Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-12-27
TAFT DECIDES
WH|SKEY IS
WH|SKEY
BRANDS MUST DESCRIBE
CONTENTS OF CONTAINERS
Decision Finds Fault With Both
Contentious Of Pure Food
Authorities and DiStiIIers'
Representatives.

tBy Morning Journal Special Leased wirel
Washington. Dec. 26.--Whiskey is
whiskey. President Taft has at last
decided II is whiskey when made of
neutral spirits, says the president; II
reduced to potable streneth But 1t
must be branded so thAt those buying
II may know Just what they are get
ting.
The decision, made after a long SER
les OF hearings. participated IN to-
day by members of the governments
pure food department and distllera
was announced today. The president
covered various details in his decision
and gave directions for the proper
branding OF various varieties of liquor,
holding among other things. that
whiskey made from mixture OF
straight" whiskey and neutral spir-
it's" may be called n blend
According to Mr.. fafts instructions
straight whiskeys" viii hereafter he
h-anded as such. but the brand nay
l., accompanied by the legend AGED
In wood" and whiskcN made ifom
rectified distilled or neutral spirits
viii be branded SO AZ to make known
the principal ingredient, In addition
II they SO desire manufacturers OF
straight whiskey may also use tn
WIN H'hi 'fFli ~
may wal rant
Tho definition of blends is now
made broad enough to include neutral
spirits made from molasses and re-
duced to potable strength. This ar
ticle, the president says, can not he
labeled as whiskey. 1t is rum, lne
president takes DIR. Wiley and other
chemists to task for fundamental
error" as to what the name 'whis-
KEY" has included in the past 100
years ard also expresses the opinion
that AIR Powers makes too nice
distinction" in his deductions
"If," he said, speaking of the opin-
ion of Mr.. Bowers, high vines III
from lao to 100 degrees when re-
duced to potable strength ana contain
ing a very small quantity OF lusel OIL
ana Favored by burned sugar are
whiskey. as he found, then the mere
Improvement in the process by con-
tinuous distillation so as to give
product of from 100 degrees To- ~
degrees proof and still further 10 re
duce its fusel oil, is not To change us
whole nature or to make What was
penuine 'whiskey.' imitation Whiskey,
because of slightly reduced trace of
ingredient The distinction ls too
impracticable in my judgment Tor the
examination of the law.
The president thinks such an order
as his decision contemplates can not
do injustice
"Those." he says, who make whis-
KEY of rectfied. redistilled or neu-
trail spirits can not complain II III
order TO prevent further frauds they
ara required to use a brand which
shall show exactly the kind of whis-
kew they are selling. For that reas-
on il seems to me fair to require them
to brand their product as 'whlskey
made from rectificd spirits, or Whls-
KEY made from redistlled Spirits OF
'whiskey made from neutral Spirits
as the case may be, and If aged IN
wood as some times is the case with
this class of whiskey, they may "du
The public will he made TO know
exactly the kind Of Whiskey Trey huN
and drink II they desire straight
whiskcy. they can secure II bv pur-
chasing what Is branded straight (
whtskev.' If they are willing to drink
whiskey made of neutral spirits theh
they can but it under brand SHOW
ing II. and IL they are content win
n blend of flavor made 10y the mix
turc of straight whiskcy ana Whlskey
made of neutral spirits, the hfNnd OF
the blend upon the package VIII en-
able them to buy and drink tnat
which they desire This was the IN
lawful business, because II only IN
siats upon the statement of the truth +
on the label. ,
"If those who manufacture whls- I
KEY made of neutral spirits and wish
to call il Whiskcy, without eNplana-
tory phrase, complain because the nd-
dition of neutral spirits in the lhbel
takes away some of their trade, they
are without Just ground. because (
ihey lose their trade merely from I
statement of fact. The straight whls- /
man are relieved from all future
'ttcmpt to pass off neutral spirlt I
vhiskey as straight Whiskey More I
Than this, If straight whisky or any 4
lther Kind is aged In wood the ihct
may be branded on the package ana I
his claim to public favor may truth /
fully be put forth.
Thus the purpose OF the pure food I
law is fully accomplished in regard
.o the misbrandine and uuthiui
branding
The decision follows the lines o. I
he conclusions reached by the royal |
of Great Britain and re-
verses the verdict OF former President
former Attorney General
Solicitor General Bowers
and Or WILEY chief ot the bureau OF
,hemistry Tho Roosevelt Bonaparte-
Wiley order denied the use OF the
word 'whisllcY in branding 60 al
iquor except straight WhiskeN- TO
hc whiskey which is aged in chhrred
,ak MIR Bowers extended the use
II the words liquors made "l rec
ined" and distilled spirits Presi-
lent Taft goes n step farther ana in-
.ludes blends and WhiskcNs made
rom neutral spirits.
Elaboratine his conclusions the
president mys
After an examination ot All the 4
.vihtnce. IL seems tp me uNtrWhelm-
nglv established that for a. hundred
ears. IN. term whisky IN the trade
md among tho customers has nclud-
III an potahl, liquors distilled from
Grain: that Tho straight Whiskev is
Is compared with the whiskcy made
b. rectification or rcdistiilauon and
'Iayoring and coloriug matter. sub
ieuuent improvement and that. there
'ore. IL Is "a porNsrsinn ot the pure
-ood law to attempt now 10 limit the