The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-10-04
ALLEN BREWERS GET
TRADE INTO TROUBLE
Close Connection With Crooked
Politics In Keystone State Re-
vealed Through War.
JARED PROVIDENTIAL
Activity of Custodian Mitchell In I'm
earthing Enemy Propaganda Conn
nended by Vigorous New York
Writer

| New York, Oct. 3.--In the second
! part Of his statement relating AFFAIRS
which preceded Alien Property Gus
| todian Palmer's revelations OF the
Washington Times situation, reve-
lation which led to a senate resolu-
ton demanding an investigation OF
that situation and of the suppressed
papers in the Pittsburgh case against
the brewers, Rollin 0. Eyerhart. of the
State Anti-Hiquor Saloon league, says:
III seems nothing short of provf-
dence that the moving forces of re-
| form in the democratic party in Penn
sylvania and the European war should
have met in the person of A. Mitchell
! Palmer He and United States Dis
trict Attorney Humes, who handled
1.-The Pittsburgh case against the brew
| ers, are OF the dem ocratic party. and
they both have long resented the ex-
tent to which both party organizations
in Pennsylvania were under the brew
ers' influence. In due time the matter
/ in Mr.. Hume s possession may some
| how enthrone the reform element"
Mr. Everhart points out that Mr..
! Palmer seized many breweries because
Of their enemy alien ownership. The
relation of the brewers TO the German
American Alliance he says, was hinted
at in an address by Mr. Humes to the
! United States court in Pittsburg. But
the senatorial investigation of the
alliance. although resulting in the
revocation of its charter. left the Pitts
burg evidence III the background. ap-
I parently with no hope that II would be
drawn out into the light.
/ Then" says Mr. Everhart. came
the inability OF the coal operators To
make good the required winters coal
supply. In June the operators of the
fcountry submitted confidential doc
ument to the president outlining the
terms of an agreement tn assume the
responsibility for a sufficient supply or
coal TO provide for the winters de-
mands, but laying down in their terms
prohibition Of the liquor traffic every
whore. Enter nemesis.
After "a month The soft coal oper-
afors appealed 10 congress for the
| passage of war prohibition as essen
tiaI 10 the production OF the needed
coal. This action stirred congress to
act for wartime prohibition. Post
master Burleson and Robert Crane
sought IN interfere in the pending is
sue in the senate agricultural com
rnittee. but the interference served To
force the publication Of facts Public
pressure mounted higher. the shortage
! Of steel due 10 the shortage Of coal 10
srelt with resulted in the failure To
! ss4a.e:- faF%h4Tar.s order far steai II II
which wa straced to the failure of the
move to pass wartime prohibition. A
grain crisis and transportation crisis
lloomed ahead. Then things began to
Happen. Samuel Gompers, who has
~
gone across the ocean to bear the mes
sage OF the American labor party to
| the British labor party The bill pro-
I xiding fer the closing Of all hreNeries
on Dec was passed AT once the
| brewers howl arose. and the liquor
iclans agitated in high conclave at At
lantic Csty, They limited at labor
troubles 10 come IL this measure were
ito he put into effect
/ The smash came with the expose
I no smash yarass with the. exyssesa
4 by Mr., Palmer. which was tirned per-
! fert1y 50 fit in with the events Of the
hour 1t was disclosed that fifteen
brewers had advanced Arthur Bris-
bane $4,000 10 buy the Washington
/ Times, and thus inaugurate the beer
gospel under the shadow OF the CAPT
tot Most important of ali was the
senate resolution which advises inves-
1 iigatian by the judiciary committee Of
/ that body. or by a subcommittee of
lthe charges affecting brewery inter-
ests This resolution orders the in
Irestigauon not only Of the ownership
NJ the Washington Times, but also sets
/ forth that there Is evidence In the
/ hands OF the department of Justice
THAT the brewers have made contribu-
ltIons to campaign funds in violation Of
the laws on "A scale without precedent
in this country
Mr.. Palmer and the United States
district attorney were called upon to
supply what documents they had In
support of tho charges. To influence
public opinion the brewery interests
have subsidized newspapers. stipulat-
ling in the advanced contracts Just
what amount of space was TO be de-
voted to them the literary matter for
ispace being provided from the brew
ers' central office in New York
TT is further alleged that the brew
ers were allied to certain suhor ga MIA
Itions. including the German American
Alliance, the National Association Of
Commerce and Labor and the Manu-
facturers and Dealers association. and
that the brewery interests have rami-
hcations in these organizations proof
of which is said to be on file In docu.
rnents In the possession OF the govern
rraant "