The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-10-07
PETITION TO TAFT.
Protest Against Wilson Being Honor
airy President of Brewers.

A petition has been sent from the
office of the State Temperance union,
signed by Il prominent citizens, pro-
| testing again the acceptance by Sec
rotary James Wilson of the department
/ of agriculture of the honory presidency
of the International Brewers congress
which will be held in Chicago october
11-22. A copy of the protest was also
| sent today to Secretary Wilson.
The signers are: Governor w. r
| Stubs, T. D. Coburn. Fred S. Jackson,
| T. A. McNeal- w. w Mills. Arthur
Capper. D. r. Anthony. J. r. Mulvane,
Page, J. n. Dolley, r. r. Rees. Robert
Norris, DR.. Charles NJ. Sheldon, and
| others.
The following is the protest:
Topeka, Kan. September. 1911.
To His Excellency. William H. Taft,
President of the United states.
Greeting:
The Second international brewers
conference and barley and hop prize
exhibition will be held at Chicago, Ill,
October II to %, 1911.
The first international brewers con-
gress was held at Brussels, Belgium, in
July, 1910.
The meeting in Chicago scheduled
for October az this year was arranged
at that meeting.
The Honorable P. G. Knox. secretary
of state, and a member of your cabi-
net. has issued an invitation to the
diplomatic and consular officers of the
United States asking them to help
make the congress success.
We quote him as follows: while
this congress and this exhibition is not
under the official patronage of the
government of the United states, this
government would be glad if the gov
eminent to which you are accredited
would give due publicity to the con-
gress and exhibition mentioned
Mr.. Knox says further: This con-
gress and exhibition will be interna-
tlonal in its scope. Invitations have
been extended to the brewery trade
and allied industries and professions
of the world in the name of the in
tcrnational committee of patrons. en-
bra cling the leading men in the brew
ing and allied industries
Mr.. Knox says further: "The sec
rotary of agriculture of the United
States, the Honorable James Wilson
has accepted an invitation to act as
honorary president of this congress,
and the United States department of
agriculture will be represented at the
barley and hop exhibit by
a suitable exhibit.
The supreme court of the United
States has said that the traffic in in
toxicating liquors as beverage is
detrimental to the health, morals and
peace of the general public. Several
states have by constitutional or stat
utory legislation outlawed the saloon.
Large portions of other states through
local option laws have declared the sa-
loon ar outlaw.
A goodly portion of the leading
of America are advocating
prohibition as the only remedy for the
suppression OF the traffic in intoxicat-
ing liquors as a beverage.
The Editorial Association of Kansas,
over 700 newspapers and
periodicals, at it's last session, held in
Topeka, adopted a resolution, with
a dissenting vote
stating that they stood for prohibition,
We're against resubmission and that no
liquor advertisements would be re-
ceiv%d into their columns.
With this showing as represented by
the public sentiment of our state and
nation, we protest against a cabinet
minister's presiding over a brewers
and distiIIers' convention held in the
of the beer and liquor traf-
fic, and by that act. placing the United
States of America-in the eyes of the
whole world-as an ally and abettor
of brewers and distillers.
Because of this showing. we respect
fully ask, as citizens of Kansas. that
YOU as president of the United States, |
exert your influence and dissuade if
possible Secretary Wilson from presid- |
ing over the brewers and distillers' !
to be held in Chicago Oc- |
tober IL to p, 1911.