The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-06-28
Plot OF English Brewers.

The Chicago Times publishes the follow
ing interview with brewer of that city:
"Iou do not know, L suppose, hat of the
1000 saloons in Chicago and vicinity at
least so per cent are controlled by the
brewers. Well, such is the fact. The
brewer takes out the license for the saloon
keeper IN eight cases out of ten. In ma
jority of the instances where he does so he
holds chattel mortgage on the saloon iur.
niture and frequently on the household
fleets of the icensee. Now, while this sort
of thing makes the majority of saloon keep
ers the mere slaves of the brewers, it is not
as profitable TO the latter as many suppose.
TN the first place there are too many sa--
looms and TOO many men 10 help. In the
second place there are too many breweries
in competition with each other. This has
run down the price Of beer. There are 80
breweries now doing business in the city of
Chicago. If they make 81 on every barrel
of beer sold by them they are doing well
But they do not make any such amount.
Seeing that there is no longer fortune in
the business on account of the competition
most Of our Chicago brewers are anxious to
sell out, but at their own price.
"Just at this juncture comes the great
English syndicate with its hundred millions
OF dollars capital. This syndicate will buy
every large brewery in the United States in
the next three years. 1t is composed of the
men who control the brewing business in
Great Britain and Ireland. Already thi.
syndicate has purchased % American brew
cries. They are about to pay So 100000 fol
well-known Chicago concern, and are ne
gotiatlng for three other big ones here. You
know that in Great Britain and Ireland the
brewers own all of the saloons. They are
called public houses there, and the brewing
monopoly controls every one of them
at is tine purpose of this same monopoly
to control the saloons of America. How
will they do it? ! will show you how
Just as soon as they succeed in buying all
of the American breweries that they wan
the Engis syndicate will reduce the mum.
Der of saloons. 1t will. through its agents
operate at the various State capitals and
secure the passage of extreme High License
laws. They will labor to have the tax fol
keeping public house fixed at So eco OF
81 900 as minimum. 1t will drive ou
nine-tenths of the saloon men. 1t will pu
the license so far beyond their reach tina
they cannot touch it. Just see how High
License has operated in the city of Pitts
burgh. There are only SO saloons there
now, where there were 600 last year. The
consolidated brewing interest will then start
just as many saloons as it thinks it needs
for money making purposes. 1t will locate
public drinking.places where they will lie.
ceive the greatest patronage and will wipe
out the others.
will the State Legislatures pass the
requisite High License laws? Will they!
Well, you just bet they will. Public senti-
ment rather iayors High License and nc
one will suspect the Members of the Legis.
lature OF taking money to pass such bills.
They are generally supposed TO be looking
for money to defeat them. High License
is sure to come. The beer monopoly will
come with it, and when the beer monopoly
wants TO it can secure $4,000 license in
every Northern State, except Kansas and
Iowa, for less than 100000. In FIVE years
my prediction will be verified"