Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1888-01-13
UNrERmENrED WINE.

DEAR UNIoN SIdNAL:-Some people in
our state, and perhaps In other states, have
feared TO keep tor sale pure, unferhienied
wine, though warranted to be eniirlS free
from slcohol, unless they have 6rst taken
out liquor dealers license, thinking that
peri,sps such sale might he construed a.
violation of the state or United States
revenue hwN Now have recently ihvcss
iignled ti,e matter, and thinking there nr~y
I've saany Of our white ribbon women w.,o
might he glad To know the resnit of that
investigation, I write Of It to The UNION
SiGNiL.
Nei hrr ~ our state CTcnueasee) laws
of alcoholic liquors, even by drugvisis, Tor
medicinal or mechanical purposes, nor
,loes the United States law permit the ssle
for sacrnment,l purposes, without tie pay
men, "f the regniar retail liquor dealers
tax. So, with perhaps two or taree ex-
ceptions, no druggists in our state now
keep alcoholic liquors Tor sal, for any Pur-
pose. Aud n recent decision Of the Supreme
Court In our al ate to the effect that man
may not make alcoholic wiae from his
own vineyard for sale without the pay
ment Of this tax, leaves the churches, In
our state AZ least, no resource but the IA
looms Tor the communion wine. find that
there ia state law making an exception
which permits druggists to keep Alcoholic
wine for saeramentai purposes onty, with
out paymeat OF thus tax; bat the United
States law makes no such exceptions; and
druggists, not being able TO sell enough for
sacramentnl purposes 10 enable them to
pny this SIS United States tax, refuse to
keep e Tor that
have finally come 10 the conclusion
that churches preferring 10 use tile alco-
holic wine, ought TO 70 70 the saloons to
get il, as that seems 10 be the proper place
for That sort OF wiue. But have been
endesvoring TO get druggists TO keep un-
fermeutej, non-alcoholic wine for the use
Of churches that prefer that kind, and find
there is no law TO prevent their doing 40.
On February 10, 1877, Mr.. Green II. Raum,
then United States Commissioner OF inter
nal Revenue. decided that "a special tax
Ia not iwposei by the internal revenue laws
upon persons for the saie OF the unfer--
mented Juice OF fruits, or for selling canned
fruits or frdit juices Containing no alcohol
or spiri;s." On December S, 1887, Mr.. J.
8. Miller, the present United States Com
missioner Of Internai Revenue, decided
that Special tax is not required TO be paid
ua'ler The ia'ernal revenue laws of the
United States for the sale Of GRACE or other
fruit juices which have not worked or Ter
mented, but are absolutely without drop
Of alcohol. The juice Of fruits, wholly
unfermented aad entirely free from admix-
ture with alcoholic liquors Of any kind, is
not wine ia contemplation Of the internal
evenue laws, and persons who sell it un-
der the name OF 'unfermented wine do mo,
therefore subject themselves to special
tax"
Will not our local presa snperintendenia
and white ribbon women everywhere sec
that these decisions have wide circulation
And will not they endeavor to get iheil
druggirta, or some other person, 10 keeI
constantly on hand for sale this pure uon-
alcoholic. "frnit Of the vine"? The Genera
Conference Of the Methodist Church South