no place in the human
economy of human food for this thing
called alum. The overwhelming evidence
of the leading physicians and scientists
of this country is that it is absolutely
unfit to go into human food, and that
in many cases-if the gentleman will
read the evidence, some of the physicians
say they can trace cases in their own
practice-there are diseases of the kid
neys due to the perpetual use of alum in
their daily bread. | want to give the
senate an idea of this class of men we
have called. They are the leading sci
entiStS from every college of the United
States that we could get hold of. We
had open doors. and no witness ever
came before that committee in the
twelve months we were hearing evidence
but who was permitted to testify.
The leading physicians of the world
say that cream of tartar is pure. natu-
raj, healthy food product. 1t is a Ipro-
duct of the grape, and when it is put
in solution i'm the bread with soda, if
there is a residuum left ii does not hurt
the stomach and it does not go into nor
injure the brain or the blood or the kid
neys.
Alum a Mineral Poison.
When you mix mineral poison, as
they all say that alum is, II is impossible
to mix 1t always to such a degree that
there will not be residuum left of
alum, which produces alumina and which
contributes largely to the diseases of the
people of this country.
L will tell you now of the men whose
evidence came before the committee who
condemned the use Of alum baking pow
ders, some In one language and some in
another. l have not all the names. L
simply asked my stenographer to so
through hastily and give me those that
could be found readily out Of 100 or $40
pages of evidence there:
Great Scientists Testify Condemning
Alum.
Ames. Inward T., surgeon. United
States navy, Washington, ID. {.
Appleton. John Howard, professor of
chemistry, Drovtl gIn,'cssity. Providence,
X. l.
the use OF alum In anything like a food
product in the United States army.
, Arnold, j. W. s., professor, University
of New York.
Atwater, w o., professor and director
government experimental station, Wash
ington, ID. g.
Barker, George F.. professor. Univer-
sity of Pennsylvania
Busey, 5. c., professor. Washington.
Caldwell. q c., professor. Cornell uni
versity. Ithaca. New York.
Chandler. c. f. professor, Colun 4bia
university, New 1OTK.
Chittenden, Russell H., professor, Yale
university, New Haven. Conn.
Cornwall II. b. professor, University
of Princeton New Jersey.
Champion, g. A, professor. division of
chemistry, Washington, ID. 9.
Cuthbert, Dr. NJ. T., physician, Wash
ington. ID. c.
De Schweiritz Emile. professor, United
States department OF agriculture, WASH
Fairhurst. Alfred, professor, chemist,
University OF Kentucky, Lexington, Ky.
Fleming. Walter NJ, physician, New
Frear William. professor, State col
lege. Pennsylvania.
Freeman, George F., surgeon. United
States naval hospital, Washington, ID. G.
Jenkins. Edward H., professor depart
ment of agriculture state OF CONNECTICUT
Johnston, DR.. William w, Washing
johnson, Joseph Taber, professor of
surgery, Washington, d. c.
johnson, 5. w, professor. Yale college,
New Haven, Conn.
Maiiet, John william, professor, Uni
versity of Virginia.
The Marine Hospital Service reject In
| their rules all alum baking powders or
any food containing alum 1t Is a uruS,
and no chemist has ever testihed that
in any food that goes INTO the stomach
of any animal the partlcleS that form
alum are found. II is tpoison, and 1t is
SO testified to by every one or these VIII
neSses, some in one frm ana some III
another ,.
McMurtie. William. rofessor, consult
| ing and analytical chenist
New, NJ. W., professo, army ana med
ical department, United States govern
| ment - c..
Morton, Henry, president OF stevens
institute. Hoboken, N. J.
| Munroe, Charles Edvlrd, professor or
chemistry. Columbian niversity' wash
Mott, Henry A., professor New York
city. s. H.,
The United States nay refuses, under
the direction of the sugeon general, 10
have alum used In any of the products
that go into the food the men or the
Prescott. Albert B., rofessor. Univer-
sltv of Michigan. Ann lrbor, Mich:
Price, A. +. medical director United
States naval hospital, Washington, ID. Z.
Smart, Charles lieuteant colonel as
sistant surgeon genera. United states
army. - ,
Sternberg, George NJ. Surgeon general
United States army Wellington. ID. c.
Stringfield. G. Pruyn. Professor, Chica-
go Baptist hospital, Chiago.
Thurber, Francis b., resident Ameri-
can Grocer Publishing Company, New
York city, not a chemis.
Tucker, Willis c., proessor OF chemis-
try and chemist of Switchboard OF health.
state of New York
Vaughan Victor c.. pofessor. Univer-
sity of Michigan Ann lrbor, Mich.
Nan Reypen w. X, urgeon general,
United States navy, Wahington. ID. c.
Wayne, f.. S.. professc, Cincinnati, o.
Weber. ii. A.. professor, Ohio state
university Columbus. O..
c1A o.