Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-12-30
TAFT RULES ON
WHAT WHISKY Is
Holds That Blends May Bear tn.
Generic Name-Reverses Elk.
President 8 Verdict,

Washington, Dec. 2s.-The definition y,
the word whisky by the highest legal
authority was givcn to-day when Presi
dent Taft rendered the final decision or
the subject in connection with the co,
struction or the pure food law with ro,-
erence to labelling. The President held
that whisky" made of neutral spirits Is
whisky when reduced to potable strength.
Inc president covered other details in
his decision and gave directions for tho
proper branding OF various varieties q,
liquor. holding, among other things that
Canadian Club whisky and whisky
made from mixture of straight"
whisky and neutral spirits" may be
called a blend.
According to his decision, Straight
whiskes' will herea fter be branded "a
such. but the brand ray be accompanied
by the legend, aged In wood" and yhis-
ky made from rectified, distilled or neu-
trail spirits will be branded so as 70 make
known the principal ingredient In addi-
ton IL they so desire, manufacturers Of
straight whisky may also use the word
bourbon" or rye" as the facts NAV
warrant
The definition Of blends" is not made
broad enough to include neutral spirits
BILE strength. This article. the President
says. cannot be labeled as whisky, It Is
| rum.
DIR. WILEY TAKEN TO TASK.
The President takes Dr. Wiley and
other chemists to task for "funda-
mental error to what the name
whisky" has included during tho past
! 1o0 years, and he also expresses the
opinion that Mr. Bowers makes too nice
a distinction in his deductions
The President thinks that such an
order, as his decision conterplates. can
not do injustice.
"1hose." he says. who make whisky
Of 'rectifed 'redistiled' or neutral
spirits cannot complain If, in order TO
prevent further frauds, they are requir-
ed to use a brand which shall show ex-
actly the kind of whisky they are SELL
| ing.
The public will be made to know ex-
actly the kind of whisky they buy and
drink. II they desire straight whisky,
they can secure it by purchasing what
is branded straight whisky II they
are willing to drink whisky made Of
neutral spirits. then they can buy it
under brand showing it; and IL they
are content with a blend OF flavors made
by the mixture Of straight whisky and
whisky made of neutral spirits. the
brand OF the blend upon the package
will enable them to buy and drink that
| which they desire.
| This was the intent of the act. It
| Injuries no mans lawful business. because
it only insists upon the statement of the
truth on the label. II those who manu-
| facture whisky made Of neutral spirits
| and wish to call 1t whisky without ex-
planetory phrase, complain because the
addition Of neutral spirits In the label
| takes away some OF their trade. they
| are without a just ground, because they
| lose their trade merely from statement
of the fact. The straight whisky men are
| relieved from all future attempts to pass
| of neutral-spirits whisky as straight
| whisky"
| The decision follows tho lines of the
decision reached by the royal commission
| of Great Britain and reverses the verde;
| of former President Roosevelt. former
Attorney General Bonapar.e SOLICITOR
General Bowers and DR.. Wiley The
| Roosevelt onaparte-Wiley order denied
| the use Of the word whisky" to all liquor
except straight whisky" the whisky
which is aged in charred oak casks. Mr.
/ Eowers extended the use Of the word TO
liquors made of ''rectified' and "distilled'
spirits. President Taft goes a st,p farther
and includes blends and whisky maze
from neutral spirits