Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-12

|
AS science advances, am confident
that in time every gallon of industrial
| alcohol can be made unfit for beverage
purposes from the moment it is made.
I realize that we have been accused
! of poisoning" liquor and the extrem-
lists among the vets have pictured Uncle
Sam as murderer. Men who make
such absurd statements have no scien-
tif1c knowledge of our problem The
denaturants we use are not 'poisons'
and even when denatured alcohol is re-
cooked to provide an illicit beverage,
that is not poison liquor" The stuff
that kills is not the alcohol over which
, the Federal Government has had super
vision. Wood alcohol, which is poison,
Is not sold or distributed under the pur-
view of the Federal Government. State
poison and pharmacy laws take care of
that and the blame should not justly
rest on a conscientious State official,
but on the unspeakable wretch who OBJ
tains such stuff and sells it to fellow
human being. knowing that he is COM
uniting murder just as surely as If he
fired bullet into the brain.
Limiting to Needs.
Volumes could be written about our
experience with denaturants. Perhaps
I, as a chemist, am more fascinated
with these discoveries than the ordinary
individual would be. Our aim now is to
limit the production of industrial alco-
hol to the exact needs of industry. We
have made a start in that direction,
with results which are very beneficial
There are no longer large surplus sup
plies, acting as constant temptation to
those who would divert 1t to beverage
uses. And We have taken pains that
this policy Of limiting production shall
not impose burden on the consumer
In increased prices for the products in
which alcohol is an important raw ma
terial.
trial alcohol came in 1926. Since then
this subject has been well in hand. In
dustry after industry, which originally
thought 1t must have it's alcohol pure
or not at all, has now found that it can
get along with certain type of de-
naturant. The cosmetics industry, one
of the largest users of alcohol, is now
entirely reorganized on such basis and
would like to pay trssute to the leaders
In that industry, who came to the as
sistance Of the Government in q time
of sore need. There used to be q yau-
deville joke that enough alcohol was
withdrawn for hair tonic in a single
year to battle all the bald heads since
the dawn Of history. The joke may still
be good, but the facts on which 1t may
have been based no longer exist.
Coming Down to Date.
We are now down to the present. For
the last two years the biggest problem
Of the Federal Government has been
in the improvement of Its personnel
Two years ago Congress decided that
our agents should be placed under civil
service regulations. At the time some
good people doubted the wisdom Of that
change, but after giving my own per-
sonal attention to IL for two years am
convinced that 1t has resulted in ire
mendous improvement. We have had a
go per cent turnover in our force, and
while have no desire to criticize any
of the men who fought with us during
those trying first years, have no hesi-
fancy in saying that our present force
is OF the finest type. They may be de-
nounced from time to time as brutes
and murderers and crooks by sensa-
tionalists, or by those extreme vets who
like to believe that to be true, but am
confident that the American people. as
whole. will never join in such despic-
able attacks on men who are doing
their duty. The vast majority of these
men are veterans of the World War,
and they approach their daily duties in
the same spirit with which they faced
the bullets Of the enemy in France.
OF course, there has been dishonesty
in the Federal service. Human nature
being what 1t Is, I doubt II there will
ever be any large force Of men, subject
to temptation at all times, who will
assay 100 per cent pure. But we have
improved our methods so greatly during
the last few years that II crook does
happen to find his way into our outfit I
fNnfjHAnf
man who Is inclined TO go wrong now
knows that there is q mobile and highly
efficient force which is operating to pro-
tect our agents from succumbing to
temptations.
Crooks With Badges.
The Feds" as they are known to our
bcotlegging enemies, have had to stand
the blame for the operations of some
of the most ingenious takers in the
criminal history Of our country. The
speakeasy proprietor who pays over a
$50 bill to a man with an important
locking badge and thinks he has thereby
evaded prosecution has only spent his
money on one of these takers. When
the speakeasy is raided shortly there
after by legitimate officers of the Gov
eminent the proprietor may think he is
Justified in denouncing the Feds" as
crooks, but the fact of the matter is
that one law violator has run afoul of
another There may be honor among
thieves, but there Is no spirit Of COM
radeship among these individuals who
have been scratching a precarious liv-
ing for ten years by violating The prohi-
bition law in one form or ano er.
Just the other day heard of fellow
picked up by the Department Of Justice
out in Chicago who was an artist in
his line. He not only had the fake
badge, but he had impressive looking
credentials with his picture on, and ne
had a full set of search warrant forms
with seals and scrolls, and everything
necessary to impress the bootlegger
How much he collected before the De-
partment of Justice agents get him
have no means of telling, but he I'M
doubtedly contributed to the general
belief in the underworld that every
Federal man has his price
Duty Imposed on States.
I might end this recital with a little
prophecy. but that's not in my line
either. I can say, however, what have
constantly emphasized since I have had
anything to do with this work, that the
eral Government to do everything it
self. am one of those who believe
the eighteenth amendment has i'm
posed on the States not the privilege
but the duty Of aiding in its enforce
ment.
The great majority of the States have
cheerfully accepted that duty. A few
have held back, and in such States the
problem is necessarily greater. Perhaps
that is our next great task to be per-
formed-to create within all the States,