The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-27
t Is Liquor Wade From Neu-
 traI Spirits and Potable
BASIS OF HE DECISION
President Decides Against pr. Wiley and Roosevelt and Gives Opinion Based Upon Conclusions of
 British Commission.

Washington. December 2e-The defini- tion of the word whisky was given to- day when President Taft rendered the final decision on the subject in connec- ton with the construction of the pure food law with reference to labelling The President held that whisky made of neu- tral spirits is whisky when reduced to potable strength.
 The President covered other details in his decision and gave directions for the poor branding of vario1s varieties of liquor. holding among other things that whisky made from mixture of straight whisky and neutral spirits" may be called a blend
 According to the instructions under this decision straight whisky" will here after be branded as such, but the brand may be accompanied by the legend aged in wood" and whisky made from recti- fled, distilled or neutral spirits may be branded so as to make known the prin- cipal ingredient In addition, if they so desire, manufacturers of straight whisky may also use the word Bourbon" or Rye" as the fact may warrant. The definition of ''blends' is not made broad enough to include neutral spirits made from molasses and reduced to potable strength. This article cannot be labelled as whisky, it is rum.
 The President takes Dr. Wiley and other chemists to task for "funda- mental error" as to what the name whisky has included during the past 100 years, and he also expresses the opin- ion that Mir. Bowers makes "too nice a distinction in his deductions.
 Reasoning In Case.
 'Tf." he says, speaking of the opinion of MT. Bowers, high wines at from 40 degrees to 1sO degrees when reduced to potable strength and containing a very small quantity of fusel oil and favored by burnt sugar or whisky. as he has found them, the mere improvement in the process by continuous distillation, so as to give product of from 160 de- grees to 1Ss degrees proof and still fur ther to reduce its fusel oils Is not to change it's whole nature or 10 make what was genuine whisky, imitation whisky, because of a slightly reduced trace of in- gredient. The distinction ia too imprac- ticable in argument for the execution of the law"
 The President thinks that such order as his decision contemplates cannot do in- justice. Those" he says, who make whisky of 'rectfied,' 're-distiled or neutral spirits cannot complain if. in order to prevent further frauds, they are required to use brand which shall show exactly the kind of whisky they are selling. For that reason 1t seems to me fair to require them to brand their product as whisky made from retifed sipirits,' or whisky made from re-dis- titled spirits, or whisky made from neutral spirits as the case may be so and if aged in the wood, as sometimes is the case with this class of whisky, they may add this fact
 Brand of the Blend.
 Speaking further in the same line, he says
 'The public will be made to know ex- actly the kind of whisky they buy and drink. If they desire straight whisky they can secure it by purchasing what Is branded Straight Whisky If they are willing to drink whisky made of neutral spirits. then they can buy it under a brand showing it, and If they are content with a blend of flavors made by the mixture of straight whisky and whisky
 
 the blend upon the package will enable thelE to buy and drink that which they desire. This was the intent of the act.
 Tt injures no mans lawful business because it only insists upon the state ment or the truth on the label.
 'If those who manufacture whisky made of neutral spirits and wish to call 1t whisky without explanatory phases, complain because the addition of neutral spirits in the label takes away some of their trade, they are without just ground because they lose their trade merely from statement of the fact. The straight whisky men are relieved from all future attempt to pass off neutral spirits whisky as straight whisky. More than this. If straight whisky or any other kind of whisky is aged In the wood the fact may be branded on the package, and this claim to public favor may truth fully be put forth. Thus the purpose of i the pure food law is fully accomplished in respect to misbranding and truthful branding
 Basis of Decision.
 The decision follows the lines of the conclusions reached by the royal com missit n of Great Britain, and reverses the verdict of former President Roose- welt, former Attorney General Bonaparte, Solicitor General Bowers and pr. Wiley clllei of the bureau of chemistry.
 Inc Roosevelt -Bonaparte-Wney order denied the use of the word whisky in branding all liquor except straight whisky" the whisky which is aged in charred oak casks. MT. Bowers extended the use of the word to liquors made of ''rectiied" and distilled spirits" Presi- dent Taft goes step further and includes blend whisky made from neutral spir- l its.'
 Elaborating his conclusions, the Presi- dent says:
 After an examination of all the evil dence 1t seems to me overwhelmingly established that for over 100 years the term whisky in the trade and among the customers has included all potable liquor distilled from grain that the straight whisky is, as compared with the whisky made by rectificat'on or re- distilation and 1avorins and coloring matter. subsequent improvement and that, therefore. it is a pervers'on of the pure food act to attempt to now eliminate the meaning of the term whisky to that which modern manufacture and taste have made the most desirable variety'' | oOaO A,rn~ Mf;I; Ra tvr;.-k>L