The age-herald., 1900-06-11
ALUM BAKING POW-
 DERS IN CONGRESS Senate Committee Report That
 the Evidence OF THEIR HARMFULNESS Is Overwhelming to Pass Pure Food Laws Opposed by the Alum Trust-Speech of
 Senator Mason
OF THEIR HARMFULNESS

statement of the danger to which the pub lie health is exposed from alum baking powder
 The committee on manufactures were some time ago directed to investigate food adulterations, and at numerous sessions in the principal cities accumulated 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 re- port, exists in alum baking powders. The committee found the testimony they say. overwhelmingly condemnatory 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 intro duced to carry the recommendations of the committee into effect said:
 AInm Absolutely Unfit for Food
 When we made this report we made it 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, I do not care how many memorials they publish, there is no place in the human economy of the human food for this thing called alum The overwhelming evidence of the leading phy- sicians 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 physi- clans say they can trace cases in their own practice-there are diseases of the kidneys due to the perpetual use of alum in their daily bread 1 want to give the senate an idea of the class of men we have called. They the leading scientists college of the United States that could get hold of. We had open doors, and witness ever came before that committee in the twelve months we were hearing evi- dence but who was permitted to testify.
 The leading physicians of the world say that cream of tartar is pure, natural healthy food product. It is a product of the grape and when it is put in solution in the bread with soda, if there is a resi- dunn left it does not hurt the stomach, and it does not go into nor injure the brain or the blood or the kidneys.
 Alum Mineral Poison
 When you mix mineral poison, as they all say that alum is, it is impossible to mix it always to such a degree that there will not be a residuum left of alum which pro- duces alumina and which contributes large- ly to the diseases of the people in this coun- try.
 I will tell you now of the men whose evi- dence came before the committee who con- demned the use of alum baking powder, some in one language and some in another. l have not all the names. I simply asked my stenographer to go through hastily and give me those that could be found readily out of 700 or 800 pages of evidence there: Great scientists Testify Condemning Alum
 Ames. Howard E., surgeon, United States navy, Washington, D. C.
 Appleton, John Howard, professor of chemistry, Brown university, Providence, R. l.
 Army United States, refuses to allow the use of alum in anything like food product in the United States army.
 Arnold J. W. S., professor, University of New York.
 Atwater, w. O., professor and director Government Experiment station, Washing ton, D. c.
 Barker. George F., professor, University of Pennsylvania.
 Busey, s. C., professor, Washington, D.
 Caldwell, G.. C., professor, Cornell Uni yersity, Ithaca, N. Y.
 Chandler, C. F., professor Columbia Uni versity, New York
 Chttenden. Russell H., professor, Yale University, New Haven, Conn.
 Cornwall, H. B., professor, University of Princeton, New Jersey.
 Crampton, c. A, professor, Division of 1heliiiStIy, w dSHifStOn, U. C.
 Cuthbert, pr. M. F., physician, Washing ton, D. c.
 DeSchweinitz, Emile, professor, United States Department of Agriculture, Wash ington D. c.
 Fairhurst, Alfred, professor chemist University of Kentucky, Lexington, Ky
 Fleming, Walter M, physician, New York City.
 Frear William, professor, State College, Pennsylvania.
 Freeman, George F., surgeon, United States Naval Hospital, Washington, D. C.
 Jenkins, Edward H., professor, depart ment of agriculture, State of Connecticut
 Johnston, Dr. William w.. Washington, D. c.
 Johnson, Joseph Taber, professor of sur gery. Washington. D. c.
 Johnson, S. w., professor, Yale College, New Haven, Conn.
 Kerr Dr. William R., ex-health officer Chicago, III.
 Mallet, John William, professor, Univer- sity of Virginia
 The Marine Hospital Service reject in their rules all alum baking powders or any food containing alum. It is a drug, and no chemist has ever testified that in any food that goes into the stomach of any animal the particles that form alum gre f9.-nd It is poison, and it is so testified to by every one of these witnesses, some in one form and some in another.
 McMurtrie, William, professo-, consult ing and analytical chemist.
 Mew. w. M., professor, Army and Med ical Department, United States Govern ment.
 Morton, Henry, president of steTsss In- stitute, Hoboken, N. J.
 Munroe, Charles Edward, professor of chemistry, Columbian University, WasE- ington, D. c.
 Mott, Henry A., professor, New York City.
 The United States Navy refuses, under the direction of the Surgeon-General. to have alum used in any of the products that go into the food of the men of the Navy.
 Prescott, Albert B., professor, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.
 Price, A. F., medical director United States Naval Hospital, Washington, D. c.
 Smart, Charles, lieutenant-colonel, assist ant surgeon-general, United States Army.
 Sternberg, George M, Surgeon-General United States Army, Washington, D. c.
 Springfield, c. Pruyn, professor, Chicago Baptist Hospital, Chicago.
 Thurber Francis B., president American Grocer Publishing Company, New York