The advocate., 1891-08-05
the following preamble and resolution

liquor law will be discussed in the next ses-
sion Of the Legislature Of our state, and we
hold it TO be our duty in the coming cleo
tiOn to vote for no candidate who has not
been before pledged TO oppose in earnest
and with decision the passage Of such law
or one similar to il,
Resolved, That no candidate of any pO-
litical party or faction will be supported by
US who has net given his declaration IN
WHITING chat in case Of his election he wall
act and vote against the Maine liquor law
or any law similar to it.
On November II, 1862, an ally Of these
liquor organizations came into the field
known as the Beer Brewers Congress. This
organization also had it's birth in New York
City, as is the case with most of the things
of evil in the political world. y
The objects of the organization are plain
ly presented in the introduction to the con-
stitution as follows:
That the owners of breweries are separately
unable TO exercise proper influence in the
interest of the craft in the Legislature and
public administration.
That il appears especially necessary for
the brewing trade that it's interests be vigOr-
ously and energetiCsAy prosecuted before
the legislative and executive departments
exerting direct, as well
as indirect influence on political and social
relations.
These men organized to "press the beer
interest vigorously upon the attention of the
legislative and executive departments" at a
time when all legitimates lines of trade
were disposed TO make their interests
secondary to the great and all absorbing in
terests of the war in which the government
was engaged.
At this first congress committee was ap-
pointed to correspond with the internal
revenue department and ask for reduction
in the tax on beer. At the second meeting
of the congress, February A, 1868, in phila-
delphia, Mr.. Fred Lauer reported that as
surances had been given by the ways and
means committee that such request would
be granted, and at third congress held in
October of the same year he reported that
reduction had been granted from $1.0O to
60 cents per barrel. This third congress
passed the following:
Whereas, The timely relief afforded by
the act Of Congress, amended March 3, 1863,
has enabled the brewers to continue to fur
nish wholesome and nutritious beverage
to the people of the United States, whereby
the consumption of malt liquors has largely
increased and our proportional contribution
to the support OF the government been
At the fifth congress held
in Baltimore, October 18, 1865, Internal
Revenue Commissioner Wells was present
as representative of the government, On
being introduced to the congress, he said:
l have come TO hear, and not to speak;
and at the same time can assure the meet
ing that it is the desire Of the government
to be thoroughly informed of the require
ments of the trade, and will give infOrma-
ton on all questions in order to bring about
a cordial understanding between the gov
ernment and the trade in general.
In reference to the report of committee
which the brewers had sent to Europe in
the interest of their trade, Mr.. Wells said:
II contains a mass of information, ar
ranged with much knowledge and skill of
the most valuable kind, and will attach il
to my report to the Congress of the United
States to be printed for the benefit of the
trade, at the expense of the government.
There is only one instance
in history where representatives of the gov
ernment have attended a gathering of tenn
peranCe people, and that was at Pittsburg
in July 1884, when United States Commits
sioner Dudley and another gentleman were
present, not, however, to express sympathy
of the government with the object of the
convention OF the cause it represented, but
to persuade the delegates to abandon the
idea Of making q nomination for the offices