The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-11
THE KNIGHTS OF LIQUOR.
The Most Powerful Organization of Liquol
Dealers Yet Formed.

Dealers Yet Formed.
Boston Herald.
About fifty of the principal liquor dealers in
massachusetts met Tuesday in this city, and
formed the Massachusetts Protective Liquor
Dealers Association. The new association
admits any and everybody connected with the
liquor trade. di%stillers, brewers, wholesale
and retail dealers, clerks and bartenders. It
is thought that in a year or two it will extend
all over the country. At the meeting, on Tues
day, there were two delegates from Maine and
New Hampshire. Vermont and New York were
also well represented. Its capital in this State
is TO be $3.50, 600. of which 1886, 900 has already
been subscribed; and the rest is to be raised by a
tax to be. paid on each barrel of LIQUOR manu-
featured, each barrel to be marked with q pass
port tag. The association expects that /, 250. 900
barrels of ale will be used next year, on which a
payment of 3 cents a barrel is to be exacted
from the brewers; 275, 900 barrels of whisky and
rum, on which the distillers are to pay 10 cents a
barrel, and the Wholesale liquor dealers 7 cents.
There are %, 600 employees who will pay 10 cents
a week, or 50 a year, and they will receive a
passport and recommendations from previous
employers, which will entitle them to work any
where in the State. Twenty thousand dealers
will pay $25 a year, or so cents a week. Western
distlllers. or those outside the State, of whom
there are 225, will pay $50 each per year, and
State drummers will pay 25 cents a week, or $12
a year. In May there will be published a weekly
paper devoted exclusively to the interests of the
liquor trade, and the LIST of July will witness the
publication of the black list. by which every
liquor dealer in the State not belonging to the
ASSOCIATION will be boycotted.
A Ierald representative yesterday conversed
with one of the leading projectors of the scheme,
and the following statement was made:
I'VE offer to protect the dealers in towns and
cities where mo license rules, as well as those in
licensed places, by furnishing them the best
counsel in the State and paying all lawyers
fees, for it is no fault of the dealer il the tenn
perance cranks carried the town or city on the
license vote, and caused some who last year
held licenses to be refused this year,
and be made q criminal before the
courts, after going to great expense in fitting
up places and buying goods. There is no justice
or common sense in such acts. We make NO
party lines: we only look to men who will give
us protection and save us from the malicious
ness OF spoilers, black-mailers, and crazy temper
ance men, who drink at home, and keep their
cellars stocked, but before the public are dema-
gogues and preachers Of temperance. Our aim
and object Is TO make the liquor business such as
it is in Europe, as In nations of that continent
the liquor men are at the head and front of So
clety, having the full confidence OF their fellow
men and the respect of all classes Of the commu-
nifty:
I'VE give the trade thirty days. notice to be-
come members, and, il no reply is received. we
set the party down on the doubtful list for thirty
DAYS longer. Then, If no reply is received, we
call the attention of the whole trade to him or
her, and ask the association to put them ON the
boycotted list, and then give them q chance, by
paying $25 fine and regular fees. to join the or
ganization. and for persistent refusal they will
be boycotted for one year. A list of all boyeotted
members will be sent to each club, giving the
name and address of each member. All liquor
dealers are particularly requested by this 1850
citation not to become candidates for any politi-
cal Office whatsoever
The way the association proposes to control
legislation Is thus stated: Districts will be laid
out for = director, tho same as the congressional
districts are laid out now. and in each district