The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-12-27
WHISKY IS WHISKY,
PRESIDENT ASSERTS
Renders Decision on Mooted
Point After Careful and Thor
ough Investigation.
MANUFACTURER TO BRAND
HIS PRODUCTS CORRECTLY
Conclusions OF Former Presi-
dent Roosevelt and Chemists
Are Entirely Overthrow.

WASHINGTON. Dec. 2s.-Whisky iy
WHISKY, President Taft has at last de-
'iared' 1t is whisky Nhcn made Of neu-
trsI spirits says The president. Il reduced
to potable strength. But il lnusr nc
branded so thst those buying it may know
just what they are getting
The decision. mace after 4 long series
OF hearings participated in by members
OF tne governments pure food department
and distllera. was announced TODAY. The
president covered various details In his
decision and gave directions for tire
proper branding or various vsrislias or
liquor holding. among other things. that
whisky made from mixture OF
straight whisky and neutral spirits"
may be called hierG
According TO Mr.. Taft's Instructions,
"stroight whistles" VIII horcafter be
branded as such, but the brand may bs
accompanied by the legend. aged in
wood" and whisky made from rect!flod.
distilled or neutral spirits will be branded
so as to make known the principal in
grcdient. In addition, II they SO desire.
manufacturers OF straight wlisky also
may use the word bourbon" or I've
as the facts may warrant.
Blends Have Limit
The definition OF blends" is not made
broad enough 10 include spirits mad~
strength. This article. the president says
cannot ne labeled as whisky; it is rum.
The president takes DR.. Wiley and
other chemists, TO task for q "rundamentsl
error as to what the name whisky has
included in the last 100 years, and also
expresses the opinion. that Mr. Bowers
makes too nice a distinction in hls de-
ductions.
If he said. speaking of the opinion
of MI Bowers, high wines at from 10
degrees 10 l6o degrees. when reduced 10
potable strength and containing q small
quantity OF fuscl oil and Favored with
Fomnd oITmfo ,L sugar, IT,. are are Wnisk%; as ne has
process by continuous distillation. SO as
20 give product of from, 100 degrees To
ducc It's fusel oil. Is not to change IT'S
whole nature or 10 make what Was
genuine whisky imitation whisky be
cause OF . slightly reduced trace OF ir-
gredicnt The distinction is too imprac
OF the law
Must Use Correct Grand.
The president thinks such an order az
bis decision eon!,ecmplates cannot do IN
whisky OF 'rectihcd.' 'reiistilled' or 'ncu-
trail spirits cannot complain II. to pre-
vent further frauds, they are required %
the Kind Of whisky they arc selling. For
this reason, it seems TO me fair 10 re-
nuire them 10 brand their product as
whisky made from rcctlded spirits.
whisky made from redistilcd spirits or
whisky made from neutral spirits
the case may be, and. n aged In the
wood. as sometimes is the casa with this
class OF whisky, they may add this fact.
The people will be made 10 know
exactly the kind OF whisky they buy aud
drink, II they desire straight whisky.
branded Straight whisky. II they are
willing 10 drink whisky OF neutral spir-
It's, then they can buy IL under q brand
showing II; and il they are content with
a blend OF flavor made BY The mixture
OF straight whisky and whisky made OF
neutral spirits. The brand OF the blend
upon the package Will snable then, TO
buy and drink tlat which they desire
This was the intent OF the act 1t In
lures no mans la wfpl business. because
Il only insists on the statement of the
truth on the label
Only Truth Required.
'If those who manufacture whisky
made OF neutral spirits and wish 10 call
il whisky. without explanatory phrase.
complain because the addition OF neutral
spirits, IN the label takes away GONE
ground. because they lose their trade
merely from statement OF the fact, The
straight whisky men are relieved from
all future attempt 10 pass of neutral
than this. II straight whisky or any other
kind Of whisky is aged In the wood,
the TACT may He branded on tue paFS-
age. and this claim to public favor may
trutGfuly be put forth
Thus The purpose of the pure food
Law Is fully accomplished in respect TO
mishranding and the truthful brand
ing.
Former President Reversed.
The decision follows lines OF conclu.
sions reached by tl1o royal commission
OF Great Britain and reverses The YER
dict OF former President Roosevelt. for
ner Attorney General l5onapsrte. Sollci-
tor General Bowers and Or. Wiley. chief
OF tho bureau of chemistry. The Rcose-
vclt- Bonaparte Wiley order denied the
To all liquor except straight whisky
the whisky which IS aged in char-ed oak
casks. Dr. Bnwsrs extended the use 90
the word liquors made Of ''roctided' and
distilled spirits. President Taft goes 2
step further and includes blends and
whisky made from neutral spirits
ElahoratinS his conclusions. the prcsl-
dent saye: After en- examination 81 al
the evidence it seems 10 me oveTwnelin-
ingiy established that ior a hundred
years the term whisky In the trade
and among tho customers has included
all potdbls liquor distilled from grain:
that the straight whisky is. compared
with the whisky made by rectihcatoB
or rehabilitation and iiavorlnE and color
inE matter q Subsequent improvement
and that. therefore. it is a psrversion of
the pure food law GCt 10 attempt nov
whisky to that which modern manu-
facturc and taste have made the most
dcsira bic Variety