The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1914-07-31
WEEKLY REVIEW STATE
NEWS WITH OUR
COMMENT

A careful reading of the testimony
OF Jas H. Wallis, state pure food
commissioner in the United States
district court in the case of the Cres-
cent Baking Powder Co., of Seattle
explains in a large measure the close
relationship that existed between Mr..
Wallis and Mr.. George P. McCabe.
an attorney for the K. c. Baking
Powder Co. Mr.. McCabe was for
number of years member of the
board of food and drug inspection
of the federal government and solicit
tor for the Department of Agricul-
ture Many years prior to that Mr..
Wallis and Mr.. McCabe became
acquainted while they both lived at
Odgen. Mr.. Wallis was engaged in
the newspaper business and Mr.. Nc
Cabe was a school teacher there.
When Mr. Wallis became state pure
food commissioner he naturally had
many transactions with his former
friend. He learned to respect his
judgment in matters pertaining to the
enforcement of pure food laws. This
relationship continued after Mr.. Nc
Cabe severed his connections with
the government and after he became
an attorney for the K. c. Baking
Powder concern.
The Tribune called attention to the
relationship that existed between the
two men. We are still of the opinion
that Mr.. Wallis was indiscreet in
maintaining such close relations with
his friend and especially in official
matters. Other than the indiscretion.
which might lead the public to think
that Mr.. Wallis was acting under the
direction of Mr.. McCabe in official
business, we are convinced that Mr..
Wallis was moved by the best
motives and had no desires except to
safeguard the welfare of the public,
The kilograms which were intro
duced at the hearing before Judge
DIETRICH and which passed between
Wallis and McCabe have provoked
more or less interest on the part of the
public. Of these kilograms and his
relations with Attorney McCabe Com
missioner Wallis offers the following
explanation:
The letters and kilograms which
passed between myself and George P.
McCabe, an attorney of Chicago, in
the time l have been state dairy, food
and sanitary Inspector of this state,
are, like all other records of nv Of
hce, open for public inspection at any
time. have nothing to conceal with
reference thereto. | voluntarily turn
ed over to the attorneys for the Cres-,
cent Manufacturing company the
whole OF this correspondence and al
lowed them to introduce in evidence
without objection, any part thereof
they desired
Mr. McCabe is personal friend OF
mine of p years standing. He was
at the time | assumed Office, and for
several years afterward, member of
the board of food and drug inspec-
ton of the federal government and
solicitor for the department of argi-
culture. In this capacity | frequently
consulted him with reference to
questions concerning the interpreta-
tion and enforcement of the pure food
laws.
Alter his retirement from office
ne became a practicing attorney in
Chicago and numbered among his eli
eIltS at least one manufacturer of
non-albuminous baking powder. His
company was naturally interested in
the trial of the injunction case which
involved the legality of the use OF
minute quantities of albumen in bak-
ing powders. This interest naturally
arose from the false and fraudulent
water glass tests or comparisons
which makers of powders containing
albumen have been accustomed to
make tor the purpose of showing the
mteriority of other powders to their
own"
Simple justice to Mr.. Wallis de
mands the statement that the
real point at issue in this
hearing was the honesty of what
IS known as the water glass" test
Tor ascertaining the strength and
leavening powers of albuminous bak-
ing powder, in comparison with other
baking powders. 1t seems that by
the water glass test albuminous bak-
ing powder is much better and
stronger when as a matter of fact il
might be greatly inferior. Commits
sioner Wallis objected to the Ores
cent people using the water glass test
IN their demonstrations. His con
tention was fully sustained by the
court.