New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-06
IDistilling Ceases
Throughout Nation
Saturday Night
Foodstufs Enough to Keep
Army of 5000, 1000 Will
Be Saved


bells for American manufacturers or
booze. for their business must cease
Saturday night.
All whiskey and gin distillers IN the
United States must stop operation at
II o'clock on that night. Hence there
are but FIVE days more for the wheels
Of the distilery industry in the United
States TO turn for the period Of the
var.
Whether they ever will turn again IS
question. Prohibitionists say they
will not, and prohibition has been max
ing mighty strides in this country.
With the closing Of the distllleries
an enormous business is checked. Inc
annual consumption OF corn, rye ana
molasses by American distillerles as
reported for the fiscal year ended June
80, 1915. was more than $500, OOO,9OO
pounds. and this amount OF foodstuhs
contained enough fuel value accord
ing TO scientists, TO maintain an army
of 100000 men throughout the year.
Uncle Sam has ordered that the food
supply Of an army as large as has
been suggested for the defeat Of Ger
many be saved from the whiskey dis
tillers.
It is possible that the President viii!
prevent the whiskey distillers from
ever Coming back" by removing the
vast stock of whiskey now waiting TO
tide over two years Of war.
The last published report of the
Commissioner of Internal Revenue
shows that there was sent into the
drink trade Of the United States in the
fiscal year 1915 more than l33,OOO,OOO
gallons of distilled intoxicant liquors.
The nations whiskey bill for the last
I year is estimated at between $780,
100000 and $4,000 100000. This takes
no account of the vast sum paid out
for beer and wine. The internal reve-
nue. taxes paid the Federal government
on distilled spirits. and their inclden-
tails were for the year Sl56,OOO,OOO.
Distillers Make Excess
II is stated that the whlskey manu-
facturers, reading the handwriting
upon the wall in the prohibition vote
of score Of states, have been produc-
ing a great excess Of liquor. which is
I now stored up.
Senator Sheppard. Of Texas, declared
to-day that this stock on hand prob
ably amounts 10 two years average
consumption. That ia, If President
Wilson shall decline 20 exercise the
power intrusted TO him in the food sd-
ministration act to take over this stock
/ Of whisky, and redistill il for use in
; the making Of munitions, the American
/ public will have 10 carry the burden Of
; the whiskey trade for at least two
more years.
THE law does not automatically
/ cease 10 operate at the close OF the
/ war" said Senator Sheppard Out,
should the constitutional question be
i raised, as it probably will be, we may
, find that we lack constitutional author
/ ity 20 enforce a national whiskey pro
; hibition law in time of peace. For
that reason we must face the fact that
j either the President will have to take
charge Of this work of whiskey or We
must have more years of war, before
, the United states can try out the ef-
! feet Of going without whiskey. Until
We have inslly done away with the
drinking of whiskey for time J do
not feel safe in predicting that the dis
tilleries are closed forever
( Herbert G. Hoover, United States
Food Administrator. has passed sent
ence on the distilleries for the rest os
/ the period of the war, in these terms:
! THE United States Food Admins
7 tration has ruled that, under the pro-
vision of the act food administration
all fermentation must be complete be
fore September 3. 1917, at II o. m.
Distillstion may be proceeded with
thereafter if pursued promptly TO com
pletion. The United States Food Ad-
ministration has ruled that the terms
foods, fruits, food materials or feeds"
in the act include all cereals, tubers,
fruits. molasses, grape cheese, apple
cheese, fruit parings. cannery refuse,
beet sugar molasses, sour wine and all
other foods, fruits, food material or
feeds and the by-prOducts thereof
President Wilson. through Mr.
Hoover, has prescribed this label. TO
such distilled spirits other than those
made for denaturation:
these spirits were produced from
materials fermented after Septembe
9. 1917. All persons are warned that
their use in the manufacturing or
/ preparation of beverages. or their sale
for beverage purposes, will subject the
person so using or selling them TO A
fine of not exceeding $4,000. or i'm
prisonment for not more than two
years. or both"
The same warning must be placed
on label upon any container into
which the whiskey is later transferred,
unless the spirits shall have been de-
natured under Federal supervision.