Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-05-01
FREE ALCOHOL QUESTION.
involves Battle Between Whisky Trust
and Standard Oil.

Involves Battle Between Whisky Trust
and Standard Oil.
A battle royal, says a Washington
correspondent, fs on In the senate,
beside which the struggle over the
railroad rate bill will look almost
like the overworked thirty cents. It
is the fight between the friends and
opponents Of the "denatured alcohol
BILL" and at first blush 1t looks as
though It were going to be show
down Of strength between the Stand
ard Oil company and the whisky
trust. II this were the fact, no one
would particularly care whether the
bill passed or not, for no matter
which side won the public at large
would get nc benefit But, accord
ing to the best information obtain
able. II looks as though the interests
Of several millions of people are
deeply concerned in the passage Of
this measure. II the bill becomes a
law Rockefeller may be forced to re-
duce the price of coal oil and gasoline,
and thousands of farmers throughout
the country who are now barely max
ing both ends meet will find new
and very profitable source Of revenue
in raising potatoes for the manufac-
ture of the wonderful "denaturized
alcohol"
Denatured or denaturized alcohol
Is just every day alcohol with some
substance added which will prevent
its use as a beverage. If alcohol
goes into the manufacture Of whisky,
Uncle Sam wants his internal reve-
nue. tax of $1.10 a proof gallon, and
he goes upon the theory that all alco-
hol made is drinkable, or potable.
as the official term designates 1t, he
taxes every drop at that rate. Un-
der the present law wood alcohol Is
not taxed, but on account OF Its linn
tied manufacture has never been
made cheap enough to justify its gen.
.eral use In large quantities. But
were every farmer able to make al
cohol from his potatoes, or beets, or
corn and sell 1t at fair profit with
out paying the top-heavy tax, mil
lions of gallons would be distilled
and used In the manufactures and
arts. It would then become an ac-
tive competitor of coal oil and gaso-
line for the economical production Of
heat and power, and doubtless light.
The great manufacturing interests Of
the country are, as a consequence,
backing the bill as strongly as they
know how. Automobile makers and
automobile users want 1t, for they
say, alcohol Is even better than raph-
tina for the production Of power for
their red devils. Silk manufacturers
say that If the bill is passed they can
make the finer grades Of their pro-
duct at a greatly decreased cost, for
in the finishing of the best silk nearly
a gallon Of spirits is used per yard.
Various plans are proposed for de-
naturizing alcohol. The introduce
ticn of a certain amount of coal oil
will accomplish the result; so will
the addition Of wood alcohol or any
one Of a hundred medicinal sub
stances which will cause the spirits
so treated to become a powerful
emetic, or create some other imme-
diate convulsion of the drinkers sys-
tenn. The proper treatment Of the
product under the government super
vision Is provided for in the pending
bill. At first the measure was oppos-
ed by the prohibition interests Of the
country under the belief that the pas
sage would increase drunkenness.
They were soon convinced Of their
error in this regard, and have now
withdrawn their opposition.
The leader of the faction fighting
the bill Is Senator Aldrich Of Rhode
Island. The same man who is doing
battle with the president on the rail-
road rate bill will be found fighting
fer the Standard Oil. With Aldrich
against 1t a great many we'll Informed
men are willing to bet that the de-
natured alcohol bill will surely lose
for in many ways Aldrich leads the
senate about by the nose. Aldrich's
daughter married John D. Rockefel-
ler's son, John D. Jr., so the Rhode
Island senator has a family interest
in keeping up the price Of oil. There
are other senators who are believed
to be in the control Of the Standard
Oil company and when the time
comes are expected to put up bit
ter fight againt the bill. One scheme
to defeat it has already been ex-
posed-that Of tacking the Philip
pine tariff measure to the bill In or
der to secure for 1t the enmity OF the
senators who are opposed to that un-
popular piece Of legislation.
WORK OF PRIVATE SoLDIERs.-Bew
persons have any idea Of the require
,,,apts demanded of Driyate soldiers