The Washington herald., 1912-02-16

CHAS. II. PERRY. prosperous, h e
happiest, and soberest places are those
in which beer is generally drank by the
people, and where there is no prohibi-
tory or local option law to interfere
with the personal right of the individ-
uaI to enjoy himself or herself in quiet,
orderly fashion.
There is no question that beer has be-
come the popular beverage of the Ameri-
can people. During the last decade, and
in spite of incessant prohibition agita-
tion, the consumption Of beer in the
United States has increased more than
twice as fast as the population-in the
past year more than 6, 900, 900 barrels. The
people who come here from the wine
drinking countries of Europe soon learn
to like lager" so well that they are
quite content to use it instead of the
wines to which they have been accus-
toned. 1t is indeed a case of love at
first sight" for it appeals to the eye as
well as to the palate. Moreover, II has
won its way upon its merits from the
sanitary standpoint well as in other
ways. The modern brewer, in these days
of refrigeration, scientific filtration, and
pasteuriZing, cannot make an unwhoIe-
some beverage, for his materials are all
nourishing and healthful.
1t has been, and is, the experience of
every locality, where prohibition or local
option (the first step toward prohibition)
has deprived the citizen of his personal
liberty, that the use of stimulants with
their attendant evils of dissipation and
disease has increased, and that thousands
have been brought to ruin who would
have continued to be sober drinkers OF
beer, with fiourishing homes and happy
families. had not prohibition or local op-
ton compelled them to give up beer.
When it is male illegal to sell beer, it
is natural that the beer drinker. feeling
the need of his accustomed beverage.
resorts to stimulants, because beer, on
account of its greater bulk, cannot be
easily sold or obtained in prohibition
communities. Those who take the risk
OF selling in violation of law sell vile
decoctions which can be carried in the
pocket, or otherwise readily concealed, in
preference to beer, which must of neces-
sity be sold openly and honestly. Conse-
QUently prohibition and local option go
hand in hand with the blind tiger and
''speak-easy," and the prohibition COM
munity becomes a community of patrons
of Notwithstanding alcoholic decoc-
uons Therefore, it is fully justifable
10 declare that the beer brewery
is a great temperance agency, for it
gratifes the taste. satisfies thirst, while
its patrons remain sober, useful, indus
trious, and law-abiding citizens.
When prohibitiOnists talk of shutting
up the beer saloons they are trying to
strike a blow not at the saloons and at
the breweries only. but at the farmers
the multitude of mechanics and business
men outside the brewing industry and
saloons who make an honorable living by
supplying materials needed in the trade.
Over $3.50, 200, 900 is invested in brewing
property, and more than 81 900 0O0, 900 in
saloon fixtures and good will. All this
would be made practically worthless by
prohibition, and proportionately by local
fg mi N r-Ifh
gravest alarm Of the destruction of ST.
1JO,O0OOO0 worth Of property; yet that is
what prohibition and local option en-
thusiasts are striving for.
And this would not be the full weight
Of the blow. The crushing effect would
be felt by $50 other lines of business ac-
tivity, of which 211 furnish supplies to
the brewing industry. Among industries
that would be hit hard by a stoppage of
the brewery industry would be lumber,
rubber goods, steam engine, machinery
tools, plumbers supplies, wagon, harness,
auto truck, mason and builders, builders
supplies, iron and steel, glass, copper
smith. electrical supplies. electrical ap-
paratus, asphalt, tinsmith, roofing, paint,
VaTnish, furniture, bar fixtures, brush,
advertising sign, cooperage, patent cork
and stopper, bottle, beer pump, beer tap,
bottlinE machinery and appliances, belt
ing. boiler, bottle-lsbeling machine bot
beer box, malt and dsiries. 1t may be noted
also, that the printing trade would feel
the loss Of advertising and printing in
various forms. which are an indispens-
able feature OF the industry.
In connection with the share of agri-
culture in the brewing industry it is of
interest to mention that the breweries OF
the United States consume every year
5000, 900 pounds OF hops. One-quarter
Of the total quantity Of hops raised in
the United States is supplied by the State
OF New York, which, according to the
latest United States census, produced
1t,332,S40 pounds Of the total quantity of
l9. .2O9, ,704 pounds produced in the entire
country. The breweries use annually
100000 bushels of malt, 5000 10000
bushels of corn, and 100000 bushels Of
barley In round figures. 800 O0o, 900 worth
of American farm products is consumed
annually in the manufacture Of beer, and
the dairy farmers supply annually hun
dreds of thousands of pounds OF cheese to
saloons, while untold numbers Of butchers,
grocers, bakers. and fish dealers class
saloonkeepers among their best Gus
toners. The devastation that follows
prohibition or local option is not only
ruinous, but a calamity to business gen
orally, and to hundreds of thousands of
skilled and unskilled workmen.
And this brings US to the fact that no
employers of labor are more liberal to-
ward their employees than those in the
brewery business. United States govern
ment reports show the following average
yearly wage in various industries: Brew
cry employees, $719.64; iron and steel.
$5S6.SS; slaughtering and meat packing,
S53296; carriages and wagons, S50S57;
flour and grist mills, SOS So; leather,
tanned, cured. and finished, $57661; boots
and shoes, $466.63: cigars and cigarettes,
Sl261; clothing, $409S7; mixed textile,
S01.02; tobacco, chewing and smoking.
$2S2.S4 The same reports show that in
the manufacture of beer labor gets 81
out Of every $50 produced. In the manu-
faeture OF -four labor gets 81 out Of every
S96.S5 produced. In the manufacture Of
fruit preserves labor gets 81 out OF every
S6.S5 produced. In the manufacture Of
cheese. butter and condensed milk, labor
gets 81 out of every 1850 produced In
.tRe manufacture of coffee and spices la
bor gets 81 out of every s27.75 produced
in the manufacture of cordage and twine
labor gets 81 out of every $40 produced
1t can be seen, therefore, that brewery
employees are paid at rate that enables
them to not only keep their families in
comfort. but to educate their children to
standard unknown by brewery en-
pIQFes in no other country.
CThere is no grinding or sweating In the |
brewery industry. Employers treat their
enDIozss fairly. and expect and receive