Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-23

national Union or steam Engineers, Will De
one Of the speakers. Mr.. Collins came to
Washington yesterday in response to a
call made by Mr.. James J. McCracken OF
this city. who is second vice president OF
the International organization.
Complications May Arise.
The presence here Of Mr.. Collins at this
time has caused the report that the en-
gneers employed at the Heurich plant will
be called out on a strike. as 1t Is said to be
a violation Of an iron-clad law of their
union for them to work with non-union fire.
men, who have taken the place Of union
men on a strike.
Mr.. Leon Tobriner. attorney for the Heu-
rich company. was asked today IL the re-
port was true that several of the striking
t1remen have returned to work.
I'VE have not taken back any OF the
strikers" he replied. because none Of
them have applied for reinstatement. We
will take back any of them who apply,
however,
Being asked about the statement that the
secret protective document of the brewers
against lockouts. strikes and boycOtts was
written III his office, Mr.. Tobriner said it
1.-The first boycott agreement. however,"
he added. was drawn in 1895 by Mr.. A.
H. Bell, attorney for the National Capital
Brewing Company. The papers we have
are simply continuation and enlargement
of the first original paper. 1t Is imma-
terldl IN whose ONCE the last paper WAS
drawn whose stationery and typewriter
was used in its preparation Suffice 1t to
say 1t was signed by all the Washington
brewery companies.
Referring to the proposed conference be-
tween those representing the striking fire
men and Mr.. Heurich, he said there could
be no such conference after the process of
the court has been served on Mr.. Heurich
|. Hearing Postponed. 4r.-n
The postponement of the hearing In the
Injunction case until Tuesday forenoon was
granted. 1t is said. to give the attorneys
for the different interests involved time to
prepare their answers
Mr. Alexander II. Bell. attorney for the
National Capital Brewing Company, said to
a Star reporter today:
This case will be vigorously fought so
far as our company is concerned. 1t Is our
opinion that the suit which is to be heard
next Tuesday was inspired by the Heurich
Brewing Company. because the facts in
the bill are predicated on informa ton that
could only be obtained from representatives
Of that company. Besides this, our nfor-
nation is that the complainant Leonard is
and has been for years past a client Of
Mr. Tobriner."
II have examined the articles of con-
federation Of the Brewers Association and
can find nothing in the paper which will
bear out the allegation of the bill of Leon
ard & Stewart that the orga niZation has as
its objects increase in the price of beer
or restriction OF trade, or the division of
trade among the local breweries. These
facts were known to the Heurich Brewing
Company, and could have been disclosed
with the other facts to the compliments be-
fore they brought this suit
These matters are alleged simply to bring
the compliments case within the provisions
of the Sherman antitrust law and to give
the court jurisdiction. We do not contem-
plate at this time demurring to the bill,
although from lawyers point of view it
H. 10 n
will answer the allegations of the bin fully.
Will Shift Blame.
when the side of the Brewers Associa-
ton in this difficulty is made known the
public and the trade will see that this as
ISOLATION is in no manner to blame for con-
ditions now existing, and that one of the
purposes of the organization is to prevent
the Heurioh Company from forcing two or
three weaker companies out of business
We are informed that Mr. Heurich in reduc-
ing the price of his light beer to $3.50 per
barrel did it to kill competition. as 1t is
well known among persons having knowl-
edge of the brewing industry that beer can
not be made and put on the market at that
price except at a loss to the brewers
Mr.. Heurichs idea was that. inasmuch
as several of the rival brewers trade was
largely confined to light beer, that he could,
when he reduced his price. make the others
come down to the same price and sustain
steady loss upon their output, and to ac-
complish this he was willing to stand some
loss upon his own light beer and depend
upon the large profits that he realized from
his dark beer to make good such losses.
.If Mr.. Heurichs scheme succeeded 1t
would mean that several of the competing
companies would have been wiped out: that
he would have practical monopoly of the
local trade. and that he could then raise
the price upon his various grades OF peer
to such figures as he saw fit. and the local
trade whether they liked 1t Or not, would
be obliged to submit
1.-The reason Mr. Heurich seems to have
devised the scheme to freeze his compete
tors out of business Is by reason OF
the good beer the other companies were
making. their energy in gaining new trade
and his consequent loss OF trade. he COM
planning that during the year there had
been an agreement between all the COM
panes and that he had lost trade aggre-
eating 10000 barrels of beer. AS has been
said there Is absolutely combination
against Mr.. Heurich. and any combination
at all that exists Is simply one of defense,
+ having as It's purpose to prevent Heurfch or
his company from freezing out of business
other local companies: and these and other
facts will be made clear to- the court and
| the public when the case comes to trial
next Tuesday"
Union stated that the agreement which
was entered into last winter between the
Brewers Association and the Central
Labor Union was with the full knowledge
on the part OI .tHOSS cOHCcTueu tfldl the
Heurch company was not q member of the
association. He also asserted that the
Heurfch company was the first brewing
concern in the District OF Columbia to give
the engineers ana firemen an eight-hour
schedule and pay union wages. and 1t was
the first to sign the contract now existing
between the union and the brewers.
Mr.. Leon Tobriner said before his depar-
ture for Cape May today that the fight be-
tween the Brewery Workers International
Union and the international Brotherhood
of Stationary Firemen had been in progress