The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-10-17

DEADLY WHISKY.

1t is the toper's proverb that call
whisky is good, but some is better"
1t is the prohibitionist's belief that
all whisky is bad. but some is worse.
And there is the testimony of Prof.
Wiley of the Agricultural Department,
given recently, that the most of the
whisky sold in the United States is
bad-adulterated and impure. He made
that statement after analysing large
number of samples taken indiscrimi-
nately, and there is every reason to be-
lieve that his conclusion was, and is,
absolutely correct. But there is no
good reason why any whisky dispensed
to unsuspecting consumers should be
so poisonous as to produce death with
in a short while. as was true of some
sixteen cases in New York recently,
according to reports in our dispatches.
1t appears that the saloon keeper, or
barrel-house keeper, who dispensed the
liquor to the persons who drank and
died had adulterated his whisky with
wood alcohol. In all probability he had
mixed" his own whisky according to
some cheap formula, and instead of
using alcohol distilled from grain had
employed that distilled from wood, in
ignorance of the fact that the latter
is deadly poison. Doubtless to him
alcohol was alcohol, without distinc-
ton or difference, notwithstanding
chemists know some twenty variations
of the stuff. The keeper of the place,
of course, didn't want to kill his Gus
toners, since dead men buy no whis
ky; but he did want to give them the
cheapest compound that he could and
thus take the largest profit possible.
And the end was death to a number
of his customers.
How far are the several governments
national, state and municipal-re-
liquors served to the people? The gov
ernments derive a large revenue from
the liquor business. But do they exert
themselves in the slightest degree to
see that a standard of purity or excel
lence is maintained? Apparently the
whole purpose is to collect the tax
and then the life and health of the
consumer is left at the mercy of the
dealer. When the government has got
its money that is all it wants. Tho
sort of mixture or dilution that he
pleases and pass it over his counter.
There is never any inspection of liquors
in the retail place. Several officers
of the army have lately reported OIL
the vile character of the liquors ais
pensed to the soldiers since the aboli-
ton of the canteen. These liquors
have, nominally, at least, paid their
tax to Uncle Sam. II they had not
paid taxes they would be quickly con-
fiscated and put out Of business. But
when the tax has been paid and the
dealer can show a license, he is free
| to go ahead and serve about any char
acter of vile stun that his conscience
and his regard for his pocketbook will
! permit him to foist on his customers.
While abstention is the only safe
rule, and the one to be commended or
all occasions. the fact remains that
there are tens OF thousands of per-
sons, who are neither drunkards MOI
degenerates, that habitually drink al.
coholic beverages. They do not drink
to excess. And probably the majority
OF them belong TO the working classes
Should they not have some protection
in their drinking, in return for the
heavy tax they pay? There are in.
spectors for milk and butter and vari.
Gus food products. But there is M
inspector to stand between the mar
who takes a drink Of liquor and the
dealer, to see to It that he is moi
poisoned.