The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1916-05-27
BREWERS SECRETARY
CALLS DICK JONES
Declares A. F. of L. Has At No
Time Voted Against Licensed
Saloon.

Joseph Proebstle, International Sec
rotary of the United Brewery Work.
ers of North America, IL visitor in
nVlHtb. He 10 Sounseling with the
members Of his union with relation
to the wet and dry campaign.
Mr.. Proebstle was a delegate to the
Toronto convention Of the A, F. Of L.
in 1910 and denies that the conven-
ton at any time went on record
against the saloon. In this respect
he takes issue with the speech made
by Senator Richard Jones at \the
Auditorium Monday night
Senator Jones stated to The Labor
World yesterday that the published
statement Of his remarks as to the
action Of the Toronto convention was
an error, made through inadvertence.
He agrees with that part Of the state
ment made by Mr.. Proebstle in that
the declaration against the saloon
was made by number of delegates
who attended a dry meeting OF dele
gates called by Rev. Chas. Stelzle, q
fraternal delegates to the convention.
Mr.. Proebstle's reply to Senator
Jones' statement is as follows:
Senator Jones, in his speech at the
Auditorium Monday evening made
the assertion, according to your issue
Of yesterday, that the American Fed
Grafton Of Labor at its Toronto con-
vention, in 1910, declared itself in OPP
position to the saloon. AS delegate
to that convention wish to dispute
that assertion.
1.-THE only expression on the saloon
question heard during that conven-
ton was made not in the convention
itself, but in the course Of a dry"
meeting organized by a so-called fra
ternal delegate, minister. of the
Gospel from New York. This meet
ing was held for the avowed purpose
Of converting the Federation to the
dry point Of view. It was attended
by but few Of the delegates to the
convention, the greater part Of it's
audience being composed of local
representations Of the anti-saloon ele-
ment. The measure of influence that
meeting exerted upon the American
Federation of Labor may be judged
from the fact, that the reverend gen.
tleman who promoted it has been
able to hold but one such meeting
during the several years that have
elapsed.
"This second dry meeting, held
after an interval Of five years, took
place during the convention at San
Francisco in November last. This
meeting was a complete frost. Not a
single American Federation Of Labor
delegate, barring myself and my CO.
delegates from our organization, was
present. 1t was generally predicted
during the final sessions of that con-
vention that the clergyman in ques-
ton, the Rev. Charles Stelzle, would
never again hold another such meet
ing. :
much Of the Indifference shown
to his propaganda was due, no doubt,
to the fact that he or others Of the
anti-saloon league had permitted the
impression : go abroad that the To-
ronto dry meeting voiced the senti-
ments Of the federation.
IF the assertion made by Senator
Jones may fairly be taken as the
measure Of his knowledge Of the
American Labor Movement in this re-
gard, what credence, pray, may be
placed in any statement of his as to
the attitude Of organized labor to-
wards this question or, for that mat
ter, toward any other"