Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1917-02-14
LIQUOR Press on the Dry Vic.
tories.

Despite the assertion of the Ma
tional Wholesale Liquor Dealers
Association that the per capita con-
sumption of alcoholic beverages in
the United States is increasing with
the spread of State wide prohibition,
an examination of the liquor jour
nails fails to reveal any inclination
on the part of the trade to welcome
the prohibitionists as allies. On
the contrary, we find Midas Crit
erion (Chicago,) the chief organ of
the distilers, calling upon the gen
tlemen of the liquor trade' to get
together and fight as one" if they
do not wish to see their business
perish in the great American de-
sert of prohibition" And this cry
for organization to avert impending
disaster is echoed IN such other rep
resentative organs as Bonfort's
Wine and Spirit Circular (New
York;, The North American Wine
and Spirit Journal (Boseon), Prog
ress (Alilwaukee), The Western
Brewer (Chicaso), and the Brewers
Journal (New York;. The Anti
Saloon League, remarks The Yves,
tern Brewer, Is an extremely eff,
ciert organization that works all the
time," ard to combat it success
fully we must be equally well or
better organized" 1t the trade is
to escape calamity, says The Brew
ers' Journal, it must throw itself
zealously into campaign of edu-
cation, enlightenment, and organiza-
tion.' Is it not time for the trade
in all it's branches to form board
of strategy and form policy of
unity of action?" asks Bonfort's
Wine and Spirit Circular, which
adds: I'VE must not lose any more
ground or we shall be dangerously
near national prohibition, and that
means the destruction of our vast
industry in ali its branches. So
the testimony continues It's a
case of brass tacks with the liquor
interests" says the Milwaukee Pro-
gress, which warns its readers that
the prohibitionists and the Anti
Saloon League are working night
and day to bring Wisconsin into
the dry mud and mire," and it be-
lieves the only way to keep Wiscon-
! sin wet is for every retail liquor
dealer to join the association of sa-
loon men, and for every brewer AMI
every wholesaler to join his respec-
tive organization, The States
which have been kept out of the
clutches of the Anti-salooners are
the homes of solid organizations"
notes The North American Wine
and Spirit Journal, which declares
that "lethargy and lack of organi-
zation are sure to result in defeat.
And while these organs Of tie
trade sound the slogan of organiza-
ton, the United States Brewers
Association, at its annual conven-
tioD in Cleveland, indorses a pro-
pram of reform which aims to back
fire the prohibition movement by a
thorough house cleaning. This pro-
gram includes the abolition of treat
ing, removal of saloon screens,
closer supervision of licenses, aban.
donment of Objectionable newspa-
per advertising, elimination of OBJ
jectionable saloons, and the divorce
of the liquor business from immoral
resorts. Col. Gustav Pabst, presi-
ident of the association, advocates a
reduction in the number of saloons,
and August A. Busch, president of
the Anheuser- Busch Brewing Com
pany, of St. Louis, submits the fol-
lowing program for checking the
spread of prohibition sentiment:
Il. A strict enforcement by State
authorities of all excise laws.
p. The establishment through
out the country of the German sa-
loon system, which permits only
beers, light wines and temperance
drinks to be sold in dramshops.
"3. 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 sa-
Icons, to discouraging drinking to
excess.
"5. Discontinuance of bars in sa
looms, all service to be given at ia
= 4 IL hn