New-York tribune., 1918-12-01

ACQUIRES Free Press in
Milwaukee 10 Consolidate
With Others There
e. --A------------- -
4
Also. Has Interest
In Socialist Organ
Editor Invested in Lead
er, Nominally Under
Control of Berger
SDeciaI to The Tribune

DPtCUtt 10 4 Wt 4 IfVNlt
MILWAUKEE, Nov. 3 0 Arthur
brisbane, William Randolph Hearst's
brightest star, whose purchase Of the
"Washington Times" with the. aid of
a S407 500. fund raised by brewers, is
to be investigated by the Senate Com
,nittee that will resume hearing Tues
day on the relations between the
brewers, Brisbane and the pro- German
propagandaists, announced to-day that
he had added tnother paper to his
strine-the morning "Milwaukee Free
Press"
Early in October, Mr.. Brisbane an
nounced that he had bought and con-
solidated the Evening Wisconsin" and
the evening "Daily News 1t is stated
$ shat the "Free Press will be dis
continued, and the Brisbane publica
iions issued as single evening paper
called the "Wisconsin News"
In addition, both Brisbane and the
"Alfred Brisbane Fund.-" which he con-
trolls, have considerable interests in
the milwaukee Leader" the local So
cialist organ, nominally under the con-
troll of Victor l. Berger, now under
indictment for alleged disloyalty, and
recently elected to Congress- These
four papers have more than half the
total English circulation of Milwaukee
in the evening field, and nearly half
the total, including the morning
papers.
Brewer Backer of Paper
Milwaukee brewers contributed S1l5.-
600 of the 'W Washington Times" fund,
and Joseph Uihlein, general manager
Of the great Schlitz brewery, who put
UP $4,000 of that money has been
considered ono of the powers behind
the Free Press"
The announcement of the purchase
Of the Gree Press" was not unexpect-
ed. Conferences which proceeded the
sale Of the other two papers took place
in. the Gree Press office, and Thco
banes attorney, was vice president OF
the Free Press" publishing company:
In fact, rumors that string of
papers which would speak for both
Irewing interests and in behalf of
Germany would be established, have
been current for more than a year,
and Milwaukee has expected to have
one of them.
The Free Press previous to our
entrance into the war. was frankly pro-
German, and even after that date its
editorials were such as to bring about
an investigation by the post office au-
thorites, and pledges of good behavior
from its editors 1t opposed the draft,
attacked Americas Allies, cast slurs
upon the aims and policies of this coun
try and supported the German peace
drives.
Brewers Among Stockholders
Its control has for some time been
vested in a rather large number of
stockholders, among whom Teutonic
names predominate. There also have
been several representatives of the
brewing interests among them. Here
is the list:
Theodore Kronschage vice president.
Has been attorney for both PAbst and
Schlitz interests. Was connected with
the deal by which Richard Wagner
trie dto involve this country in trouble
With Britain by violation of the block
ade
Ernst Kronshage, his brother. Editor
With practically full power over all pub
lication~
of A. o. Trostel, d business associate
=
the Schlitz company, who put $4,000
into THE Washington Times" fund for
Brisbane.
Stockholders alter zinn, secretary
and treasurer Of the Milwaukee West
ern Malt Company; Charles Manegold, |
president of the Milwaukee, W Waukesha
brewing Company; AGolph Meyer, pros
ident of the Cream City Brewing Com |
pany; August Grau. president Of the !
National Distling Company; Herman I
Fehr. secretary Of the Milwaukee Brew
cry Company; Rudolph Whitman, sec
Yetary and treasurer Of the Cream City |
Brewing Company; Adolph O. Trostel,
business associate Of Uhlein; Max Hot
teiet, active in the German-American |
Alliance; Alvin P. Kletzsch, active in /
German-American affairs and president !
OF the German hungarian Bazaar,
which raised $l96.28S.S3 for 'war re-
lief
William }. Flynn, formerly chief
OF The United States Secret Service,
charged that this money was turned /
over to formed Ambassador Belnstorf,
and that practically none of it was
sent nhrOan