“Grape-Juice Loophole."

Hokitika Guardian, 18 March 1924, Page 1

“Grape-Juice Loophole."

MAN WHO HAS MADE AMERICA

LAUGH

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8. A political humorist in whom -Congress finds much delight is Colonel Jolm Phillip Hill, the arch-enemy of the Anti-Saloon League. Besides being the Republican member for Baltimore he is a lawyer possessing wealth and ingenuity, lie has just staged for the edification of the Capitol a delicious legal comedy whose highly farcical effects are expected to have far-reaching national consequences. The comedy revolves around “the grape-juice loophole” in the prohibition laws.

Two years ago Colonel Hill discovered that the Anti-Saloon ixtague. through its representatives in Congress, had established “a double standard of liquor morality”—a highly indulgent one for the farmers of Ameripa, whose votes are indispensable for tlie maintenance of tho v cause of prohihition, and a very nagging one for the dwellers in large cities. He observed that, while the dwellers in cities were liable to prosecution for manufacturing in their homos beer containing more than one-half of 1 per cent of alcohol, the happy farmers all over the country were rejoicing in the possession ot seemingly unlimited supplies of highly fermented ciders and dandelion, blackberry, poach, grape, and other wines made at home from fruit juices.

His Inquiries, addressed to the Department of Prohibition, brought out some very curious replies. Under the enforcement law, lie was informed, no penalties attached to “the mauufactuic of non-intoxicating cider and fruit juices exclusively for home use.” INNOCENT DOMESTIC SINS.

In a correspondence extending over two years Col. Hill appealed repeatedly both to the Prohibition Department; and to the Department of Justice for a ruling at what point of fermentation a cider or fruit juice was deemed to he intoxicating. He drew a pathetic picture of thousands of law-abiding housewives who might he sinning in ignorance. The authorities could not he moved. They informed him that while beer containing more than onehalf of 1 per cent of alcohol was illegal, they had not yet determined at what point of fermentation fruit juices developed into an offence in the eyes of the law.

At this juncture Colonel Hill began to laugh. Tie decided to express his merriment in action —strictly legal

action

First, however, he studied a bulletin issued by the Department of Agriculture for the edification of farmers desirous of enjoying the benefits of the “grape-juice loophole.” This bulletin instructed them in the best methods of making fruit-juice beverages, but it refrained from telling them at what point the process of stopping fermentation should he applied. The colonel followed the instructions to tho letter. He visited a farm shortly after dawn and bought large quantities of grapes “while the dew was still on them.” He then informed the authorities that, as “the respon sible head of a family,” lie was about to begin in his residence at Baltimore the manufacture for exclusively home use of 200 gallons of fruit-juice hoverages. GIGANTIC COCKTAH, SHAKER. He invited the prohibition authorities and the representatives of the Press to attend the ceremony. They did so. Tie welcomed them carrying in one hand a gigantic cocktail shaker fitted will a special handle which permitted him to greet his guests and dispense hospitality simultaneously. ' The cocktail shaker, lie explained, was filled with liquor purchased before the advent of prohibition. Its contents, therefore, were strictly within the law.

After the photographers and reporters had been legally refreshed, the colonel solemnly pouretl his 200 gallons of fruit juice into the containers and treated them after the manner prescribed by the Department of Agriculture.

Days elapsed. He tested the alcoholic contents of the containers. The tost revealed the appalling fact that the contents of some of his containers had developed 8.-1 I per cent of alcohol. Colonel Hill telegraphed this fact to the authorities and expressed the feat that Time and Nature were engaged in a conspiracy to violate the prohibition laws.

The authorities despatched two chemists to the scene of the crime. The chemists duly reported their findings. and the Director of Prohibition ordered Colonel Hill’s residence to be “padlocked.” The residence was closed with black seals on a portrait of Lincoln duly pasted on its doors by its owner, and a bill of . complaint, portentous in its length, was served on Colonel Hill, who is now charged with violating the prohibition laws and with maintaining a common nuisance at his residence.