Morris tribune., 1888-08-15

a. ~. 6OOAAs
For GovERNoR-HUGH HARRISON.
Ii. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. RI6HsrADT.
sEcRT. OF STArE-PETER THOMPSON.
TREAsURRR-JoHN Fl. ALLEN.
ATTORNEY GENERALr-C. 4. SHANNON.
CHIEF JUsTICR-To BE FILLED.
ORGANIZATION OF THE RUM POWER
The rum power has two national
organizations. The first and most
comprehensive is the National Pro-
tective Association. This organiza-
tion is what its name implies, q pro-
tective association. It was organized
for and its sole object is to protect
the liquor dealers from all legislation
calculated to injure their business
It boasts its power to raise at any
time $500. 900 by the unfelt assessment
Of 800 on each saloon keeper in the
United States. Multiply this assess
ment by five and 1t is still unfelt and
yet 1t gives the Association $1.0OO.OOt
to use in any state or locality where
the traffic Is theatened with prohibi-
tory legislation either by protection,
or county local option.
This Association boasts that last
year It spent 100000 to defeat pro-
hibitloni in Michigan, Texas, Tennes.
see, Oregon and the city of Atlanta
There Is no temperance force on
this continent that matches this
single item Of power.
The other organization while 1t Ii
not SO comprehensive in Its scope il
more thoroughly organized and more
systematic In Its work. It is the
National Brewers Association. II
has held its Annual Congress every
year since 1862 when it was organized
The last one held In st. Paul May &c
and 81 It keeps all attorney tLouis
Schadle) at Washington at a salary
of $4,000 per annum, besides allowing
him $4,000 a year more to aid In con-
Quoting the Sentinel, a paper pub
lished In the interests of the brewers.
It is this mans duty to watch all
bills that come before congress and If
possible prevent any legislation pred
judicial to the interests of brewers
Sitting In the Hobbies of congress and
quietly checking off the yeas and
hayes he yields a commanding infu-
ence by the simple knowledge on the
part of the congressman that word
from him to the liquor interests of
his constituency will ruin his chances
for reelection. In all probability 1t
was in this way that VIM. Window
was defeated in our own state six
years ago. This organisation has al
so what is called an Agitation Com
mittee to which it allows $4,000 to So
900 per annum, whose business it is to
circulate literature, and secure the
publication in influential journals Of
articles In the interests of the traffic,
These articles will be republished by
the lesser dailies and local sheets al
most endlessly.
In recent report Mr.. Thomann the
chairman of this committee said that
the most productive work Of the com.
mlttee was that done through The
medium of the daily press. Between
the lines of this report may be read
what Is patent to every one, viz: thai
the oaily press IL almost absolutely a
the command of the liquor dealers
Articles In the interests Of the trade
find ready access to the columns o
the press, but replies to these article!
in the interest of prohibition are reg
ulary consignedto the waste basket
The application we would make O.
this is that it is folly for single
county or even state to go into .
fight with the organized liquor traffic
of the nation with any expectation o
permanent success.
Organization must be met will
organization. National prohibition
with a National Prohibition party b
hind it is the only move that vii
check mate the National organization
of the rum power. The enemy mus
not be allowed to concentrate hi
force In single state and thus de
feat our forces IN detail. The battl
must come all along the line O.
once.