The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-01-23
Those Who Provide Raw
Materials or Supplies Made
to Aid Campaign.
THEIR BILLS CUT BY A
TAX ASSESSMENT
ALI Who Benefit by Trade
Asked to Contribute to
Educational Fund"

The spectre of national prohibition
lowering closer each year over the
United States has spurred the big
brewers 10 undertake a new campaign of
education, the details of which came
TO light yesterday. This time the bills
will be footed not by the brewers them
selves but by the firms with whom
they deal. Back of the movement is
the United States Brewers Association,
which has its headquarters at so Union
Square.
Already the plan has been tried on
small scale In the West, and 1t worked
so admirably that It was formally
adopted by the national association. and
will be put in operation throughout the
United States. 1t is now in operation
In New York, also in Jersey City.
The brewers are holding back a small
percentage on each bill they pay. affix-
ing stamps to cover the amount with
held. The stamps are issued i'm diff
isrent denominations by the National
Association of Commerce and Labor Of
Chicago, and the money raised in this
used for educational purposes, such as
engaging speakers and issuing and dis
tributing literature showing the menace
Of nationwide prohibition that really
prohibits.
Purp0se Of the System.
The purpose Of this novel system. ac-
cesding to Hugh F. Fox. secretary Of
The United states Brewers Association.
y threefold. The raising of money and
the great campaign against prohibition
are but secondary purposes. The under
lying principle Of the whole scheme is
70 make missionaries in the cause
against prohibition of the firms allied
with tho brewers. the firms that sell
hops to the brewers, or malt or bottles.
Although the brewer pays stamp
TAX 10 the Government for the privilege
Of selling the goods he manufactures.
Mr.. Fox pointed out. the man who
sells malt to the brewer. whose entire
business depends upon the brewer, has
heretofore paid no part OF this tax. 1t
is mainly to make such allied firms feel
the force of this tax and to enlist them
IN the cause against prohibition as allies
Of the brewers that the campaign is
conducted in this way.
VIII Reach other Firms.
Az first only the industries closely
'llied with the brewing industry are TO
1e taxed but gradually the system will
no extended 10 include all of the firms
with whom the brewers deal. The tax
ate is based on n sliding scale carefully
vorked out. In each case the percentage
win be very small. The rate on hops,
ior instance, is fixed at five cents a
rale, Hops are selling now at about
$50 bale The rate for malt is Is OF
cent a bushel In some cases the
rate is as high as per cent
Here Is a case in point. supply
house sold recently to one of the large
New York breweries $leS worth OF
truck parts. When the check came from
the brewery in payment 1t was made
but for sl06.92 and there was enclosed
IN the envelope S1.0S worth of the
stamps. The brewers recognize that they
have no power to force any firm 10 ac'
rept a cut in the amount of bill as
rendered, but go far they have found
that the firms with whom they deal were
glad to cooperate.
fuTpohe III tuc ~ uhus
I'VE are afliXing to your invoic
stamps OF the National Association o
Commerce and Labor and making de
ductlon from your bill. We are takinl
this action upon the assumption tha
your own business interests mako yo
Wholly or partly concerned in the wei
fare Of such of your customers as woul
be affected by national prohibition. w
further haii hat q
aid In protecting our property and In
oustry from confiscation and destruc
uon without compensation.
The amount of this deduction
small, and will be remitted by us t
the above named association when ad
susting our stamps account with Il
while this contribution aids US ind
reetly, It also directly serves to insur
ihe continuance OF your own busines
ether in full or in part. All funds s
received are expended by this associa
uon in an educational campaign In tn
various States against sumptuary an
compulsory prohlDitory laws. We as
sumo that our action will have you
approval; IL we are mistaken advise u
at once and we will remit to you tn
amount of the deduction
The National Association of Commerc
ana Labor, the sole function OF which 1
10 sell the stamps to the brewers an
spend the money for the campaign c
education. was organized three year
ago The firms that supply articles tina
the brewer uses have three representa-
ives on the finance committee. and III
United States Brewers Association as
has three representatives. BY this mean
both sides have voice in the manne
IN wh.ch the money shall be spent.