Omaha daily bee., 1916-11-28
Hon. to Counteract Prohibition


|. strict enforcement by state authorizes
OF all excise laws.
Of the German saloon system, which permits only
beers. light wines and temperance drinks TO be
sold in dramshops.
g. Cooperation by brewers with the state
authorities to put out OF business every saloon
keeper who does not obey the excise laws.
4. Abolition OF treating in saloons, 10 ois-
courage drinking to excess.
S. Dscontinuance OF bars in saloons, all serv.
ice to be given at tables at which customers VIII
be seated.
This is the comprehensive plan outlined by
August A. Busch, president OF the Anheuser-
Busch Brewing association, IN an interview IN
the St. Louis Post-Dspatch.
ITO what do you attribute the growth OF the
prohibition sentiment" was asked.
ITO the violation of the law by saloons" he
answered, "Unauestionaby the prohibition sentl-
ment 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 who does
not enforce the law strictly-does more harm 10
the brewing interests than one who rigldy en-
forces the law We want the law enforced. Some
time ago | wrote a letter to Excise Commissioner
Rumsey to that effect"
Mr.. Busch turned to his files and withdrew
copy of the letter, dated March g. 1916 in which
he said with reference to the agitation at that time
for enforcement OF the excise laws:
"There are two sides to this question and
our own observation prompts us to say that you
should be sustained in any effort to correct con-
dtions. We make no question that the respon-
sibility for the correction rests, in large part
with this business itself. The law alone cannot
do it. An an official you are put to the proof,
and you must often be hampered by technicali-
ties. On the other hand, we cannot do it without
your guidance. We are persuaded, however, BY
cooperation, a better result can be obtained
Every disreputable saloon should be closed
Whenever your authority is insufficient to dis
continue such saloon we are prepared to act
upon your judgment. If you will say to US that
a saloon which is our customer should, in the
interest OF public peace or welfare, be closed we
will withdraw whatever support it may derive
from US. We do not ask you to take any re-
sponsibiity beyond suggesting what should be
done. We will take the responsibility of the
decision Inasmuch as the police department
must be conversant with conditions, we shall be
glad to have you confer with that department
in order that no establishment, that in the judg-
ment of properly constituted authority, is
menace to society," may be overlooked"
1T is my belief that the ultimate outcome Of
the prohibition sentiment in this country will be
the establishment of the German saloon sys-
tem," Mr. Busch continued. I'm Germany sa-
looms sell only beer, light wines and temperance
drinks. There are no bars and no treating. Many
Of the evils Of drink are attributable to the treat
ing habit. A man goes into saloon to get
glass of beer. He meets friend, or group OF
friends, and sometimes twenty or thirty drinks
are consumed. The treating system ought to be
prohibited.
Il am spending $l2s0OO to build Deutsche
wirtschaft at Gravois and Morganford roads to
demonstrate that an institution at which only
beer, light wines and temperance drinks are
served can be made a success. ! am going to
call this the Bevo Mill 1t is to be constructed
Of principally of vari-colored stone, most Of
which, with my own hands, gathered from my
place. the Grant Farm. There will be no bar in
this establishment, All drinks will be served at
tables. | want to make this institution an object
lesson Of an orderly conducted place, where every
law will be observed" W
Asked II he was manufacturing the temperance
drink in anticipation Of prohibition in Missouri,
he said
mo. conceived the idea that the people
wanted beverage containing less alcohol than
beer contains. There is 4 per cent of alcohol in
beer and less than one-fourth of per cent in
Bevo. think the real remedy for the drink
question is education. By education all the evils
of drinking will be gradually eliminated. If |
forbade my children from drinking, they prob
ably would develop a strong desire for it and get
it anyway.
|
smoking. Every time he met me he would smell
my breath to see whether had been smoking.
The result was that | used to take his cigars
and hide myself away and smoke until was
satisfied Now my family can have anything in
the world it wants in the drink line, and do not
think there is family in America where there
is less drinking
DO you think that there will come time
when the people will tire of prohibition and per-
nit the sale of beverages for consumption in
the home, but not in the saloon?"
Il do not expect such conditions" he said
"As ! said before, | think the saloon, with the
bar eliminated and the sale of stronger drinks
prohibited, will not be Objectionable. | think
that is the solution of the question do not
think the mddle-mans club should be taken
away from him. There ought to be place where
people can meet exchange views and be served
with light beverages People would not care
to transfer this sort of pleasure to their homes
There ought to be an institution peculiarly for
such purposes
"And then, in conclusion, if had before me
convention of the brewers of the United States
| should say to them that if they wanted to
render the greatest possible service to their own
interests they would insist upon the strict en-
forcement of the dramshop laws and cooperate
with the proper authorities in closing every
saloon that has not been conducted strictly ac-
eording to these laws"