The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-07-19
COLLECTORS
COMBINED
representatives of Beer Agents Spring
a Big Surprise.
HAVE SUSPENDED TREATING
The New Rule was Put Into Operation
Yesterday-The Astonished saloon
keepers Denounce it and Are
Making Many Kind
of Threats.

A mild war is on between saloonkeepers of
town and the beer agents, and if the threats
made are carried out there will be some very
interesting developments in that line Of
business.
1t appears that all the local agents got
together and agreed to instruct their cOllec-
tors, on making their next ensuing collec-
tons, not to spend any money over the bars,
nor TO allow any discounts to the saloou-
keepers.
Yesterday being the first Monday after pay
day the collectors made their usual rounds.
Heretofore it has been the custom of the col
l]ectors, after receiving the amount due them
and receipting for it, to say, We'll, Jim, l
have a few cents to spare, set EN- up for the
boys and in this manner a dollar or
more passed back into the Golfer
behind the bar. Yesterday, however, there
came a change. The collector took his
money, r%eceipted for it in the pass book,
smilingly handed the book back to the
~saIoonkeeper and remarked, 1T looks like
rain, don't jt2' The saloonkeeper agreed
that it did and the collector very pleasantly
added a Good day ~ and walked out.
The effect can be better imagined than des-
cribed. In some instances it was very funny.
A spectator describes the scene in one saloon
hn 'NlliE as dlhuoAAE as llt btNL lhltt comedy
on the road. In this case the saloonkeeper
stood as if he had been struck in the face
with a blackjack, but recovering himself he
shouted after the collector, Say, Jack,
come back and have u drink" The party
addressed returned for an instant and
politely replied, mo, thank you; the boss
won't allow us to indulge On the route"
The saloonkeeper staggered backwards
and gazed in blank establishment at the row
Of Quakers who were as much surprised at
the sudden turn of affairs as the landlord
himself. well, I'll be hanged if l ever saw
that man act that way before exclaimed
mine host. There will be a new collector,
or new beer on this route, I'll bet a fig
But the dispenser of the amber colored
fluid had only received an eye-Opener, for
soon collectors of other beer agents made
their appearance and exit in similar manner.
Then it dawned upon the s~alOoukeeper that
there was an understanding and for an hour
after the saloonkeeper could be heard swear
ing vengeance.
The compact was carried out to the letter
and it has caused an ugly wound. A beer
agent said to-day, in reference to the new
movement, 1T can't be helped. Most people
are under the impression that a beer agency
is nothing less than a gold mine, or a mint.
The fact is the business is run down so much
by hard times, failures and competitor that
we are obliged to do something in retrench-
ment of expenses, and we know of no more
suitable step to begin with than to cut off the
pay day discounts
Just what the outcome of the affair will be
cannot be foreshadowed. There are threats
of getting beer from out-of-towu breweries,
but there are not many people who take
stock in this. One saloonkeeper declared last
night he had talked with several Others who
say that by combining they can have beer
shipped here by a Western brewery and de-
livered at $3.50 per barrel. To properly man
age such a combine it would he necessary to
have a large storage house erected here.
A beer agent who heard of this remarked
said it would be Il difficult matter to conduct
such a scheme. Many embarrassing coutin-
gencies would arise in carrying out the CO.
operation and it would have to be conducted
on a strictly cash basis. This basis,
he said, is in as badly a demoralized condi-
ton as in other lines of business. In scores
of cases, he added, saloonkeepers fail to
settle their accounts in full, not because
they do not wish to, but because of the
credit business done.