The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-02
Col. Jacob Rupert Urges Cam
! paign Of Education to Com
bat Prohibition.
STATE BREWERS MEET

presldeN. Inc convention Was helu III
the afternoon at the offices of the Lager
Beer Brewers Board OF Trade. 1O9 East
Fifteenth street. and was attended by
1875 leading brewers of this city, Buff
falo. Rochester. Syracuse. Utica, Albany,
Troy, Poughkeepsie and Brooklyn. Col
Rupert has been president two years
and will serve another year.. as will
Charles J. Warner, secretary, and Fred
erick II. Grant and William II. Hirsh
of counsel.
Col. Rupert Hrst rave figures indi-
eating the Importance OF the brewing
business. More than $3o0.oOO, 900 is in
vested in the industry. which consumes
millions OF dollars worth OF commo-
dities eac year. employs thousands OF
persons, pays directly 100000 yearly
a.. taxes to the Federal Government and
supplies a business which contributed
this year $22.0oo. 900 to the State Gov
eminent. lie continued:
AS business men and citizens the
brewers strive to carry on their busi-
ness with every consideration FOR the
progress. prosperity and welfare OF the
State. This Is so, although at times the
conditions are not altogether tn their
liking. Their methods OF doing business
are fair and their relationship with the
business world and with labor Is upon
q most cordial and satisfactory basis.
They stand ready TO cooperate In any
movement which makes for sound busl-
ness methods. They only ask the con-
alteration and recognition which belong
to men who are engaged in a business
Of long standing and OF great msgni-
tude and they exercise their rights
solely along the lines indicated by law
and justice.
Would Keep Public Posted.
mot alone is their business directly
4 heavy contributor to the State and
national treasury. but as individuals
they bear "A considerable share OF the
real and personal property tax. the
franchise and income tax. Yet they are
continually confronted witt a disturb
ing and mcnaeing movement that
threatens the stability OF their invest
ments and aims At the ultimate de-
struction OF their property. But am
confident that the continuation and FUR
ther development VI the policy of keep
ing the public posted on the fallacy and
,mpos@ibility of prohibition and re-
newed dctermination on our part TO help
In eliminating the abuses and elevate
ing the tone OF the liquor trade will
eventually put at rest this ~farcical and
impractical movement.
The prohibition movement in the
United States bears most directly upon
the social welfare as we'll as individual
freedom OF the people, The actual aim
and purpose ~ its advocates and tho
real consequences of following upon their
success are probably less understood
Than any other question which In before
the public. Otherwise ! am sure that
the prohibition movement would not
enroll among i,s supporters n sufficient
number II the kind pf persons required
to make il a live issue.
"Nlany followers are gained for II as
Q result a blind faith rather than from
conviction based upon reason. My
stud of the movement and experience
with most people who symrathise with u
brought out the fact that they are aim
ing at the prevention or drunkenness
and the elimination Of the abuses and
evils attendant upon the use of alcoholic
drink. 1t is not their intention or de-
sire TO deprive the individual of the right
to have his beer or wine when and how
he wishes. but to save him from getting
too much.
But in their effort to reach the fellow
who takes too much they forget about
the thousands who know when to stop.
In their vain pursuit of the drunkard
they penslize tho unofending persons
vino constitute the great bulk OF the
population for no reason Whatsoever,
unless 1t IL their purpose TO punish the
innocent for the shortcomings and sins
OF the wicked,
Based ON sentiment.
"ln the case of those who are willing
20 deprive the great masses OF a right
because it is abused by a few We can
demonstrate that prohibition is based
on sentiment but not on facts. A study
OF the subject will show that it has
failed wherever II has been tried. There
is not sufficient time for me to review
the history or statistics OF the prohlbi-
ton movement in the United States.
But loth history and statistics will JUS
tify and support the assertion that pro-
hibition never put down drunkenness
nor suppressed any OF the alleged evils
Of liquor.
mo appreciable improvement has ever
been noticed In the moral. financial, eco
nomic. physical or mental condition of
the population of IA prohibition state
over that of a State which adopted the
license system. On the contrary, not
only does the prohibition state harbor
all the ills which flow from overindul-
gence in alcoholic drink but also many
Others besides which result from the use
OF the inferior liquors and drugs which
ever abound IN su-called dry territory.
'sThe members of the New York state
Brewers Association recognize the Ian
gers that Turk in the abuse OF the saloon
and are willing and anxious to Join in
any movement which Will eliminate and
avoid those abuses. In the course of our
deliberations We will again take up and
consider the campaign for the suppress
sion of gambling and disorderly conduct
N licensed places and also a method for
eliminating and keeping places closed
which cannot De prottably operated.
"A most efficient aud practical agency
for eradicating tn evils and avoiding
the vices which may associate themselves
with the use of liquor is found in the
New York liquor tax law. The proper
enforcement OF this law will bring about
a tone and standard in the conduct OF
saloons. restaurants and hotels which
will leave no eloDmable ground for COM
plant about the manner in which liquor
Is dispensed In licensed premises. Fur
thermore. the men engaged in the retail
business may be depended upon TO do
their share toward purifying and elewLt-
ing the business in which they are en-
gagged.
Aided by Retailers.
THE Legitimate retail dealers have
shown every Willingness to cooperate In
sny work which has for its purpose tho
provelnent of the condition OF the saloon.
Their associations AVE done splendid
work in connection with the rewer As