Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1915-11-15
BREWERY CASES
UP AGAIN FOR
TRUST HEARING
MAIN INTEREST IN BIG SUIT Is
WHETHER BUSCH AND OTHER
WITNESSES WILL ATTEND.
BREWERY LOBBY OPERATED IN THE
NATIONAL CONGRESS ANOTHER
ALLEGATION BY LOONEY
Especial to The Herald.)


Austin, Texas, Nov H.. The post
poncd hearing of the antitrust suit Of
State of Texas against seven breNericS.
in which a fine of 81 .TI9,1OU j. sought
together with the forfeiture nf their
charters was u begin here today The
main interest in the big suit j. whether
August \. Busch and six other wtmcs-
Se>. demanded by the State. will be pro
duccd when the hearing begins. The dc-
PENDANTS have declared that they were
unable 10 produce these witnesses Fail
ure To do 80 without showim. reason is
sufficient basis for the annulling Of the
charters of the Texas brcwcricS and
their permits 20 do business in this
state the officials declare.
That brewery lobby has been operat-
ing in Congress and that a fund of SD
uUn .ODu has been raised Nv the United
States Brewers Association in the last
five wears for anti-prohibition work.
were allegations made by ATTORNEY Gen
tral II. +. Looncy. in the suit which he
filed last January against the seven
leading brewericS of Texas lie asked
for maximum penalties of S2l.7i9. 100
and the forfeiture of charters. because
he alleged. they paid the poll taxes of
anti-prohihitiOn voters and spent cor
porate funds influencing elections and
liquor legislation in violation of their
charters and franchises
One Of the principal exhibits in the
ease il letter. dated October 10. 1906.
AT Paris. purporting to bc from The late
AdolphuS Busch of ST Louis to Zane
Gctti Of Fort Worth, which said in part:
We must pay over 10 the United States
Brewers Association whatever ii NAV
require 10 represent ~ properly before
congress. where we have most important
bills t. defend We must defeat that
Hepburn Dollivcr hill. which i n,n~t
dangerous and antagnni~tic tn nnr in
du>trv and which makes prohibition
pCSSible.''
IN the past dozen wears the Texas
hrcwcrie~ taxed themselves more than \
million dnHar> for political activities
the petition stated. Buying negro votes
was specifically charged. Correspond
ehce on the subject If paving their pol.
taxes was submitted with the petition.
The filing of the suit last January
was the climax Of an investigation which
Conducting for two wears into the m
legged activity nf the ri :. Brewers A.
Sociation and it> subsidiaries in politics
and legislation of the state and nation
The defendants named are the Galveston
hrewlng Co. American Brewing As>oci-
Ail"n- Houston Icr and Brewing aSSnci
alton. Dallas brewery and Texas Brew
ing Company If Fort Worth
The petition alleges that the T.
Brewers Association through itS con
hcrtion with the National Association
"f commerce and labor ATTEMPTED ~
influence legislation. both state and M
ilnn. Regarding the nineteen million
dollar fund i alleges that the major
NORTON nf all such funds have been uSrd
and Will continue to hc used Rv such a.
sociation and its members. in.lndine
leiendantS for the purpose of attcmnt-
lhg 70 influence state and national The
result ~ elections. with respect IL hnth
men and measures"