New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-02-24
WHAT is BEER MADE OFT
AN ARGUMENT FOR THE BILL TO COMPEL BREWERS

WhAt 10 MAOC OC
AN ARGUMENT FOR THE BILL TO COMPEL BREWERS
TO TELL.
To the Ednor OF The Tribune.
SIR: A bill is now pending in the State Senate,
having passed to third reading, which Is important
to the community large and especially the friends
OK temperance, that wonder 1t has not attracted moro
attention. 1t provides that all brewers SHALL by label
Oh tneir barrels or bottles, tell what their ale or lager
Deer made from Those unacQuainted with tho facts
10 not appreciate the necessity for such legislation, II
they did no amount Of money could defeat this BILL a.
was done last year.
Every one knows how much the comparative con-
sumption OF spurious liquors has decreased within the
past Few years. This has been largely due t. the
introduction and general of lager beer which when
aae from pure materials is but slightly intoxicating
anu 70 many persons is positively beneficial The
substitution OF this mild beverage for fiery rum and
whskey has been welcomed with JOY by most lovers Of
the temperance cause. Lately however, aduleration
mas begun here as In other articles OF daily use which
threatens to undo all the good accomplished In place Of
the harmless ingredients heretofore used in those
liquors. some manufactures, II is claimed, have subs
tuted drugs which make their beer poisonous as the
vile compounds which 1t replaced The result Is that the
beer drnker either poisons his stomach returns his
whiskey, with the composition Of which he has some
acquaintance.
OF course the current charges are true the present
Dill Is step In the right direction 1t docs not prohibit
adlteraton but it. one will know what Is the
glass; and. with poison" the label least
exercise choice II on the other hand these charges
are false. and tho drugs used by brewers not
deleterious knowledge OF their character. such as
would be compelled by the enforcement Of this law.
would restore public confidence, and help along the
temperance cause. The brewers, understand, claim
that the Substitutes OF Hops" used by Them and the
adyerd imcnts OF which crowd their journals, are harm
less shpes In fact rather superior to hops themselves
II that is so, would imagine them by this time
OF breath In their anxiety to pass bill beneficial to
their trade Srangy enough Is said that this bill is
opposed by one class of persons only those who make
aud sell the superior beer manufactured from these
harmless artificial hops. The arguments OF the opponents
or the measure, developed In the legislature and the
press are remarkable showing whether the
tell the truth in saying that their adlteraton Is harm
less One Senator In opposing the bill the other day. Is
reported to have said that 1t class legislation" that
designed TO protect the class who drink beer and
that for his part he thought they ought to be allowed to
drink poison fthey desired, concluding that where
ignorance is bliss, It's folly to be WISE" We should be
proud OF Senator who raises such objection
important health measure. To him, laws against the
aiulteraon OF candy tea or sugar. the sale of putrid
meat poison to any conner are all class legs-
laion to be opposed 1t may be that modern society is
measures but unfortunately the bill under discussion
does not even come under his ban. II does prevent
the making OF poisoned beer Ii simply provides way
by which the victim. before h. drinks, lind out
whether he Is purchasing poison or not In other words
II Is intended 10 prevent the fraud OF palmng off harm
full for a harmless beverage.
The other objection to the bill has appeared In OF
the papers and may have been used by Senatorial
ir'nd In MS yreported speech IL Is that the
/, In the interest OF the ho.rowing sections OF the state
and therefore should not pass Tails is curious obiec
ton In behalf OF men who claim that they make better
beer at present than they formerly did from hops
this be when in the same breath they say that II
compelled TO reveal what this superior beer is made from
they viii he driven back to the OF their old ngrede
In the gh OF this latter statement what becomes OF the
assertion that their substitutes are harmless Harm
less when their customers would not drink the stuff
toll what It Is composed or No gentlemen this is the
strongest argument in thebi II the substitutes now
used are hcdthful -impcs claim the hop business
viii be ruined by such law IT, on the other hand. they
are nuisOme, poisonous drugs, this industry will be
aided and under such circumstances IL ight be. The
farmers Of the Interior have made this the largest hop
growing state OF the Union. That BILL which l. In the
interest ~ health, temperance and public morality will
the time, beacit then also, Will hardly prove
objection to IT In the public mind
Beyond the arguments given above have heard OF
urged against this Last bill,
what similar. introduced into the Leesaturc but
was killed. IN silence, by sunOcsJn The present is
apparently pressed by men who intend that their
opponents shall show their hands We hear much Of
occult and maiyu Influences which shape obstruct
legislation AZ Albany. Most Of this Is idle talk, bui those
Interested IN such matters may well watch this bill.
Ae1 l0F:, IcJ. Il, 1850. DOUGLAS CAMPBELL