The Washington times., 1923-06-14
CHEMISTS JOIN
IN WAR upon
RUM TRADE
Will Aid Prohibition Force to
Drive BootIeggers From
Industry.

NEW YORK, June l4.--IO OElN0
bootlegging from, industry and to
end what are called ruinOus condi-
tions in American business, a joint
attack has been launched by chem
istry and the Government. Coop
Grating with the Commissioners OF In
ternal Revenue, according to the
American Chemical Society, which
makes the announcement today, are
chemical enterprises representing a
billion dollars.
The initial step Is the formation
Of the alcohol trade advisory COM
mittee, which is to direct the move
ments nationwide in scope, and con-
stituting, officials of the society say,
the first attempt to enforce the pro-
visions of the national prohibition
act for the development of lawful
industries that use alcohol as q raw
material.
William A. Sailer of Baltimore,
president OF the American Drug
Manufacturers Association, has been
chosen chairman Of the committee,
and DR.. Harrison E. Howe, of Wash
ington, editor of Industrial and
Engineering Chemistry, represent
ing the American Chemical Society,
secretary.
K1dyuCS u MOHUCTs
Appointments to the committee
Internal Revenue, d. II. Blair.
Actively sharing in the organiza-
ton plans are r. A. Haynes, pro-
hibition commissioner; Judge James
j. Britt, counsel Of the prohibition
unit, and James NJ. Doran, chemist
of the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
"Since the enactment of the ma
tional prohibition act, governmental
conditions surrounding the manu-
facture, distribution, sale, and use
of alcohol for industrial purposes
have become so increasingly onerous
as seriously to handicap the chem
ical industry" said Secretary Howe.
explaining this fresh assault on the
illegal liquor traffic.
IAN elaborate system OF public
information will be built up by the
committee for the guidance Of the
prohibition commissioner, and thus
effective control of permits will be
accomplished. The committee aims
to aid in driving from commerce
the bootlegger who makes his real
purposes under the guise OF. a
wholesale druggist or manufac-
turer of flavoring extracts. By
posing in this way he is able to
obtain permits to sell straight alco-
hol to the drug trade and to ply
sicians.
BOOtleggers Undersell.
"The bootlegger' in the chemical
industries can underSel the legit-
innate manufacturer and more than
make up this loss by illegal trade.
The committee plans to make 1t
easier for the legitimate manufac-
turer to secure the supplies he
needs. Under the present situation
this task is difficult.
"The work of the committee is,
therefore, twofold: First, to end
bootlegging in industry; and. sec
ond. to promote the lawful use Of
alcohol in industry.
alcohol is admittedly basic
chemical essential to our national
defense, industrial and economic
DEVELOPMENT, and even to the adj
vancement of civilization itself.
Therefore, all who believe in law
enforcement should recognize the
intolerable situation to which the
chemical industry has been brought
by failure to properly enforce the
industrial alcohol features Of the
law, and should make certain that
it is administered as intended by
Congress.
Prohibition Commissioner Haynes
has informed the committee that
the unit desires to cooperate with
industry in solving the many new
difficulties and to give everything
to manufacturers that is due them
under the law. at the same time
experimenting all offenders.
1.-The industry recognizes that its
livelihood depends upon a proper
use of alcohol and in finding way
to do this without running business
through improper and unnecessary
regulations. To these business men,
the willingness of the commissioner
to seek advice on technical matters
from this committee is a very well
come sign Of wholehearted co-opera-
ton.