The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1916-11-28
BUSCH Outlines HIS
PROGRAM To COUNTERFEIT
PROHIBITION MOVEMENT
Declares He Has Requested Governor Elect Gardner
Have Excise Laws Strictly Enforced = Would
Take Bars Out of Saloons, Use Only
Tables.

ST. LOUIS, Mo, Nov 27.-In an In
terview with a Post-Dispatcn reporter
today. August A Busch, president and
principal owner of the Anheuser-
Busch Brewing Association. outlined a
comprehensive program for counter
acting the prohibition sentiment which
has grown SO rapidly in recent years
that territorially SIS per cent OF the
United States is dry by prohibitory or
local option laws. and As per cent of
the population lives in dry territory.
He suggested:
1. strict enforcement by state au-
thorities OF all excise laws.
?. The establishment throughout the
country OF the German saloon system,
which permits only beers. light wines
and temperance drinks to be sold in
dramshops-
5. Cooperation by brewers with
the state authorities to put out of
business every saloon keeper who does
not obey the excise laws.
{. Abolition OF treating in saloons,
to discourage drinking to excess
{. Discontlnuance OF bars in saloons
all service to be given at tables. at
which customers will be seated
One Request of Gardner.
n1F9 OQt OnC AcQ4OAN oPOh 49,
ernor-eiect Frederick D. Gardner"
Busch said to the reporter. That IS
this: II the new governor wishes TO
do me the greatest possible favor he
will appoint the strictest Excise Com
missioner he can hnd-a Commissioner
who will enforce the excise laws TO
the letter and tolerate no violation
OF them
TO what do you attribute the
growth of the prohibition sentiment"
the reporter asked.
To the violation of the law by sa-
looms" he answered 'UnQuestionably
the prohibition sentiment is directed
against the saloon. Not all saloons
violate the law. but the law-abiding
saloon-keeper IS the victim of the law
violating saloon-keeper.
"A liberal Excise Commissioner-one
VINO does not enforce the law strictly
does more harm to the brewing inter-
ests than one who rigidly enforces the
law. We want the law enforced. Some
time ago I wrote a letter to Excise
Commissioner Rumsey to that effect"
Busch turned to his files and with
drew a copy of the letter, dated March
20. 1916, in which he said with refer
ence to the agitation at that time for
the enforcement or the excise laws;
There are two sides to this Ques-
ton and our own observation prompts
us to say that you should be sus-
tained In any effort to correct eondl-
lions. We make no question that the
responsibility for the correction rests,
in a large part. with this business
itself. The law alone cannot do It.
Az an official you are put to the proof
and YOU must often be hampered by
technica1ities On the other hand. we
cannot do IL without your guidance.
I'VE are persuaded. however. by CO.
operation. n better result can be oo-
tain@d. Every disreputaele saloon
should be closed. Whenever your au-
thoritv is insufficient to discontinue
such a saloon we are prepared 10 act
upon your Judgment If you Will say
To US that a saloon which is our Gus
toner ehevid. In the interest OF puOsls
peace or welfare. be closed we viii
withdraw whatever support 1t may oe-
rive from US. We do not ask you 70
take any responsibility Deyono SUI
costing what should be done we VIII
take the responsibility of the decision.
Inasmuch as the police oepaE eihe"l
must be conversant with cohoi'ionS'
~ gnaU be gao u hofO
with that department in order that no
..tablisnment, that in the Judgment
of properly constituted authority Is
menace 10 society. may be overlooked
Agalnsx Treating System-
Busch said that this letter written
- ne4ore the November election, at
,,hich six states were added to the
drv column, correctly defined the atti-
tude of his institution toward the en-
sorcement of the excise laws.
TT Is my belief that the ultimate
outcome of the prohibition sentiment
in this country will be the establish
-a4 ~ fine German saloon system.
Bpsch continued. In Germany saloons
sell only beer. light wines and tenn
rarapce drinks. There are no bars and
No treating Many of the eVlls OF
drink are attributable to the treating
hahtt- A man goes into saloon 70 get
, glass of beer. He meets a 1rieno'
A. a rroup Of friends. and sometimes