The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-08-01
Protecting Whiskey.

The most highly protected industry" of
this country is that Of whskey and beer
They are taxed six hundred per cent and it
does seem like paradox to claim that 10
protect and encourage an industry it should
be taxed, and yet in the case of the liquor
business this is fact. Without this enor-
nous tax protection the business would fall
fiat. A gallon of whiskey costs 10 to Is
cents to manufacture, and the machinery
and process is so simple and expensive
that any farmer could set up still and
make his corn crop into whiskey if he
chose and the U. S. Government did not
interfere. Thus it is obvious that if there
was no government tax on whiskey and
beer a monopoly of their manufacture would
be impossible. When the government of
the United States became an active partner
in the liquor manufacturing business, Of
ficers were appointed and paid BY the gov
eminent to take charge of the distlleries
aud breweries. Warehouses were built and
government officers locked the liquor up
and took charge of the kegs. The manu-
facturers store their liquors in these guarded
warehouses to ripen ard when any is drawn
out the officers gauge and determine the
quantity and strength, receive the tax and
stamp the package with the government
seal. A distiler haying large capital and
plant can fill these warehouses with cheap
whiskey costing him in actual outlay per-
haps Is cents gallon, which cannot be put
on the market till the government has
raised the price six hundred per cent by
collecting a tax of 80 cents gallon. If
there was no government interference,
every person who chose could sci up still,
run il at such times as suited him, sell the
raw whiskey or store it in his own house
reasonable profit on the cost. Such active
competition would cut down the price to
the lowest point and keep it down, capt.
tai could not corner the stuff, make mo-
nopoly, and would not invest in the business
to any considerable extent. Great national
liquor and beer associations would not exist
with large sums of money to bride and in
timidate political party managers as they
now do under present conditions, with the
government an active partner, employing a
strong armed police TO hunt down and break
up any small secret establishments which
venture TO set up in out Of the way corners.
1t is readily understood that by this system
of double protection that bars out the nom
capitalist and Furnishes the Illicit manufac-
turer, that none but the heavy capitalist
can enter and conduct the liquor manufac
turing business.
Competition is completely shut out
by the active interference of government,
and great monied monopoly is created
whose influence is felt from the White
House through both halls of Congress
and down to the smallest ward politician
The last act of this tyranizing monopoly
has struck the hardest blow to local self
government that has ever been experienced
in this country, by lis U. S. Court decision,
declaring its right 10 send and sell liquor in
the smallest quantities into any state, coun-
ty or district without regard to local law.
The state officers are enjoined from enforc-
ing the local laws against these liquor
vendors Of the United State Government,
which supports them in their encroachment
on the laws, homes and freedom of the cit
liens, by Its courts, marshalls and if need be
the army. This is the infamous monopoly
which has been created by the government
of the United States of the liquor businass
and for such privileges as no other interest
enjoys, it last year paid the government
nne;y-slX million dollars. Far better
would it be for the people TO raise this sum
by direct tax on their property, for the
liquor monopoly in collecting this tax off of
the people through its infamous business,
collected from them last year over its bars
eleven hundred millions of dollars. And
when statesman is heard expressing his
willingness TO continue or increase if nee
essary, the tax on spirits rather than raise
revenue by taxing the necessaries of life. in
place of statesman fool is talking. Nine
tenths of this eleven hundred millions COL
lected yearly over the saloon bar is taken
from the necessaries of life and the poor
mans family. The liquor question has
become the most intensely national of any
political question before the public to-day.