The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1908-07-31
Statistics Show Power Of Brewer.
PJacCa OeTrd Of 5000 Saloon Bonds Furnished BY Nanac
urcrS Of Beer
Figures Cover Six Months.
Marion Co. Furnishes Striking Example
of. Activity By Liquor Interests.
By LOUIS LUDLOW.

By LOUIS LUDLOW
An interesting and valuable collection Of statistics COM
piled 1.-THE state stastcian and published herewith for
the first time, throws flood of light the power of the
brewers to control politics in Indiana power which they
are exertng to the utmost limit of their ability in an effort
to defeat the Republican state and legislative tickets
The saloon OF the main cOgs the great brewery
machine The brewers exert large Of their po-
tical influence through saloon keepers whom they con-
troll The brewer furnishes bond for the saloon keeper
which puts the saloon keeper under obligations to him.
After that the saloon keeper is virtually tool Of the
brewer and when the brewer plays the fiddle the saloon
keeper must dance.
1t has long been favorite pretention of the brewers
that they have connection with the retail liquor traffic
beyond furnishing beer to the saloons and that they
ert no political influence over the saloon keepers This,
however, is only pretenslon.
Mrs Mary Stubbs Moore cnef of the bureau of Stats
tics through her agents over the state has conducted
fair and impartial investigation to ascertain the facts
to how saloon keepers set up in business in other
words to who furnishes the surety that enables them
to comply with the license law The figures obtained are
for the half year beginning JAM and ending July 1907
The information obtained surprising to say the least
and the probability is that it underslaes, rather than
overstaes the part that the brewers take in the control
and operation Of saloons for it is understood that inform
aton in good many instances not easily obtained
BREWERS ON BONDS 991
The report shows that during the six months indicated
1902 saloon licenses were issued in Indiana. Of the
loon keepers taking out licenses, 274 bonded by
beweries the name of the brewery each instance a-
pearing on the bond and III bonded by brewery
agents. making total of 99 saloon keepers who were
set up business during the brief period of six months
Marion county furnishes striking example of brewery
activity Here there issued 407 saloon licenses The
bond in only two furnished by surety compan
In 232 instances the bonds signed by brewing
companies and in ITO brewery agents furnished the
surety in other words out of total of 4O7 licenses issued
05 Marion county saloon keepers their establishment
in business to the brewers.
In Vanderburg county there is larger per cent
There 200 licenses issued and in 1879 instances the
bonds were signed by brewery agents In Cass county
sixty licenses issued and brewery agents furnished
the surety for ify-fve applicants In Madison county
out of seventyone licenses issued brewery agents fur
nshed surety thirty nine instances and the breweres
themselves in seventeen instances And down the
list
There is an old saying in politics that every saloon
keeper able to influence the votes of ten hangers
about his place of business and if that be true, the 99
saloon keepers who bonded by breweres and brewery
agents during the months mentioned would be able
handle 49, 0l votes including their own, in the interest
of the brewery combine.
POLITICAL FUND UNLIMITED.
These statistics furnish idea of the brewery machines
farreachng political ramications Every brewer has his
thumb so speak, large number of saloon keepers
and every saloon keeper being urged to do his utmost to
dates for the Legislature in his balwck The brewers
are on their mette as before They supplied
with unlimited funds Not only do they control large
army OF through the keepers and equenters of sa
looms but they reaching out in every direction in
effort whip into line every in the state WHO derives
income, directly or indirectly, from the liquor business
through the sale of supplies incidental to the traffic. etc.
The latest chase of the brewery activity reported
ers are very anxious carry the House Representatives
as that would enable them to block county local option
legislation. To that end they are bringing out Democratic
candidates for the House and furnishing the finances
with which they are to make their campaigns !,
Joseph E. Bell of Indianapolis, according to the state
committees advices is the emssay of the brewing com
bne in arranging legislative states. Mr.. Bell has long
been attorney for powerful brewing interests He in