The San Francisco call., 1896-05-16

dissatisfaction that has existed for long
time past. It seems, from what could be
learned, that the malthouse members of
the association should not sell malt for
less than what it cost the brewers to pro-
duce it. In this City are half a dozen
commission malthouses that sell to a large
number of brewers.
part OF the brewers of this City make
their own malt. The latter pay their
maltsters from SIS to $22 a week, while
the malthouse people hire non-union men
from So TO SIS. Because of the difference
in the cost of production they sell their
matt for 81 go per 100 pounds or about Is
to % cents less than the brewers can pro-
duce it. The brewers who make malt de-
clare this to be unfair in an association
that is in reality pool. Moreover, it is a
direct violation of the agreement on the
part of the malthouse men.
When this subject was brought up in
the meeting it started a long-pent-up
storm. The meeting became so tropical,
so 1t was stated. that the malthouse men
acknowledged that in measure they had
been guilty OF violating the agreement in
reducing the price of malt.
When the break began malt was selling
at 81 so and 81 80 per hundred, and the
malthouse men said that while it would
not be possible to jump the price back
to the old figures they would raise the
price of their product as high as the
custom would stand.
In speaking of the association methods,
the brewer related how the little Colum bia
Brewery on Clementina street was forced
to join the pool. This brewery was re-
Gently started, and it has no facility for
making its own malt. The proprietors
were given to understand, that unless they
Joined the association they could not pur-
chase any malt from the commission malt
houses, all of which belong to the associa-
ton. From what could be learned, the
malt difficulty is not yet Strengthened out
to the satisfaction of all interested.
Secretary Joseph Walters of the Brewery
Workmen's Union took the news of the
associations decision good naturedly.
He said that the decision leaves but one
thing to do-tight, and the battle will be
bitter. In the first place the unions
treasury is in good condition, and will
be used for strike purposes. The case, in
fact, is in the hands of the San Francisco
Trades Council, but the decision of its
special committee was practically arrived
al before the request was made of the asso-
citation.
The plan outlined is this: One of the
| breweries of the association, brewery
that is patronized by working and conse.
quently the trades union classes, will be
boycotted at once wherever its product is
sold.
The brewery to be boycotted has been
selected. but the name thereof Will not be-
made known for several days. The union
mas several other weapons to use which
will be explained later. All boycotted
beer will be at once replaced by brewer
who has promised to stand by the union
in its fight.
The Brewery Workmen's Union is
backed up b. the Trades. Council and the
Building Trades Council. No doubt the
Trades and Labor Alliance will take a
hand IN the battle. Werd was received
yesterday from +. Kurzenknabe and G. F.
Bechtold, the secretaries of the National
Union OF United Brewery Workmen at ST.
Louis, stating that the fight of local union
No. z is the National Unions fight, and
the latter will help all in its power
1t is most likely that this fight will re-
suit In cheap beer war among the brew.
ers.