The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-11-20
BEER PROPAGANDA
INQUIRY BEGINS
financing Of Newark 'Ledger'
and Montgomery Advertiser
Probed by Senate.
BRISBANE CASE THE BASE
Feigenspan, New Jersey
Brewer, Says Editor Solic-
tied $4,000 Loan.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1s.-1Evidence de-
slsned TO prove that brewers assisted
william 4. Sheehan and Charles II.
Allen TO finance the purchase OF the
Montgomery, Ala, Advertiser was Of
tered to-day at the opening of the Sem
ate judiciary subcommittee investiga-
ton OF brewers activities, The inquiry
was ordered by the Senate after dis
closures had been made that brewery
interests had loaned Arthur Brisbane
$4,000 for the purchase of the wash
ington Times.
{. W. Feigenspan. with whom Bris-
bane dealt in securing his loan, identi-
ned as brewers men who had Endorsed
notes for $4,000, each on which a Phlla-
dephia bank loaned Allen and Sheehan
100000, alleged to-have been used in
purchasing the Advertiser.
Feigenspan said that Edward A
Shmidt. n Philadelphia brewer, handled
the 500. 900 underwriting for the Ad-
rsrtlscr. and that either the brewers
counsel in Washington or Mr.. Brisbane
had arranged the loan for the purchase
o. the Washington Times. His recollec-
ton was that Brisbane had solicited the
Joan.
$4,000 for Newark Ledger.
Feigenspan also testified that he had
arranged financial assistance for the
Newark On j. Ledger to the extent
Of $4,000, which represented loans ut
different times. The brewery organiza-
tons contributed no part OF this fund.
the witness said.
other activities OF the brewers also
we're inquired into by the committee.
Hugh F. Fox. secretary of the United
States Brewers Association. admitted
that brewers propaganda had been pub
itshed in the International Monthly.
edited by George sylvester Viereck. once
editor Of the FdtherldHd, a pro-German
publication.
Fox said that he did not know at the
time the matter was published that the
Nereck publication was inclined to pro-
Germansm but that he has had some
suspicion Of II since then"
Questioned further by Major L. Lowry
Fumes of the Army Judge Advocate
Generals Department and counsel for
the Senate committee, Fox said that II
was the business of the publication COM
mlttee OF the brewers association to ad-
Iertise the product of brewers and that
in doing so II employed writers to write
up certain subjects relating to the
brewers trade.
Writer'S named in this connection were
John koreu Of New York. who wrote
matter published in the Atlantic Monthly
and whose salary was believed by Fox
10 be $4,000 n year; Dr. Edward II.
Williams. author OF articles published
IN medical and other journals, and J. G.
Rice. -.-
When Secretary Fox was called to the
stand he produced or subpoena from the
committee a package OF letters. PAM
nhlets and other documents of the brew
ers' association. but had no bank checks
Or stubs. He said It had been a long
standing practice of the organization TO
destroy these.
Wade Use OF Union Labor.
The witness disclaimed any personal
knowledge Of activity by the association
IN political fields in behalf OF State or
national legislative candidates favorable
. legislation. permitting the use of
beer and light wines.
Fox stated that when the brewers
realized that something was brewing be-
sides beer" referring to the prohibition
movement, they endeavored to meet II by
Use OF beer and light wines.
Il was sought to reach leaders of public
thought and also the masses of the
1t opie. In both efforts, the witness said, !
mistakes had been made and, finally. the |
D Jpular propaganda was abandoned and !
attention centralized on the leaders of |
opinion.
Major Humes read 10 the committee |
letters from the files OF the brewers or |
ranization in an effort 10 show that the !
'rewers organization employed only /
union labor, and that its officers be- |
loved that by working through the |
American Federation OF Labor and other |
ahor organizations. 1t could exercise po-
teal influence.
Other correspondence was produced |
b. Major Humes for the purpose OF
'howing that the brewers started boy |
'ott against other businesses or mer-
'Aants opposing the manufacture Of beer |
The inquiry will be continued to-mor-
'OV