Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-10-10
CAN ANDSOUP BOWL
SALOON KEEPERS RISING AGAINST TIE GROWL
IR AND FREE LUsOH.
A Meeting Held Yesterday at Which New Or
ganizlhon Was Launchsd-lnlsrssiing Chats
With Soms Of Those Present

Yesterday afternoon about thirty sa-
loon keepers met at Beethoven ball to
take the initial steps looking to the
formation of new organization, to be
known as the Saloon Keepers Protec-
tive Association. As there is already
an organization Of brewers, liquor men
and saloonist in the city, and as there
are differences of very decided nature
among those engaged in the business,
it is not unlikely that two per-
manent bodies will result, al
though the saloon keepers who
met yesterday desire to get all the re-
tailers into their organization, If posi-
BILE, having appointed committees in
the several wards of the city with that
end in view. Yesterdays meeting was
presided over by John Shorts, and
Charles Seibert was installed as Secre-
tary. The object OF the meeting was
stated to be the consideration OF several
grievances and also the better regula-
ton Of the business as a whole,
whereby leaks and losses might
be stopped, and more salts
factory state of affairs generally brought
about. The session lasted about one
hour and half, and judging by what
could be learned when the meeting ad-
iourned, there was some very plain Ian
guage used.
'Were you at the meeting?" asked
reporter of one saloon keeper, soon
after the gathering adjourned.
"Not by d-n sight," was the en-
phatic reply, followed by some remarks
of an exceeding forcefpl nature.
The next man struck had been at the
meeting, but he said he didn't know
who presided. 1t turned out afterwards
that he had presided himself.
A third gentleman said an organiza-
ton had been formed, and fourth said
it wasn't true; that no organization had
been effected, and that everything was
in an unsettled and chaotic condition.
Finally, however, the facts were de-
veloped, and it looks as though there
was fun ahead for some one.
One of the kicks is on the price OF
beer; another is on the free lunch sys-
TEN, in vogue in certain saloons, aad
still another is to sQuelch the growler,
in all its shapes and sizes. and retail
only by the glass, in a Legitimate man
ner. The details OF these matters OF
objection are Of most interesting
nature, and there is much feel
ing, particularly over the matter Of
charges. For instance, on this point,
it is freely alleged that Wheeling beer
is sold in Pittsburg considerably lower
than here at home. On the free lunch
point there is strong pressure brought
to bear by number OF saloon keepers
TO do away with the whole system, and
force their customers to buy what they
want to eat, the same as they buy what
they drink. One this point one gentle
man spoken to said:
THE thing has got so that lot of
people about town only go into saloon
two or three times day, when they
feel hungry, spend nickel for beer,
and eat quarters worth OF cheese,
soup, cold meat, bread, etc. Under this
system man can live in Wheeling, so
far as food Is concerned, for about ten
or fifteen cents day, and get lobster
salad, sardines, soup, cold roast beef,
baked beans, slaw, pickles, potato salad,
rye bread, cheese, beets, and | don't
know what all, making a pretty good
bill of fare. 1t is great injustice, and
isn't business, anyway you fix it. We're
going to put stop TO 1t, the best we
know how, if we possibly can. It's no
wonder the average saloon keeper is
poor. Between biz prices for the stuff
he buys, free lunches, the GROWER sys-
TEN and high licenses, not to speak of
other leaks, It's wonder I've got
coat"
On the subject of the growler another
saloon keeper said:
"As long as saloon keepers keep on
selling fifteen and twenty cents worth
of beer for dime, they're going to keep
on giving notes and borrowing the
money to pay interest. Just out OF
curiosity, the other day, l sent fellow
into saloon with pitcher as long as
my leg and ten cent piece. He got
the pitcher full, and after it got fat
and all the foam was off, we measured
it, and there was seven pints of solid
beer; or about fifteen or eighteen
glasses, the way they run
on the average. That fellow paid the
brewery twice as much for that beer
as he got from me- On another occa-
sion | had saloon keeper who had &
big GROWER trade tap keg and keep
score of the GROWERS be filed out Of IL,
selling by the glass from another keg.
As a result ne counted up just S1.20 for
a keg of beer he paid Sl.90 for. Its no
wonder he had TO sell out"
Still other saloon keepers dropped
illusions to other grievances, and II
seems there is a lively campaign on.
The next meeting will be held next Fri
day afternoon.