The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-04-12
Apparent Blend victory.


 While the pure food act was peadine in Congress the fight between the "straights" and ''blenders was re- newed with old time vigor. Speaker Cannon was strongly criticised in some quarters for preventing the considera- ton of the pure food bill. It was charged that his principal objection centered in the sections referring .o whiskey. The Speaker authorized sweepine denials. and after consider able delay the bill was taken up and passed. AS is frequently the case, the law, as written on the statute books' was a compromise between the con- tending interests. It was as near what the blenders desired as could be ob- tained by the exercise of strong innu- ence.
 When Secretary Wilson and pr Wiley undertook the formulation of regulations to govern the use of labels under the law they encountered a stickler in the whiskey business. The law requires that compounds, imfta- tions and blends be plainly labeled ana that the word compound. imitation or "blend," as the case may be. shall be plainly stated on the package In which 1t is offered for sale.
 Hitch for Secretary.
 To further safeguard the consumer
  defienition of the term blend" When written the definition was thought to be favorable to the blenders of whis- key. as they are known In the trade. It reads: That the term blend shall be construed to mean a mixture of like substances, not including harmless col bring or fiavoring ingredients, used for the purpose of coloring and tavorins only"
 st.... xxy1.a, a1d Dr wIev found themselves confronted with the necessity of deciding what was mix lure of ''ike substances" They easily agreed that In making straight" whis- key. the mixture was that of like sub- stances" being the mixture of the prod uct of different worm stills, but when they took the next step and inquired into the methods used In the manu- fracture of what has been known as "blended' whiskey, they came to a parting of the ways. Secretary Wilson made a special tour of inspection of numerous distilleries. He agreed with Dr. Wiley that the blenders obtain netfA tral or cologne spirits or purified alco- hol from which most of the fusel oil has been removed. To this body Is added or mixed a small quantity of straight" whiskey for fiavoring, burnt sugar for coloring. and some bead oil
 Where Authorities Split.
 There was no disagreement between the secretary and pr. Wiley upon the method of manufacture, but there was utter disagreement as to whether the mixing of straight whiskey" and neutral or cologne spirits was thn mixing of like substances" under the law, which would entitle the manufac- turers to use the label "blended whis- ky." Secretary Wilson conteuded that it was the mixing of like substances and Dr. Wiley that 1t was not. pr. Wiley insisted that chemically there was a vast difference between the al- cohol which has been aged for four years in a charred barrel, and the all cohol purified by the distillers and used as the body of the so-called blends which could be produced in twenty-four hours. To Attorney Gen eral Bonaparte was submitted the problem for a construction of the law.
 Safeguards Consumer.
 While the decision has special di- rect bearing upon the question or the labelling of what has been known as different brands of whisky, t will have even wider effect In establishing a precedent that must be followed In the administration of the pure food law. It emphasizes the object of Congress 10 protect consumers against irnita- lions and commercials and means that until reversed the public will be as- sured that the labels upon articles Of food will be a sufficient safeguard to enable them to ascertain exactly what they are purchasing. Senator Bever- idee is the one who made the fight on inc contention that the consumer has the right to know exactly what he Is buying. The administration, accord- ing to the latest information, sustains that view