The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1886-07-23
HOW LIQUOR DEALERS
Is OPERATE.

Some years since, the United States
Brewers Association was formed, for
the reason, as stated: "That the own
ers of breweries, separately, are unable
to exercise proper influence in the
interest of the craft, in the legislature
and public administration" At a
Brewers Congress held in Buffalo. the
President. in speaking of the excise law
of New York, said, Neither means
nor money were spared to accomplish
the repeal of the detested law. Editor
ials were published in sixty different
English and German papers, and over
10000 campaign circulars were dis
tributed amongthe Germans. A state
convention was largely attention in
which we pledged ourselves to support
only such candidates who bind them
selves to work for the repeal of the ex-
else law and thereby check the ex.
ertions of the temperance party. By
these efforts the former minority in
the Assembly was changed TO a ma
jority of twenty in our favor"
The object OF the association is avow-
eddy political, and welding such i'm
mense power in money and purchased
influence, becomes dangerous to the in
terests of the country at large. The
immense monied power which they are
enabled to WELD renders it evident that
their avocation is one of immense
profit, and that they will never yield
to the laws of the country without
desperate struggle. At a later conven.
ton held at Chicago, President Clauson
said: "Only by union will it be posi-.
BILE to attain such results, guard our
selves against oppressive laws and
raise ourselves to be large and wide
spread political power" Again at
Davenport the same President said:
eve must form an organization that
not only controls a capital of two hum
dred millions of dollars, but which also
commands thousands of votes political
ly, through which legislators will dis.
Germ our power" The Brewers AS
ISOLATION of New York claims to con-
troll $4,000 votes, which is large bal
ance of power.
The liquor interest with them is par
amount to all other political principles,
and 1t matters not with which party
they affiliate, provided they prove faith
full to that interest. It is evident that
they tremble for the existence of their
traffic, and it requires constant and per-
sistent efforts to combat the progress
of enlightened sentiment. To the dis
grace of both parties, there is too much
trucking and trading with the whisky
ring, for the votes and influence which
it controls. Demagogues have too lit
tie principle to care by what means
they succeed. provided they gain their
own personal ends, and the honest,
but ambitious, Office seeker is too
easily intimidated by the threats of the
liquor party.
The influence which is exerted in
our own county election for members
of the legislature is more extensive
than has been generally understood.
Those interested in the traffic have
been known to approach candidates,
and either threaten, or promise assist
ance and influence according to the
situation.
Let us look at some of the methods
to which they confess. A Chicago
delegate, at a Milwaukee convention,
said: The brewers of Illinois have ex-
pended 100000 to beat the temperance
party OF the elect 1ns." The chairman
said: Almost every local association
has expended large amounts for the
same purpose"
The liquor lobby at Albany at the
session of 1889 admitted before a |
committe that they had ex-
pended 100000 to influence legislation. |
From the confessions of an old liquor |
dealer and lobbyist &C. B. Cotton) we
learn what methods were used to in
fluence legislation at Albany twenty |
years ago. He says: After the cleo
ton and before the legislature con-
vened. our correspondents throughout /
the state gave US special information of |
every zone of the opposition members,
their mode of life, their habits, their
eccentricties and their religious views;
they were approachable; with
a thorough analy sis of their characters
In every way so that we might under
stand our subjects in advance. IF the
stiff-necked legislator could not be in
duced to vote directly against the tenn.
perance measures, or persuaded to
DODGE he must be convinced that he
was sick, threatened with diptheria or
else, and unable to leave his
room. A sworn affidavit of the doc
or to this effect, cost anywhere from
s25 to 500 according to the size of the
lie sworn to. These cases of sicknessI
never proved fatal, and recovery was
always rapid" Again he says: 1 well
remember Senator who was in great
distress about a 81. 800 mortgage on his
house which was about to be fCrclosed.
This mans trouble came to the knowl-I
,6ge Of the lobby. Suddenly one of the
lobbyists was missing, and few days
alter the Senator received his Cancelled
mortgage through the post. He never
orrof fha favnr nor did his yofn do nc