New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-20
BREWERS OUTLOOK GOOD
United States Association Told
Public Attitude Is improving.
REGULATION IDEA GAINING
Motives of Workmen in Reject.
ing Accident Compensation
and Age Pension Plan.

Boston. Sept. ls-The ffty-second an
nual convention OF the United States
Brewers Association was opened in this
city to-day. About one hundred brewers
from all parts Of the country were pres
ent when the president. Jacob Rupert. jr.,
OF New York. called the meeting To order.
Mr.. Rupert sketched briefly the COM
mercial changes OF the thirty-eight years
since the first Boston convention. In iS7;
the total output of the United States was
$500 s97 barrels OF beer. In 1892 II had
grown to 3l,sl1,S6 barrels. and last year
was In excess of 500. 90. Between lS10
and 1910 the population increased 500 per
cent. while the consumption Of beer III
creased 200 per cent
Because OF high prices Of material and
increasing cost Of labor, the president
said. the cost OF producing beer had risen
81 barrel. or more than the average net
profit in normal times. The brewers were
making constructive efforts to foster in
creased quality and quantity In produc-
ton OF barley and hops. their chief raw
materials in consequence.
President Rupert noted a steady i'm
PibFFIifil al ll4' HIbAiN dAAAANh' NVN OF a
the brewing industry over conditions two
or three years ago. and attributed it 10
the fact that the sober thought Of the
nation was turning from the extreme Of
prohibition 10 the saner method OF license
and regulation. He predicted the failure
OF state wide prohibition in the pending
elections in West Virginia, Colorado and
Arkansas. and supported his forecast by
referring TO the quick repeal OF prohibit
ton in Alabama the failure OF prohibition
movements in Texas and Missouri, and
the moral victory OF the license forces in
Maine
lie said the defensive measures taken
by the brewers against hostile legislation
were paralleled by the activities OF all
other industrial organizations. The brew
er, he said. looked forward 10 the day
when ne might keep out Of politics, but.
with business waiting on politics and the
country gone Legislation mad he saw
little encouragement in that direction.
What did give him hope. he said, was
the fact that the brewer had won his way
TO a public hearing. that the American
people were realizing that there were two
sides 10 the prohibition question. and that
IL was being established that the whole
issue was one OF efficient government. not
Of morality or religion
The annual report Of the trustees %
the association noted that the general
trend Of the elections indicated a growing
intolerance with prohibitive methods. but
an increasingly organized determination
to suppress disreputabIe resorts and 10
restrict the retail sale OF liquor 10 re
sponsible men OF good character.
The report argued for regulation OF the
saloon a. a social necessity ia popuiOus
communities.
In what was regarded as ono ~ the
most important reports OF the session, the
labor committee discussed the rejection
by the brewery workmens unions OF the
accident compensation and old age PEN
sion plan worked out Jointly by employ
ers and labor leaders. The committee be-
iicvcd the rejection was due to distrust
Of the employers motives. fear that the
plan would weaken the militant spirit 81
the workers and tho commitment ~ the
unions 10 socialism.
The convention will complete its bust
ness tomorrow.