The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-02
A LETTER TO HOBSON.
Reply Of . DlstIller 10 His Unstamped
Dry Circular.

Asepiy VI DIstIIler 70 Ms peu
Dry Circular.
THE HONORABLE r. p. HoBsoN, wAs,f.
INGToN, D. C.-Dedr Sir. Just why you
address the Bernheim Distilling Com
pany a. Dear Friend" m sign your
letter sincerely your friend" after
heaping indiscriminate abuse upon all
men In u business, and just why II
IL proper that you may send circular
letters like the one which the Bern
helm Distilling Company has Just re-
ceived from you through the malls
free I don't know. but being secretary
OF the company. your letter has come
10 me and I feel impelled to write q
few lines. such as any ono In our house
from the president OF the corporation
down might write you truthfuliy.
have drunk alcoholic beverages in
moderation all my life. 20 have my
parents and grandparents. and 40 doubt.
less have my ancestors for many gem
CREATIONS back. In this connection ! will
say that my son knows Il and will do
likewise.
There has never been drunkenness.
crime. pauperism or insanity In the
family, n We are. as I think I can
prove II my v statement IL MOI suf-
hcient, OF average intelligence. though
"DssS VI va hho CNNl III SoI8I
or tried to get into the Senate and
there are millions and millions Of fami-
lies Just ltk ours who use alcoholic
liquors temperately and. as I believe,
~benehcially TO themselves In this and
every other civilized country.
Most OF your statements and premises
are erroneous. In my judgment. and II
I am right, you deductions are equally.
u not more erroneous Alcoholic bev-
erages. II used moderately. don't do
what o claim. and there are many
other good things in the world which.
II used ~wrongfully or immoderately. arc
rs Injurious as. II not more Injurious than
alcoholic beverages when used immod-
erately and which, nevertheless, are not
and should not be prohibited any more
than the moderate use or proper sale
OF alcoholic beverages should be pro-
hibited.
I regard your contention. thai when
prohibition confines itself to the sale,
and matters relating only to the sale.
even though national. IL would not invade
any rights or liberties OF the individual
or the home or the town or the State"
as specious. n / hold that IL deserves
tn be stigmatized because the manufac-
ture and sale OF alcoholic beverages in
various forms has been going on legally
In the United States ever since the
formation of this republic. and men who
have spent entire lives In their produce
ton and In the building, equipment and
modern.zation OF plants OF various sizes
to conduct their business In have rights.
or at leas, should have rights. as well
as other citizens. and their property
should not be confscated by the people
or their representatives in Congress any
more than the property OF men I'm other
| Xmas nf alma
n you can make IL out that the pro-
hibition OF the manufacture and sale
OF any article would NOT virtually con-
fscate the buildings and machinery used
In Its manufacture, and especially the
ready stocks on hand, YOU can do what
the average citizen cannot do n what.
In my judgment. is attempted only by
fanatics or INSCRIPTIONS en-me II
are base enough to ignore the fact that
the national Government, as well as the
cities. counties and states, has been,
ana II, 10 a great extent. supported
BY the revenues collected from these
very producers and distributors OF liquor
ana mat the national Government and
the states ana municipalities have en-
outraged the manufacture and sale and
the colossal Investments which 1t IL
now proposed ruthiessly To destroy.
IN your letter winch l am alluding
10 you reter 10 your scIehtifc training
anu ga. something aoou, the poisonous
charaC'tf OF al'ohoI May / he per-
United 70 remind YOU that IN july.
is'N' Jonh = fhlllips one or the mon
"ho' WIN Sou' SANK the collier Meiri-
mac. said
When We were taken aboard the Reina
Mercedes. dressed only in Wet underw ear
which We had cut on at the knees, Hob
son. as calm ~ ever, walked up "a the
commander ot tn. spanish vessel 80
lutei him AMI said: 4 demand whIskey