The Topeka state journal., 1897-11-11
BREWERS AND KANSAS.
Pabst and Others Hold a Meet
ing at Kansas City.
What is to be Done With the
Kansas Trade?
Will They Attempt to Secure Abro-
CATION of the Murray Law-What
Results Would Follow.
Will Tn.

Yesterday it was announced that the
Committee of Seventeen had quit busi-
ness" in Topeka. Today the news comes
that Kansas City brewers and the gem
eral agents of brewing companies hav-
ing headquarters and distributing agen-
cies located there have organized for the
purpose of securing some uniformity in
their treatment in Kansas.
One of the leading spirits of the con-
ference which perfected this organization
was Colonel Fred Pabst of Milwaukee,
with whose "brews'' the thirsty public is
thoroughly familiar. Like the Kansas
politician, Mr. Pabst 'tjust happened" to
drop into Kansas City and Philip Stock
of st. Louis explained his presence in the
same manner.
In Mr. Pabst's rooms at the Coates the
plans were made and the line of action
agreed upon. Thinking that perhaps
there will be a special session of the leg
islature, the brewers decided to send a
powerful lobby to Topeka to work for
the abrogation of the Murray law. It
does not require the resubmission of the
amendment to overthrow prohibition. The
mere abrOgatiOn of the Murray law could
be accomplished by a single legislature
within "a hours.
During the four most recent sessions of
the legislature there has been a whole
lot of talk about ''oyerthrowing prohibi-
ton and the repeal of the metropolitan
police law, but when the time came in
the house or senate for vote the issue
could not muster cOrporaTs guard of
supporters. In this manner the anti
prohibitionists have gone down in defeat
every two years, but the brewers and
their organization seem to be hand
each time smiling as ever.
One of the brewers. in discussing the
new organiza ton, said:
"Of course it goes without saying that
the brewers are not satisfied with the
liquor laws of Kansas. 1t is not that We
do not sell beer in Kansas, for we all
sell great deal of beer in Kansas, but
we want the business made legitimate, so
that we can do business upon business
principles and with ordinary business
methods. In many towns in Kansas
there are a great many more saloons
than there would be if they had to pay
a license, but we would rather see Hcens-
ed saloons, if We sold less beer. We would
not be such a political factor are
forced to be as it is"
The great complaint of the brewers
comes from the way in which they are
pulled into Kansas politics. They claim
that they are called upon by large politi-
cal parties to make. large contributions
by men in office all the way down the
line They say they are called upon to
put up more money in Kansas than in all
the other states combined, and that there
is no let up to the demands. The brew
ers and liquor men some time ago formed
an organization, to which all demands for
money from Kansas are referred, but they
say that this plan has not been altogether
a success. and that the different firms are
''sandbagged'' just the same.
The brewers say that the officials come
at them with the proposition, IF you will
not put up, the other fellow will, and
then the places where his goods are sold
will be protected and you will not be able
to SELL"
Another said in the conference:
This hold-up seems to be considered le-
gitimate by officials all down the line,
even the most insignificant dep
1t is a plan that is demoraliz-
in all around. If paid the money
in a proper way it would go to the school
fund, and be used to educate the children
of the state, but as it is the beer is sold,
and we have to pay, and pay heavily, for
the privilege of selling it. but the money
only goes to campaign funds and to Of
fcials who have no right to it. 1t is no
wonder that we want the law changed,
and I think most of the people in Kansas
believe as we do
There may come a legislature some day
that will abrogate the Murray law, but
it is safe to say that even if prohibition
is overthrown in Kansas it will not be
twelve months until stringent laws and
regulations of another character will be
in force 1t is hard to believe that the
"open saloon will ever again be estab-
lished in this state. If it is attempted,
public opinion will eventually manifest
itself and make itself as effective as it
once was The chances are that the
opening of the gates to free whisky in
this state would result in the establish
ment of a state dispensary system by the
next legislature that met. While this
would not be prohibition, it would be
sure death to the open saloon.
OF course the above intimation on the
part of the brewers that they might sell
less beer in Kansas if the laws are
changed is ridiculous. Statistics show
that the brewers are not satisfied with
the sales in Kansas even under the pres
ent failure of the authorities to enforce
the laws.
The talk about brewers desiring to see
their whine that they are "help up and
their great @ desire to do a legitimate
business is nonsense and shows they are
hit hard. This is their way of squealing-
The saloonkeeper and his abettors are the
worst law violators and encouragers of
law violation in the country They run
the politics in saloon districts and are en-
titled to no sympathy from law-abiding
Kansans.
Are Charters UEconstituti onRl2
e y L, 70,