The San Francisco call., 1896-05-16
THE BEER WAR
IS NOW BEGUN.
The Association Has Re.
fused to Recognize the
Union.
1T rs A CASE OF FIGHT
Labor Organizations Will Use
Their Old Weapon, the
Boycott.
ONE BREWERY Is SELECTED.
1t Will Probably Result in a Che ap.
Beer Competition Internal
Differences.
ONE BREWERY Is SELECTED

The Brewers Association decided at a
meeting yesterday to give the Brewery
Workmens' Union no recognition in the
present strained relations. They had dis
cussed the question at previous sessions,
and hoped to arrive at some amicable ad-
justment. It seems, however, that such
a solution OF the difficulty is now out of
question, since the brew wers themselves
concluded 10 make stand against the de-
mands of the union.
Yesterday was the day for the brewers
annual session, but after they had met in
their rooms in the Flood building they
promptly switched off to the burning ques-
tion of war upon their union employees.
The customary business of the yearly
meeting was laid aside temporarily. The
meeting was held behind closed doors.
With but one or two exceptions every
Der of the association was present and
sat the meeting out for more than three
hours.
After the meeting adjourned Secretary
Adolph Mohr said he was too tired to give
information regarding the proceedings.
He had a typewriter document in his
hand.
There is the whole of it." he said, hold
ing up the paper; but it is too late now
to make copies of it. l want this to be
published in the Sunday papers, and am
going TO lock it up in the safe over night.
l want to get few more signatures to it
tomorrow. Then all the members names
Will be on it and the paper will be ready
to publish"
What is it all about?"
al don't wish to say. Tomorrow is time
enough"
did you take action on the Manufac-
turers'. Association resolutions that ap-
peared in this mornings papers?"
"They were not discussed"
"a brewer stated to-day that these reso-
lutions were not welcome to the brewers
What is your opinion?"-
That's not so; any help for US against
the union would be welcome"
What action was taken on the commu-
nication from the Brewery Workmen's
Union?'
''They simply asked for a conference,
but there was nothing to confer about
Have you decided on any course re-
garding the union?"
eve won't recognize the union"
a member of the association discussed
the manufacturers resolutions with evil
dent feeling. "These resolutions" he said.
"were unasked by US and were unwelcome
too because that might prejudice the ami
cable settlement of our case with the
union. We are members of the Manufac-
turers' Association, but we never received
a notice of Yesterdays meeting, nor were
we represented at it. l believe that no
brewers were present. AS the question
involved in these resolutions is still under
discussion" tit was then early in the day
and before the brewers metz sit was nm
timely to adopt such measures 1 can as
sure you none of the brewers took hand
in il. Any comment On the subject now
might be preiudicial to friendly settle
ment Ali the brewers wanted was to
effect an arrangement with the men with
out trouble"
A. Mclaughlin, vice-president of the
National Brewery Company and a member
of the association, did not care to dlscuss
what had taken place in the meeting, but
finally he was induced to talk. and he
gave the substance of the contents of the
mysterious document that Secretary Mohr
was so careful to put into the safe. Nc
LaLghlin in substance said:
The whole afternoon was devoted to the con-
sideration OF this matter. 1t was discussed
from every point of view, nearly every man
present taking part in IL. A resolution was
drawn up stating the position of the associa.
ton, to the effect that its members woulS re-
tuse to concede to the demand of the Trades
Council; that they would not instruct their
employees to join any union, but that they wonId
pay wages on a basis as heretofore Considered
to be as high or higher than the average for
similar work paid IN the Eastern cities
The schedule of wages runs as follows: Gel
larmen $1S, maltsters $17 and washhouse men
SIS. Foremen of departments receive more
than this. Tie wages of the washhouse men
are said to be the lowest paid any men in any
brewery in the city.
There were about eighteen members of the
association present, representing every brew
cry in the City, and every one of them voted for
the adoption OF the resolution.
Another member OF the assaciotion
threw some light upon what took pIace in
the meeting, and the subject was Of sucb
character that the brewers as a whole do
not care to have it made public. The rea-
son is that it would unveil an internal