The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-09-09
BREWERS INCONVENTIOy
THE NlTIONAL ASSOCIATION in
SESSION AT NIAGARA FALLS.
The Presidents Opening Address
The Labor and Prohibition
Questions Discussed.

NIAGARA FALLS, n. Y, September
ga spetial meeting of the United
States Brave rs Association is in ses-
. sion bere today William Miles, the
president, gave the opening address,
which was confined to hurried re-
view OF the purposes and desires OF the
association. Pant of the address dealt
with the labor question ae respects the
brewers. He claimed that there was
now ard had always been greater har-
mony between emoloyer and men en-
gagged ia rewing than in any other in
du6try. He said: II recommend that
special committee be appointed by
this convention to take into consider
alton this subject in its relations to
the brewing industry and report at the
next annual convention, or sooner if
possible, to the end that while dill
gently pursuing our chosen branch of
manufacturing, we may at the same
time faithfully dis haTgs our duties as
citizens interested in the growth and
prosperity of our Republlc and the
progressive improvement of the con-
dition 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 elsewhere.
The Joint report OF the "Vigilance
and Publication" Committee was re-
por.ed ny Mr.. Henry Clausen, of New
York. II is stated that during the
past yea the Publication Committee,
in conjunction with the Vigilance
Committee, CAUSED to be prepared,
printed and distributed an agg egate
OF $4,000 copies OF addresses and es-
says intended to in fuence public opin-
ion favorAbly to the brewers inter.
ests. The report adds: during The
past year many apple atoms for docu-
ments have been received from per
SONS living in Georgia and Virginia.
From our correspondents in these
States we learn that the success OF the
prohibitory movement is mainly due
to a desire on the part of the ruling
party (Democratic) to keep the colorsd
population within certain moral
bounds. tits claimed that for sn exclu-
sively white population Southern Dem
ocrais would not dream of passing such
laws. A discussion OF the question
on the basis Of ptr>onal and indus
trial liberty was entirely impossible
because, as one of our correspondents
writes, the advocates OF the laws in
variably answered all such arguments
by claiming that these measures
were intended to restrain only the
"black man." Such logic is beyond
our compreher sion. To US it seems
that the greater the depravity of a
population, the greater also tie need
OF control. Prohibition and local
option do away with all control,
leaving tue liquor traffic practically as
free as it would be in the absence of
any laws on the subject but fer more
dangerous to society, on account of
the immortality inseparsbly connect
ed with the constant recurrence of
law breaking.
The most interesting part of the re-
port OF the Advisory Committee, which
was read by its secretary, Mr.. g.
Thomann, is that relating to the al
legged adulterasion OF mat liquors.
The report goes into d scussion of |
the temperance school book question,
which 1t treats with some vigor. |
Through the influence" it says, "of |
the prohibition element, compulsory |
temperance education law was pass ed |
in the following ates before the be-
ginning of the year 1885: New Hamp-
shire, Vermont, Michigan, New York,
Rhode Island; and in 1885, Pennsyl-
vania, Massachus etts, Oregon, Ala
bams, Maine, Kansas, Nebraska, Wis
consin, Missouri, North Caroline.
The mere introduction Of text books
in our public schools ard the spread
ing of proper views on the abuse of |
alcohol would probably find no OBJ.
jectols among the liberal brewers;
nay, they would concur in and assist
such an educational movt IA emit. 1t is
evident, however, from the &C.
ton and tenor Of it's advo
Gates, that the whole movement is
controlled and manipulated by bittsIest
prejudices. Under the thin disguise
of public educational need and of a
scientific presentation OF the euNject
such extreme statements were made
that practically they amounted to false
hoods. The Uni ed States Brewers
Association, through its proper officers,
investigated the matter. Many of the
text hooks were procured aud a CORE.
spondence vas opened relative to the
subject with trustworthy members in
the Stats where such books were
used, with view tn taking compre-
bensive action ia this matter at some
time in the near future. The conclu-
sion arrived at from a thorough re-
view OF the proceedings and careful
perusal OF this correspondence is that
up to the present time the resultant
evil is not go great as the former in
formation seemed to indicate. General
ly speaking, the errors were rot so
9laring 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. 1t would not be
safe, however, to allow the matter to
take its own course. 1t is hardly
probable that the Prohib tionists will
permit the law to become dead let