The Topeka state journal., 1909-02-16
Attempts TO Show Bleaching OF
Flour Isn't Injurious.
on THE OTHER SIDE
Members Show Why the Proc.
ess is Used.
Makes Inferior Flour So That 1t
Can't Be Known.


cussion in the house of the question of
providing for a board of referees on
pure foods and drugs some very inter
esting information was brought out in
an argument between Congressman
Anthony of Kansas and Congressman
Lever as to the bleaching of -four
Il would like to state to the house, -
said Mr.. Anthony, that the flour mill
ers of the country understand DR. Wi
ley has made a decision restricting
them from electric bleaching, because
he says that it introduces a nitrous
element in the flour. and he has pro-
hibited the use of the process
Now, the facts are that the process
only causes about one-millionth part
of nitrous condition to form in the
flour, and that means a man would
have to eat 10000 loaves of bread to be
injured.
Now, why should not the flour man
Ufacturers be protected against such a
ruling as that?'' asked Mr.. Anthony
Il am perfectly familiar with the ruI-
ing, answered Congressman Lever.
Let me call attention of the gentle
man from Kansas to the fact that not
more than three or four weeks ago
the supreme court of North Dakota
passed upon this very flour case, and
held that the bleaching of flour was in
violation of the law of the state of
North Dakota, on the ground that
bleaching covered up inferior mater
ial.
What is the purpose of bleaching?
1t is to take inferior wheat, bleach it,
and make the flour look as if it were
ground from first-claSs wheat. Not only
that, but it will be remenl bered some
years ago we introduced the growing
of durum wheat into this country.
Durum wheat does not make as white
-four as does hard wheat. Durum
wheat, to be used. has to go through
this bleaching process to get white
flour, so that 1t can go on the market
in competition with the hard wheat of
the country.
This durum wheat" continued Mr.
Lever, "sells in the market 1 am told
for 20 cents per bushel less than the
1ard and fine grades of wheat and it is
Of Importance to the durum dealers
hat they should be able to bleach this
Hour, and thereby sell it under a de-
eeption and fraud as having been made
rom the best grade of wheat
Does not the gentleman admit that
he process allows the farmer to find
| better market for his wheat ?" in
Iuired Mr.. Anthony.
II do not admit it, answered Mr..
Lever. THE durum wheat grower
comes in competition with the grower
Of first class wheat, and sells his cheap
wheat for just as good a price as does
the grower of the first class wheat, and
first Glass;
Congressman Gronna then entered the |
debate. He said: Il am glad the gen. |
tleman has brought this matter up. |
say that it is a fraud upon the farmers
to permit this bleaching process. I'm |
Ter the pure food law they should not |
be permitted to use this process. AS |
-he gentleman has well explained. the |
1urum wheat is sold at from 10 to 20 |
cents a bushel less. and the flour is not |
he same as that which is made from |
lard wheat"
Taking the floor again, Mr. Lever |
continued: This is another case where |
7our preservatives and artificial pro-
,esses permit gross frauds upon the
public, and positive injury |
o the legitimate industry. The pure |
'ood act is intended to remedy this |
abuse which had grown to alarming |
before the enactment of the
aw. and which will again become a
abuse under the present |
system of hampering and retarding the
of the act in all it's
strength and spirit of protection
~The Kansas rnillers are greatly inter
,sted in the bleaching process of flour,
md are at present represented in
Washington by Mr. Lysle of Leaven-
worth.
Senator Warren has introduced a