Washington sentinel., 1901-06-15

n
ability to present arguments in concise
and iorcible language bave been ofgreaf
assistance to us in our memorable
| struggle for tax reduction, anc entitle
the gentleman to the thanks ot the
| Association.
You will recollect that at our last
convention | reviewed the situation
from a somewhat pessimistic standpoint.
Our prospects did not seem particularly
bright or promising. Today the condi-
ton OF things presents a more favorable
aspect, as your trustees plainly show In
their very interesting report But it IS
well for you to bear in mind that even
under the most auspIcious circumstances
you will not reach your goal unless you
exert yourselves to the utmost, Jointly
and Individually 10 present your just
claims on every, ditable occasion; and,
if necessary, to create such occasions,
to the end that those from whom the
lawmakers derive their power may fully
understand the unparalleled tax oppres-
sion from which our trade has been
Spanish War, and in this convention
can but repeat what said last year, and
that is, that we must direct our principal
attention to this source OF power and
should strive TO recover that influence
which legitimately belongs to every
we'll organized body of citizens, intent
upon protecting their own rights and
interests, while respecting the rights
and interests of all other citizens, and
iurthering faithfully and consistently
the welfare OF the whole people. Let
us appeal to the whole people and
demonstrate publicly that our trade is
uDjustlY dealt with and tyrannically
oppressed by a tax sl stem which, for
inequality IN the distribution of tax
burdens, has no parallel in all the wide
world.
| fully agree with our trustees that The
first step in this direction must be to
increase the membership of existing and
to organize new brewers associations,
and to continue this work until every
brewer in the land is a member of one
OF the existing "a associations, or Of any
new one that may hereafter be organ
lied.
The extensive industrial ramificstions
of our industry place you in closest
touch with fully one million OF voters,
supply men, kindred trades OF every
description, and dealers, not to speak
of the workmen in all these branches,
and it should be your aim TO show to
this great army of citizens that the
Industrial and commercial inter relation
or, rather, inter dependence, which
exists between them and yourselves,
is such as to make an injury inflicted
upon one, equally felt by all others, and
should, therefore, be resisted by all with
equal streBuousness.
Very great progress has already been
made in this direction, and am quite
confident that your new trustees. avail
ing themselves OF recent constitutional
will complete the work so
begun and so heartily
entered into and participated in by local
In this particular it is but
proper to call your attention to the
report of the pub icatIon committee and
its appended list of associations
There will be brought before you
several propositions relating to methods
OF manufacture, to supply of material,
and other matters OF an exclus lively
internal character. All ol them deserve
your closest attention and should be
adopted. While in their present form
and scope two ofthese propositions lone
relating to q'- ItitY and quality OF
material the other to uniform methods
of analysis) must be cIassed as purely
internal affairs. you will not fail to rec
ognize in them a very direct bearing
upon a very important public matter,
namely, the question Of aduIteration.
Your attitude in the latter respect is
unassailable. You approve, and have
actively supported, Federal measure
designed to establish uniform standards
OF purity. and you have reiterated
uneq uivocally and emphatlcslly, your
firm determination to live up to such
standards, and in the meaUtime to assist
IN the prosecution OF persons guilty OF
sdulteration, You can do no more, and
may be justly proud OF what you have
thus far done
Concerning revenue regulations,
desire TO ndorse the whole report OF
your trustees, but more particularly that
part which relates to the cancellation of
revenue stamps by means Of perioration.
Your demand for this method of can
collation. is in full harmony with the
history of our trade and association. In
1868, prompted by patriotic motives OF
the highest order, you recommended TO
the Government the present method
OF tax collection, so as to secure to the
Federal treasury every dollar due from
our industry, and in 1900 you demanded
that, in order to prevent the evasion OF
the exorbitant and unjust tax upon our
product this innovation be introduced,
although 1t entails upon you additional
expense. That means that so long as
any law, no matter how tyrannical and
unjust it may be, remains on the statute
BOOKS, the brewers intend to obey 1t
and help in its enforcement. That is
your duty as lawabidiug citizens. just as
1t is not only your right and privilege,
but your sacred duty, on the other hand,
to exert yourselves to the utmost to the
end that an unjust law be repealed as
soon as possible,
have nothing further to add to your
reports, except the assurance. gentlemen
OF the convention, that in leaving, as
shall do tomorrow, the post Of honor to
which Won have ASSIGNED me I feel