The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-11-21
BREWERS ACCUSED
OF BOYCOTT SYSTEM
Senate Investigating Commit
tee Hears Evidence Of
Methods.
KEPT LIST OF "FRIENDS"
Fox Says Firms Were Named
Only So Others Would
Get Preference.
KEPT LIST OF "FRIENDS"

and their alleged efAorts to boycott firms
and individuals antagonistic to the
tlquor business was adduced to-day be-
fore the Senate committee investigating
the Washington Times by Arthur Bris-
bane.
Major Z. Lowry Humes, who is con-
Quoting the inquiry for the committee,
elso undertook to show from documents
produced by officers of the United States
Brewers Association q connection be-
tween that organization and the German
American Alliance. The charter Of the
alliance was revoked recently by Con-
ress after a. Senate COMMITTEES had in
81 yestlgsted It's activities.
Major Humes put into the record lists
Of candidates for public ONCE which he
said were to be supported by the
brewers association and the alliance.
and also a statement which he asserted
was prepared for c. J. Hexamer. Phila-
dslphia, former president OF the alliance,
at the.office of the brewers association.
The statement, Major Humes declared,
was German propaganda.
Only two witnesses. Hugh r. Fox,
New York. secretary of the brewers ma
tional organisation. and John Gardiner
Philadelphia, former chairman OF the
organization committee, were examined
to-day.
Names s'Unfriendly'' Firms.
Fox was questioned at length regard
ing the war waged by brewers on an
tsgonistic fnms and individuals Some
Of the firms named were the John Wanna
maker Company. the Cadillac, Packard,
National and REQ automobile companies !:
the II. J. Heinz Company. Goodrich Tire
Company. American Relling Mills. Mid
dleton. Ohio: Fox Typewriter Company,
Maryland and Baltimore Casualty Com
pany. Proctor & Gamble Company,
Grasselli Chemical Company. Cleveland.
Ohio; some subsidiaries OF the Standard
OF Company, United States Steel Corpora
tion, s. s. Kresge Company, Red Raven
Water Company. American Sheet and
Tin Plate Company. Republic Rubber
Company and Lackawanna Railroad.
Fox denied that any OF the firms
named had been blackiisted, saying that
che associations purpose merely was 'to
give preference to those who were
friends" Later he told the COMMITTEES
that he would be willing to assume that
all the documents relating to the firms
which Major Humes put into the record
were taken from the fles Of the asso-
citation.
Major Humes told the committee that
the firms were listed by the Brewers
Association BECAUSE OF their attitude
against the use OF liquor by their en-
pioyees or because Of the activity of In
dlvidual members OF the firms and in
some instances Of employees against the
liquor business
Might Have Seen Lists.
The inquiry into political activity be-
gan when John Gardiner was called to
the stand. The witness said he might
have seen lists OF candidates at different
times from 1911 TO 1914. which the
Brewers Association Endorsed in some
States. including Iowa. Texas. Pennsyl-
vania. Indiana and one candidate for
Congress from Illinois, but he could not
recall the details
He admitted that the associations
organization committee was active in
wet" and dry" fights In several States
spent between 100000 and $500, 900!
doing all Il legitimately could to arouse
public sentiment in our favor"
Gardiner declared that the brewers
made no contribution to political cam
paisn committees and at first denied Il
had endorsed any set OF candidates.
Haven't you seen these lists Of can
didates to be supported by the Brewers
Association and the German-American
Alliance tnat were sent out eaCn year
asked Major Humes.
well. maybe have seen them" the
witness replied. but do not recall
them"
Pennsylvania Contributions.
Records of the Brewers Association
read by Major Humes showed In 1914
the Pennsylvania State Association col
lected s2s4,114 for political activity in
that State and that in the following year
ls6,164 was collected for the same pur-
pose. Gardiner said he did not think
the sums were as high as that. and ex-
planned that different State organizations
raised various amounts. each brewery
being assessed on Its output.
In the wet and dry" campaign in
Nebraska several years ago. he said.
the assessment was so cents for each
barrel Of beer brewed. THE fight was
lost" the witness added. In reply to
questions he said the Pennsylvania State
association adopted the policy OF de-
stroying check stubs and cancelled
checks each month after its bank &C
counts were balanced. No minutes OF
It's meetings were kept
Wasn't it because the activity Of the
Pennsylvania State association was en-
tirely political that you thought II best
Humes.
The witness denied this, saying that
labor disputes which he desired to keep
from the public led TO the adoption of
the policy.
II was while Secretary Fox was on
me stand that Major Humes read the
statement said to have been prepared
for the former president OF the German
American Alliance. Copies OF the state
ment, which was a declaration OF the
alliances position on the European war
before the United States became a bel
ligerent, were sent to C.. w. Feigenspar.
Newark, NJ j.. who aided in financing
the purchase OF the Washington Times
and the Montgomery (Ala.) Advertiser,
ana who then was chairman OF the pub
h'ations committee OF the association.
Condemned Factory Destruction.
Hexamer's statement condemned as
nabotage the destruction OF American
factories engaged IN producing war ma
tfrldls for the Allies. and also con-
demncd the sinking of ships carrying
munitions. Those responsible for such
should be punished. Hexamer said. but
no added that he did not believe they
were committed at the instlgation OF
Germany or Austria.
This indicates that some literary in
e'ined person in the ONCE OF the United
States Brewers Association was writing
German propaganda. doesn't it7' asked
Major Humes.
II do not recall anything about it,
Mr.. Fox replied.
"AIr. Feigenspan was then chairman
Or the publications committee at the
limo that this article was written and
ha MT