Morris tribune., 1914-10-30
VIM. f. lEE EXPLAINS
BREWERY CONTROL
In Buffalo Speech Nominee Charges
Liquor Interests Are United in
Support of Opponent.

In his speech in Red Wing the
democratic candidate for governor re-
ferred to my statements with refer
ence to the Brewery combine" in
Minnesota, and it's activities in poll
tics, and asks: care they extrava-
CANT fancies on little fact or are they
true?"
The democratic candidate for gov
ernor processes not to know that there
is brewery organization in Mime
sofa or that it has been exerting a
most powerful influence in politics for
many years; that it has intruded it
self into every village and city in the
state and has maintained lobby in
the state capitol during every legisla-
ture; that it is, and has been, most
potent factor in Minnesota politics.
If he is ignorant of all this,
it is evident that his stay in the
city of Washington for the past
eight years has put him entire
ly out of touch with what has
been going on in Minnesota.
He is as innocent concerning mat
tiers political as he is of the number
of acres of waste land that there is in
our state, or with the kind of timber
that should be used in reforesting
these lands to secure a rapid growth
and quick return Of investment.
Record On Brewery Control.
If he will read the little booklets
published by Lynn Haines and c. J.
buell. on the sessions of the legisla-
ture for the years of 1909, 1911 and
1913, he will get an idea Of this pow
erful brewery organization and what it
stands for and against in legislation,
and something of notion Of who has
been serving it. The history written
by these men, so far as it refers to the
influence of the brewery organization
on legislation, has never been ques-
toned; in fact, it circulates as accept
ed history. MI: Haines says:
= 90 =
"The brewers exert an i'm
measurably evil influence in
legacy and INSCRIPTIONS prac-
tees in campaigns make the
better class Of citizens hesitate
to become candidates for the
legislature, and results directly
in the election Of lawmakers "
lacking both in patriotic con-
ception of their duties and in "
bo ho ot oh q
company such responsibility"
= .
He recities cases Of trade and log
rolling for the advancement of defeat,
as the brewery combination may wish,
OF important legislation throughout
both Of the sessions concerning which
he writes.
Responsibility For Brewery Influence.
The effort of the democratic candi-
date to shoulder the responsibility for
the brewery influence in our legisla.
ture onto the republicans will not
stand investigation. No doubt his
source Of information in this case is
the same as which gave him the in.
formation that the state tax levy for
1915 would be increased and that G.
P. Staples is now member of the
Railroad and Warehouse commission
The fact is that there have
been no party lines in IegisIa- 4
ton affecting the liquor bust
ness, and the brewers have
never inquired into a legisla-
tors party afiliation,-that he I
is with them is sufficient. I
l might say for the gentIeman's in
formation that in every session the
per cent of Democratic members who
have shown symptoms of brewery in
fluence has been much greater thar
has been the case among the Republi
can members.
In the house in 1909 there were 2.
Democrats. In 1911 there were q
Democrats. In both sessions the rol
call shows that not one voted 70
County Option. In 1913 there were 2
Democrats in the House, and only on
voted for County Option. In 1909 an
1913 County Option was not voted OF
in the Senate, but in 1911 the Senat
roll call shows only two Democrat
votes in favor of County Option.
Republicans Favor Moral Regulation:
Whenever the question of Count
Option has come up in either house
majority of the Republican member
have voted for it, and all temperate
and moral legislation has received il
chief support from Republicans. Ha
the Democratic' candidate really bee
Ignorant of all this?
- -
am but repeating what every
well-informed citizen of Mime
sofa knows when / say that the