Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-27
BITTERS BEAT BEER,
Says Mr.. Silverman, When it Comes
to Causing Drunkenness.
THE FIRSTORIGINALPACK MAN
In Pennsylvania Talks of the Brooks Law
Test He is Making.
HIS FIGHT, TO BE ONE TO A FINISH

Mr.. Charles Silverman, who has the
honor of being the first to open an "original
package" liquor house in Pennsylvania,
which he did at Leechburg. with branch
at Apollo, was In the city yesterday. Dur.
ing his visit he encountered DISPATCH
reporter, to whom he related how he came
to make test of the Supreme Courts de-
cision, and some other interesting things in
connection with the case. Said he:
Il am an agent for the Cincinnati Brew
ing Company, of Hamilton, o. We are
not only prepared, but are more than will
ing and even anxious to see the outcome OF
tilt between the Supreme Court of the
United States and those who think the
Brooks law of Pennsylvania is bigger
thing than the highest tribunal in the
| country. As to the opening of my agency
at Leechburg, the special kilograms to THE
DISPATCH have covered that pretty fully,
but there are some things that haven't yet
been told. For instance, the complaint was
made that on the day I opened my estab-
llshment and disposed of carload of beer,
there was an unusual amount of drunken
ness in Leechburg on that day. Perhaps
there was, but that doesn't necessarily imply
that it was the arrival of my Original pack
ages that caused it.
A MISTAKE OF ONE LETTER.
'You see, the beer consigned TO me, in
transfer from Allegheny was, through a
rBilroad clerks mistake, reshipped to 'Silber-
man. and the local officials at LeechDurg re.
( fused to deliver it TO a man named Silver
man. even though it was known that could
be the only one meant. 1t took some time to
have the mistake rectied SO that, as was tele-
graphed to THE DISPATCH it was 5 o'clock
before could unload and dispose OF it,
I'm the meantime, an anxious and ever
increasing crowd was awaiting a chance to
slake its growing thirst, and great number
were unable to wait till the railroad red tape
was all out of the way. They had to have
something to drink, SO, when they couldn't get
refreshing beer, they had recourse TO a substi-
tute. The only thing procurable was some Bit
tiers made in the vicinity, which is about 40 per
cent alcohol. 1t may take good deal of that
kind of stuff to get full on, but there was any
quantity of it sold and drank that day.
More than that too, it caused some of the
drunkenness which was unjustly ascribed to
the fact of my receiving beer in original pack
ages and disposing of it that day. A great
many who had gathered to buy beer of me, and
despalring of getting any, took the 4 o'clock
express train to Natrona and got gloriously
full down there. and when they returned home
with their jags, of course it was all laid with
the bltters' Jags to the beer had sold.
why, there wasn't beer enough shipped to
Leechburg at that time to fill that crowd"
FIGHT TO A FINISH.
"Do you intend to pursue your business
theref" was asked of Mr. Silverman.
"Of course 1 do. The brewing company
which represent is regularly chartered Ohio
institution, and it has the stuff to push the
matter to complete test. Beside, if it should
need any help the National Brewers Associa-
tion would gladly come to the front with money
and the best legal talent procurable.
do you know who is behind the opposition
to my business in Leechburg? No. Well, I'll
tell you. It's funny story. For over 20 years
the doctors and druggists there have had a
practical monopoly of the liquor business. A
prescription calling for whisky by the Latin
name of spiritus frumenti has only cost a
quarter. This prescription. calling for pint
Of the rankest, cheapest whisky that could be
found in a days journey. the druggists would
fill for 75 cents, thus making the cost of a pint
of oh, such bad stuff, just dollar, OF course
they don't want their trade cut into, and they
are making much more of howl against me
than any Prohibitionist in the place. Seer
And with this Mr.. Silverman walked away,
smiling graceful good day."