The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-02-22
TILLMAN KNOWS.
Explains the Manufacture of Whisky
to the Senate.

Washington, Feb. Ex-senator Till
man, during the discussion of the pure
food bill, delivered a lecture in open
senate on the manufacture and adul-
teration of whisky. He pleaded guilty
to having made a careful study of the
manufacture of whisky, but protested
he didn't drink the stuff"
Senator Tillman's speech was the
most illuminating effort on the subject
of whisky ever made in congress. He
had most interested audience
Spooner, Allison, Hale, Lodge and
Foraker turned in their chairs SO they
might not miss a word. Senator Stone
sat Immediately in front of the
speaker and with upturned face
showed his admiration Tor a senator
who could tell why whisky which
beaded might be vile and why fusel
oil, also a poison, gave whisky a flavor
When the South Carolinian finally ex-
planned that "mOonshine" was the
purest whisky, but wasn't fit to drink,
Senator SpOOner unconseiOusly ejacu-
lated, Whats that?" and smiled at
the very attentive press gallery.
Senator Foraker had received nu-
merous letters from the manufac-
turers of whisky in Cincinnati asking
that the word added be stricken from
the section Of the pure food bill which
dealt with adulteraion of whisky,
and Senator Tillman was trying to
show that if this were done the sec
ton would become farcicaI.
Il have studied this whisky question
little, the South Carolina senator
began. Il used to be head barkeeper,
as they called me in South Carolina
when the dispensary was inaugurated
there, and know a good deal about
it."
He forthwith launched into his earn
! est discussion.
"Mean Liquor"
The added Ingredient" exclaimed
/ Sena TOR Tllln7an ftxvn417d he 7r-T
terant for the purpose of coloring or to
give 1t some flavor. There might he a
more dangerous Ingredient that would
be in the spirits as they come from the
still. and that is fusel oil, the most dead
" of poisons. The mean houor-what Is
known as the 'Beanest of mean liquor
is due to the fusel oil that is in the
crude alcohol instead Of the deodorized
alcohol, from which fusel oil has been
/ extra cted. That would not be added
because it comes from the corn.
1.-THE bulk of the whisky sold in the
United States has as the basis of It's
manufacture spirits-that is. alcohol
carried to the highest point of distilla-
ton, which is 50 per cent of alcohol
and per cent of water. If you carry
| it any higher it ignites. There are two
kinds of alcohol One has fusel
oil in it. which comes with the grain
and gives the flavor; the other has the
/ fusel oil taken out and is known as
/ 'deodorized alcohol and is the basis of
every fine blended whisky in the world. !"
Mr.. Hale-What is fuseI oily
Mr.. Tillmar-Fusel oil is that chemi-
cal property which rests mainly in the
hull of the grain and in the peeling of
/ the fruit It gives flavor and it is a
deadly poison. Therefore. new liquors.
fresh from the still. are very dangerous
4 to health and very injurious. You have
to wait and age them for a year or two
or three or five years before the fusel
oil that is left in the liquor changes to
ether of one kind or another and gives
the nutty flavor of which connoisseurs
are so fond am not an expert in the
taste Of whisky. but 7 know q little
about how it is made. I never could
/ tell whether whisky was good or bad OF
Indifferent by the taste. The only guar
anty 7 can offer as to purity IS to have