New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-10-19
WILSON CREETS BREWERS
Opens international Congress
with Speech of Welcome.
REPLIES TO HIS CRITICS
Could Teach Farwell How 10
Pray-Taft Real Pro-
gressive Leader.
Irr relemanh 70 The TrIbune J

Chicago. oct ls.-James Wilson, Secretary
Of Agriculture, acting as honorary pieS'-
dent, to-day opened the second lhteri'"-
Uonal Brewers Congress. After ne hdu
delivered short address, had attended I"
luncheon In his honor and had visited the
exposition in the Coliseum, he departed AT
$50 o'clock for Washington. Ills omcldl
connection with the congress was ended
Hundreds of protests had been sent to
President Taft and TO the Secretary HIM
self calling on him 10 refuse 10 appear at
the congress.
"Why shouldn't ] act as honorary pres
ioent and open the congress?" replied the
Secretary, when asked If the effort of Ar
thur Burrage Farwell to have church con
gregatlons pray to stop his connection Win
the brewers had any influence with MIN.
''I am simply acting as the representative
of the United States government in well
coming delegates from the Old World to
this country" he explained. las for Mr..
Farwel praying for me, | could teach him
how to pray. | am churchman myself,
and my Judgment tells me there is nothing
improper In my opening the brewers con-
vention. My views may be a little different
from some other churchmen. but | am SIN
cere in my motives.
"They are honest, conscientious. well
meaning people. probably with the best OF
motives, but the great American govern
ment cannot be run upon the theories they
hold" was the reply of the secretary TO
the protests and objections made by Pro-
hibition societies and church organizations.
Il do not want TO talk about the cam
paign that has been waged against me
since the announcement that I was going
Ia speak before that convention" he added.
Il do not want to be put in the light OF
criticising them. ] am simply going ahead
end doing what ! think is right"
on national politics Secretary Wilson was
ready TO talk
Taft is the real progressive leader" he
said. "He has achieved great record. The
American people never fail to re-elect a
President when he makes a first term sue
cess such as Taft has. ! do not fear Taft
viii fail of the Republican nomination"
But does not La Follette's open candi-
dacy and backing by the Progressive
League change the situaton?" he was
asked.
THAT l cannot say; II is too early" He
appeared interested in the meeting of the
Progressive Republicans and their boom for
the man he referred to as the fragrant La
Toilette"
Secretary Wilson's speech Of welcome
was short. and consisted merely In s~sur-
ing the foreign visitors the same courtesy
the United States has received from tho
European countries from which some Of
them come.
Percy Andreae, president Of the brewers
association. whose speech followed that Of
Secretary Wilson. attacked temperance re-
formers.
I'm this country the so-called temperance
movement has fallen into the hands of the
most incorporate people of the nation" he
said. men suffering from what I can
describe only as chronic moral inebriation,
men utterly devoid Of reasoning powers,
largely lacking in the most elementary
knowledge and education and. worse than
all. I'm only too many cases prompted sole
~ by the commercial benefits they derive
from the cause they make profession of
championing."