Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-25
TAFT TRIES WHISKY
Not Internally, But as a Pub
lie Question.
BAR OF JUSTICE, HOWEVER
President Spends Christmas in Ef-
fort to Find Out What It Is.
PROBLEM HAS BEEN DIFFICULT
How Product Of Grain Shall Be
Labeled Under Pure Food Law
Makes Trouble.

AltnouSh not indulging In eggnogg or
other Christmas drinks. President Taft
wrestled the better part Of today with
the wearisOme, voluminous subject,
What is whisky?'
He did not go to his Office. but kept
busy in the White House
proper. hoping to dispose of the question
and make his decision public tonight.
The question has been pending ever
since Mr.. Taft came into office. He has
given it more time than a dozen other
subjects put together
President Roosevelt also grappled with
the problem, but he did not give it SO
OF Or. Wiley, pure food
Mr.. Bonaparte.
Decision Under Bonaparte.
Under their decisions the only product
entitled to the name of whisky was a
grain spirit. containing not only the pure
or ethyl alcohol. but also the higher
alcohols commonly called fusel oil.
The effect of these decisions was to
deprive all grain spirits. minus any con-
part of the fusel oil. of the
name whisky and requiring the name
compound" or Imitation" for such
products.
Practically so per cent of whisky in the
American market. both foreign and do
mestic, consists either in whole or in part
of spirits from which a large part of the
fusel oil had been removed.
Distillers appealed to President Taft
against the decision on the ground that
it took from them the trade name which
their products had always been known by.
whiskies made by them, containing the
low amounts of fusel oil, had been the
original whisky. They alleged that If
there was any question Of public health
products should be given preference over
the fusei oil whiskies.
The straight whisky people contended
that the presence OF all higher alcohols
was necessary to the proper f1avoring of
whisky, and that their product. after as-
whisky.
Bowers Opinion Different.
President TAFT referred the question to
Solicitor General Bowers, who took testi-
mony for number of weeks. there being
q total Of 1900 printed pages. Some noted
lawyers OF the country, including John G..
Carlisle, Joseph H. Choate and w. NJ.
Hough, participated. the President giving
a hearing after Mr.. Bowers had completed
his work.
Mr. Taft has been going over this testi-
mOny at intervals for weeks.
Solicitor General Bowers decision was
the opposite Of that of Mr.. Bonaparte. He
decided that the question was one OF
taste. and that whisky made from grain.
whether colored by charred wood or by
caramel, was entitled to the name
whisky" This decision was satisfactory
fn the rediSffllprS and rpctffierS
The final decision of the President. that
upon which the internal revenue burea Y
and the pure food departments will act.
Is expected to largely sustain Mr.. Bowers.
Quiet Around White House.
The Taft family observed Christmas
day about like hundreds of thousands of
other American families. The President
gave presents to members of his family
and received many himself.
The nation took interest i'm the occu-
pants of the White House, a dozen ex-
press wagons unloading packages during
the day for the President, his wife or
children. These presents were often from
persons who personally do not know the
Tafts but whose admiration for the fam
lily prompts desire to add to the Christ
mas cheer of the chief executive and
those near to him.
The Christmas dinner will be served at
o'clock tonight. all the family being at
home There will be no guests.
President Taft will leave Washington
Monday morning to speak before the
closing meeting of the diamond jubilee Of
the Methodist Church. He will return
to Washington Monday night
Friday he will again go to New York
to attend the wedding of his niece, re-
turning here the same night. SO as to
hold the New Year reception.
President Makes Shopping Tour.
President Taft put in two hours shop
ping on Pennsylvania avenue and F street
yesterday afternoon. buying freely for
members of his family and others. He
left the White House on foot at O'Clock.
accompanied by Capt. A. w. Butt and fol-
lowed by two detectives. A curious fea-
ture of this Christmas outing of the
chief executive was that comparatively
few people recognized him, and to those
who did the President returned the salu-
tatiOns. 1t was long after dark when the
President returned to the White House.
laden with bundles and enjoying the
troubles Of Capt. Butt. also in the same
predicament.
The President turned up first at a jew
elry store on Pennsylvania avenue. and
from there went to leather establish
ment on F street. making several other
stops along the route and paying inter-
ested attention to the shop windows and
to the merry Christmas crowds.
At one place four bibulous celebrants
OF the season emerged just as the Presi-
dent was passing. They recognized him.
Merry Christmas, Misser President.
Merry Chrishmus!' one of them cried.
The President smiled. lifted his hat and
exchanged the seasons greetings.
The President enjoyed his outing, the
first of the kind made by a President in
many years
That Big Pie Arrives.
That gigantic Christmas pie for the
White House. gift from the Interna-
tional Pie Bakers Association. reached
Washington yesterday afternoon and was
delivered to the White House at O'Clock
last night by the express company which
handled 1t from Newark, N. j.. where it
was baked. A huge fruit cake from
friends In Philadelphia. a large box of
candy and other express packages Were
delivered at the same time The White
House cook has been celebrating all day
whether she would feed any Of the pie
to the Taft family. but the chances favor
the appearance of part Of 1t. at least.
upon the table Of the family of the chief
executive.