The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-09
BREWERS In CONVENTION.
Interesting Extracts from the Report of the
Committee on Vigilance and Publication.

NIAGARA FALLS, N. Y, Sept 8-A special
meeting of the United States Brewers Associa-
tion is in session here to-day. William Miles,
the president, gave the opening address, which
was confined to a hurried review Of the purposes
and desires of the association. Part Of the ad-
dress dealt with the labor question as respects
Che brewers He claimed that there was now,
and had always been, greater harmony between
employers and men engaged in brewing than in
any other industry. He said
II recommend that special committee be ap-
pcinb led by this convention to take into consider
alton this subject in its relations to the brewing
industry, and report at the next annual conven.
tion, sooner, If possible. the end that while
diligently pursuing our chosen branch of manu-
featuring, we may at the same time faithfully
discharge our duties as citizens interested in
the growth and prosperity of our Republic and
the progressive improvement of the condition of
Its people,"
The report of the board of trustees reviews the
prohibition question in Kansas and Iowa, and
the attempts at legislation on the subject else
where. The joint report of the vigilance and
publication committee was made by Mr.. Henry
Ciausen, of New York. 1t is stated that during
the past year the publication committee, In con-
junction with the vigilance committee, caused to
be prepared, printed and distributed an aggre-
gate of forty Ave thousand copies of addresses
and essays intended to influence public opinion
favorably to the brewers interests. The re-
port adds:
During the past year many applications for
documents have been received from persons llv
ing in Georgia and Virginia. From our corre-
spondents in these States we learn that the sue
cess of the prohibitory movement Is mainly due
to desife on the part of the ruling party Dem.
y - X1.
certain moral bounds It is claimed that for an
exclusively white population Southern Demo
Gratis would not dream of passing such laws A
discussion of the question on the basis OF per-
sonal and industrial liberty was entirely impos.
sbe, because, as one of our correspondents
writes. the advocates of the laws invariably
answered all such arguments by claiming that
these measures were intended to restrain only
the black man. Such logic is beyond our COM
prehensicn. To US it seems that the greater the
depravity of & population the greater, also, the
need of control. Prohibition and local option do
away~with all control leaving the liquor traffic
practically as free as it would be in the absence
of any laws OF the subject, but far more dan
gerous to society, on account of the immortality
inseparably connected with the constant recur-
renee of law breaking"
The most interesting part Of the report of the
advisory committee, which was read by it's sec
retary, Mr. g. Thomann, is that relating to the
alleged adulteration of malt liquors The re-
port goes into discussion of the temperance
school-book question, which it treats with some
vigor. Through the influence" it says. ''of the
Prohibition element. compulsory temperance
education law was passed in the following States
before the beginning of the year 1885, New
Hampshire Vermont. Michigan, New York,
Rhode Island; and in 1895, in Pennsylvania,
Massachusetts, Oregon, Alabama. Maine. Kan
6as. Nebraska, Wisconsin, Missouri and North
Carolina The mere introduction of text
books in our public schools, and the spread
ing of proper views the abuse of alchol,
would probably find no objectofs among the lib
eral brewers; nay, they would concur in and as
sist such an educational movement. 1t is evil
dent however, from the action and tenor of its
advocates that the whole movement is con-
troled and manipulated by the bitterest preiu-
dices. Under the thin disguise of a public edu-
chtional need and of scientific presentation of
the subject, such extreme statements were made
that practically they amounted to fasehoods
The United States Brewers Association through
its proper officers, investigated the matter.
Many Of the text books were procured and a
correspondence was opened relative to the sub
ject with trustworthy members in the States
where such books were used, with view to
taking comprehensive action in this matter at
some time in the future. The conclusion
arrived at from thorough review of the pro-
ceedings and careful perusal OF the CORE
epondence IS that, up to the present time, the
resultant evil lie not so great, as the former in
formation seemed to indicate. Generally speak
ing, the errors were not 80 giaring as to demand
vigorous action. Many of the schools have not
fully complied with the law in its spirit, while
others have tacitly ignored the provisions of the
act II would not be safe, however, to allow
the matter to take its own course. 1t is hardly
probable that the Prohibitonistsswill permit the
Jaw to become dead letter"