New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-02
BEER STILL AN ENIGMA
DR.. Wiley and Pure Food Ex.
pertS Studying Yet.
LABELS STRONGLY URGED
Barley Growers Insistent, but
Corn Producers Object
to Radical Step.

Washington. Aug. DR.. Harvey w.
Wiley's board of food and drug inspection
to-day ended its hearing on the question
What Is beer?" and. still somewhat M
enlightened. will continue TO gather IN
formation from chemists and brewing ex-
perts before announcing a decision.
An idea OF the attitude Of the authorities.
however, toward the beers now sold may be
derived from a letter written by secretary
Wilson OF the Department Of Agriculture,
produced In to-day's hearing by John -
Mauff. Of Chicago, representative Of tn
National Consumers League as well as o,
the barley growers OF Wisconsin anc
Minnesota, who insist on tho superiority Of
their product over corn and other grains
used The letter was written January -.
1911. 10 S. d. Kump, of indianapolis a
barley dealer Secretary Wilson says
have Just been interviewing our
chemist and pure food experts along bar
lev lines, and ~ ~ in their minds and iuine
10 reach something definite with regard ~
what bo"r -. We could require that Dett
made from anything else than barley shoNf
have a label showing It's component parts.
think we can go that far IN We md that
any beers injurious 10 the pubic hoaltn are
being made wc could declare them aduItor-
atcd and stop the interstate trace IN ihem
u seems 20 10 SupJe' concerning WMcu
our people know less tnau almost anything
else. but I have been urging inquiry into
II. | am I'm sympathy with Nou along this
line Investigation will bring the facts, and
We will have an investigation made.
Lawrence Maxwell. Of Cincinnati former
United states solicitor and now represent
ative OF thousands OF corn growers IN tho
Middle West. protested against the move
ment 10 label specifically the beers made
from products other than barley malt and
hops. Asked by 4. Slaughter. - the " -
consin State Board ot the American So
ciety Of Equity whether he would object
TO the labelling Of all beers, Nr. Ma
well said labels were unnocossary; that
President Taft I'm his decision u what 3D.
whskcy?' had laid down tho rule that
no liquor need bc labelled as 70 its CONF
ponont parts
Beer is beer" said Mr Maxwell.
Mr MauG read from advertisements -
brewers saying their beers Were made OK
barley. malt and hops. when in reality
none Of those ingredients was used. one
advertisements read:
m YOU only knew what We know about
beer you would drink no other than 0pr
beer"
yes" commented Or. WILEY. maybe II
We knew what they know about h"or we
wouldn't drink any beer NJ ALL
Nj Maun said tho reason why barley vas
not used was Decaus" other grains w'r"
cheaper and that cheap beers had hrous'
about the disastrous cheap saloons
When he assorted a certain agent Of ono
Of tho brewers associations WAS yisitnS
brewers inducing them not ~ use barley,
but other grains 80 as 70 effect drop ip
the price Of barley. DR. Wiley interpoaed.
why. We ought TO get the sherman anti
trust law after him"
Or. Wiley showed keen interest IN adj
vertisements Of chemical companies inform
Ing the beer trade that their chemicals
were natural prgservatves' and mot Pro-.
nioited by the pire food laws
Why" said Mr.. Maun, there's one COM
pany claiming il can make beer out Of ca"-
bage leaves O.
Pretty heavy beer. though, cabbage
beer" suggested Dr. Wiley