The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-15
BREWERS READY TO FIGHT
MEETING OF THE INDIANAPOLIS AS
ISOLATION CALLED.
1t Is Understood that Recent Pur-
chases in This City by Crawford
Fairbanks VIII BE Discussed.

A meeting of the Indianapolis
and Agents Association will be called this
week to discuss a subject that is now CIV
ing those interested in the beer business
some concern. Over a year ago the brew
ers and agencies entered into an agreement
to discontinue two things-the pony keg
Of beer and the practice Of buying prop
erty for the establishment of brewery sa-
looms" So far as some of the members Of
the association are concerned this contract
has been rigidly kept. 1t is those members
who are now bringing up the subject Of
property buying because they say they see
in the purchases made recently by Craw-
ford Fairbanks, of the Terre Brewing Com
pany, a disposition to disregard the spirit.
at least, of the agreement. Mr.. Fairbanks
has purchased three pieces Of business
property. Two Of them are on Massachu-
sets avenue and on one, where a frame
building stood. a new two-story structure
of pressed brick is being built. The archi-
lecture indicates plainly that 1t is to be
for the saloon business. 1t is claimed. and
it is also understood to be the purpose Of
MI. Fairbanks to improve the property at
Cornell and Massachusetts avenues for sa-
loon purposes. Besides this Mr.. Fairbanks
is said to be negotiating for several other
available properties with a view to estab-
fishing saloons.
Two years ago, and even before that, sew
eral of the larger breweries and agencies
purchased much property and made long
leases on others to secure retail places for
their products. These places were usually
put in charge of a manager and were really
retail branches Of the breweries. AS such
thay rnDaf Urft tho notrlo fndnnnndanf
saloon keepers and they made such a loud
complaint of the injustice of the practice
that the brewers were forced to enter the
agreement to discontinue.
ANOTHER REASON.
Another reason for this was that the
competition between the brewers was caus-
ing them to make larger investments than
seemed prudent to meet retail competition.
and their competition for sites was also
forcing up the price Of property and of
leases.
1t Is understood that one Of the pieces
purchased by Mr.. Fairbanks takes a retail
depot from the Home Brewing Company
and that another is intended to compete
with one of the American company's places.
Tn brewers and agents, learning that other
deals are In progress by MIR. Fairbanks,
feel that his actions should at least be
brought before a meeting of the association.
While the brewers do not say so. 1t Is I'M
derstood that each company is under heavy
forfeit to SUPPORT the agreement.
The movements Of the Terre Haute
agency are being watched with interest
because the indicated policy OF the brewers
at the time was toward a reduction of the
number of saloons rather than the estab-
lishment of new ones. This policy did not
prevent them from securing exclusive
trade in leased premises. but was intended
to protect the brewery customers who had
10 pay their brewers their profit and then
make their own from their DatrOnS.
MFR. Fairbanks was at French Lick yes
terday and Maurice Donnelly, manager of
the Terre Haute Company's business here,
is in the far West on a hunting trip: AS
Mr.. Fairbanks and the agreement is be-
tween the Terre Haute Company and the
other local brewers and agents. II Is likely
a technical question will appear as to the
directness of the violation of the agree
ment. Some brewers say the situation is
filled with warlike probabilities.