The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1906-07-05
The Theatrical Exhibition.

The recent exhibition upon the floor
OF the House Of Representatives. during
the discussion of the pure-food bill,
brings to the front the whole question
OF liquor drinking in the United States.
The exhibition was made by a member
from Kentucky, who represented the
purely selfish interests of the distillers
Of what are called the "old- fashioned
hand made sourmash whiskies," In op-
position to what are called blended
goods" whiskies made to represent the
special products of the Kentucky stills.
The Representative took q quantity Of
pure alcohol or neutral spirits, added
water to bring 1t to the strength of
whisky. and then put in coloring mat
ter and essences to make 1t resemble
old whisky. He was able to show that
even as Impractical a hand as his could
make whisky which strongly resem-
bled In appearance and taste that which
had been produced by the special proc
ess Of the Kentucky distillers. Then he
went of into wild exordium upon the
terrible evils to humanity Of this blend
ed or imitation old whisky. as distin-
guished from that produced by his con-
stituents. According to his fervid speech
murder, treason and sudden death,
wife-beating. grand larceny and secret
poisoning were all induced by the drink
ing Of this artificial product. whereas
VIC IhoA WIN Oou6h ICCu Ofu
whisky and drank 1t was an angel of
benevolence, a good citizen. a loving
husband and a kind father.
This was arrant nonsense OF the most
transparent kind. 1t was simply the
selfish greed OF the Kentucky distillers,
seeking for the United States to protect
them in the high prices they ask for
cheaper whiskies manufactured from
alcohol distilled in Illinois and other
great grain-producing States
There is probably nothing. outside of
a livery stable or a race track, about
which there Is more tiresome nonsense
talked than the different grades and
fneness Of whiskies. A man can hear
stables, upon the race track and In sa
looms and cigar stores by cheap. horsey
sports, who, in reality, know nothing
about horses or their performances, but
who will yet talk worlds without end
with an air az the utmost knowledge. In
the same way the frequenters OF saloons
will talk far more continuously, inces-
sanity and senselesslY than q crowd OF
old women about this whis-
Ivy and that whisky. They will boast OF
their delicacy Of taste; their ability TO
distinguish one brand from another: the
effects Of the whisky upon them, ct
cetera and ad nauseaum. They will ac-
company their talk and their drinking
with looks OF supreme wisdom and an
that combines the knowledge
OF the ages. As a matter Of cold fact,
each and every one Of them IL as ig-
norant Of what he is talking about as
he Is OF the nebular hypothesis. 1t Is
all pure or impure tiresome rot. Their
Judgment is Influenced by the skillful
praises OF hired agents, and probably by
the 0wllike decision Of the barkeeper.
who naturally praises that upon which
he can make the most money.
The Tive BGethoAs 0f Distillatisn.
The two methods OF whisky making
which are in strong opposition and
which clashed in an endeavor to get the
better Of one another in the passage Of
the pure-fO0d bill are represented by
the great distillers Of Illinois>and other
Western States which manufacture al
cohol by the 100000 gallons, and the
smaller distillers. mainly In Kentucky
and other Southern States.
: In the great distilieries such az are
found about Peoria and other distillery
centers are immense plants, constructed
on the most approved scientific plans.