The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-02-25


1t Is the fashion otthe day 70 De
hysterical, to rush into REFORM 70 cor
rect the abuses OF any business oy de-
stroying the business ITSELF every SO
often some corner OF the world saners
from movement to abolish all aieo-
holic beverages. Just nov this coun-
try is passing through the periodic re-
form against liquor.
The policy OF The Morning Tele-
graph is always liberal and sensible.
The tndiscriirinate ana oittef aght Oh
all forms Of the use OF alcohol is fool
tsh in the extreme. 1t aims at the
correction Of abuses by destroying
great industries and dcrrlylng con,
siderable body oil our people OF en-
ployment.
The great army which lives by the
brewing and allied industries is en-
titled TO quite as much consideration
IS those who suffer from the misuse
Of alcohol and its side should be CIV
en- fair hearing.
In line with its policy Of fair plaI
The Morning Telegraph publishes the
following Interview with Mr. Hush r.
FoN. the new secretary OF the United
States Brewing Association:
Vicious Tactics ct "Reformers."
Mr.. Fox opened the interview with
the statement that the Brewers Asso'
citation was forced into me hsht
against the prohibition movement by
the vicious and unfair tactics OF the
reformers.
"The ultimate aim OF the Ant-Sa-
loon League said Mr. FoS' rs nj
tional prohibition. The ultimate re-
suit would not only be the destruction
of one OF the greatest Industries OF
the country-to take away the means
of making living from 100000 labor
ers employed by the brewers and dis
tillers alone-but there IS hardly an
industry which would not feel the Ell
fects of prohibition. There is not
another single Industry which sup
PORTS so many allied trades and bust
nesses as the liquor traffic. The deal
ers in malt, hops, barley rye and
corn. which are used by the brewers
and distillers, distribuate every year
$250,O00,00O most of which goes to
farmers. Hundreds of millions are in
vested in the manufacture OF special
machinery and appliances which brew
ers use; three-fourths of the manu-
featured tobacco is sold through the
liquor trade; more than half the soda
water and aerated drinks are sold
through the saloon; 5000 hotels are
dependent on their bars for profits.
and would be forced out OF business IL
the sale OF liquor were prohibited:
35, 900 travelling statesmen are employ
ed in selling liquors and allied lines;
the makers OF glassware sell half their
product to the liquor trade, and these
are only few of the industries that
would suffer from prohibition.
Billions Would be Lost
National prohibition would result
in the virtual destruction or confisca-
ton of $2,OOO,OOO,OO worth Of. prop
erty. A million working men would
be thrown out of employment We can
not comprehend what would be the re-
suits of such legislation. The enor-
nous depreciation of real estate val
ues and decline of all stocks and Sc
curities cannot be even approximately
estimated. 1t is not too much to say
that as a result would come the great
est financial panic which the United
States has ever experienced.
This is the material side of the
question. The question of personal
liberty is also involved. Simply be-
cause a small per cent. of people in
lure themselves by overindulgence in
alcohol they have no right to dictate
what all the people are to drink, or
49,, 80 a. I,,.I, ~