The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1914-08-07
RIDIcULES THE STORY
REGARDING WALLACE
Willard Hansen is Certain that Idaho
Commissioner Acted to Stop Frauds
(Salt Lake Tribune)

DaklnB powder trust and Tor tnaI
reason is attempting to stop the sale
of albumen baking powder, are de-
clared by Willard Hansen, state dairy
and food commissioner, to be prepos-
ferrous. Mr.. Hansen said that in his
opinion the Idaho commissioner has
acted only in the interests of the PEG
pie and to prevent frauds. Mr.. Han
sen said that as far as Wallis consult
ing George B. McCabe, chief counsel
for the Jacques Baking Powder COM
pany, IS concerned, he sees nothing
wrong. Mr.. Hansen said he has con-
suited McCabe himself.
McCabe an Expert.
In regard to the Idaho commission
ed consulting McCabe, Commissioner
Hansen said:
Mr.. McCabe is an old Utah boy
and an old friend of both Wallis and
myself. We have always gone to
him on these matters for advice, as
he is considered the best legal author
ity in the United States on food prob
lens. There could be nothing wrong
as far as | can see with Wallis con-
sulting him regarding this albumen
case, even though he is an attorney
tor the Jacques company. AS far as
baking powder trust" is concerned,
it would be difficult to say which is
the trust, except that the concerns
which put albumen in their powder
call themselves independent and
charge more for their powders.
This trouble that the Crescent COM
pany is trying to stir up for Wallis
is only one of the many things that
have been-tried by the albumen COM
panies, according to Mr.. Hansen,
since Utah took the lead in putting
the ban on these powders. The
amended ruling of the Utah state
dairy and food bureau against albu-
menized baking powders was passed
July ~, 1913. Previous to the rul-
ing being made. the Hunt Baking
Powder company had entered Utah
with baking powder containing the
albumen or dried egg and had en-
deavored by testing this powder in
| glasses of cold water, to convince the
public that this powder was superior
to Others.
Made Investigation.
Commissioner Hansen and his chief
deputy, Heber c. Smith, made thor
ough investigation, and after consult
ing with all the Utah baking powder
manufacturers and Herman Harms,
state chemist, decided that such tests
constituted fraud and that the bak-
ing powder should be ruled off the
market.
While the food men decided that
egg albumen is neither injurious nor
beneficial when placed in baking pow
der, yet when it is used in the cold
water test it causes the powder to
foam more than other powders and
thus gives the erroneous impression
that it has more leavening powers.
Utah was the first state to pass such
regulation and was quickly followed
by Texas, North Dakota, Idaho and
Illinois. In Texas the law was ad-
vocated strongly and secured by
Commissioner Abbott, now a member
of the cooperative board of national
and state food inspectors. AT the
trne the law was passed Abbott
claimed that the albumen companies
were trying to lay traps for him, and
when an investigation was called in
the governors Office, Abbott attended,
armed with a gun.
Used Persuasive Argument.
The story is told that he laid the
revolver on the table, faced the bak-
ing powder manufacturers and said:
That gun will lie there until YOU
begin lying about mel" The confer
ence was short one and Abbott was
not muck-raked.
Since that time there has been
much activity on the part of baking
powder manufacturers who wish to
put albunenized baking powders on
the market, and the question has
oeen live issue in all pure food adj
mlnistration circles. The suit which
Just closed in Idaho was the first test
case. The court enjoined the food
commissioner from preventing tbe
nl@rSeting OF the product, but also
ruled against the cold water test
Commissioner Hansen saws that all
the food commissioners want is to
prevent the cold water test, as other
WISE albumen in the powder is all
right. The ruling of the Utah bureau
follows: O"' cat
i, Inc sale in the state of Utah Of
baking powders containing minute
Quantities of dried egg (albumen1 l.
declared illegal. The albumen IN these
baking powders does not increase the
actual leavening power of the now
der. but by series of unfair and de-
ceptive tests, such powders are made
70 appear to the innocent consumer
~ possess three or four times their
Se.udl leaVening power. Such pow
GERS, therefore, are adulterated under
section 736, paragraph 4 of the stata
dairy and food laws, 1918, which raads
as follows: When deemed adu,tsrat
ed. If it is mixed, colored. powder
ed, coated or stained in mannar
whereby damage or inferioritv Is
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