The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-10-08
'Bl|MkS HIS EYE,
CAFES INTO SPACE
Chicago Brewer Makes Eloquently
Silent Comment on order Stop
ping His Trade.
THEN HE LOOSENS UP.
Sees in Russia Fine Example OF
Effects OF Prohibition, But He's
Bit Foggy About Important Details.

The following from the Chicago
Daily News Of September is an ac-
count Of how the Chicago. hreweries
received the sad word that the manu-
facture of beer had been prohibited,
effective December /:
The brewery official biinked his eyes
and looked apnealingly off into space,
Nation-wfde prohibition was step
nearer. as the result OF adoption by
the senate last night Of the ener-
gency agricultural appropriation bill
with Its dry Legislative rider and an
announcement by the food admins
tration that President Wilson would
exercise his wartime authority TO pro-
hfbit the manufacture OF beer after
December !, 1919.
You know what happened to Rus
STA ?" inquired the brewery official mo-
roseiy- Just look at Russia. a pretty
fine mess. eh7 Nice government.
Well''--and the b. o, grew just a trifie
bitter--''well. beer. wine and liquor
were prohibited IN Russia. Yes. sir,
the whole country was placed under
complete prohibition. England and
France make and sell beers and
wines Even Germany knows better
than to prohibit beer. But Russia.
Well the Russians were always sort
OF cracked. There's TO way getting
around it. And see what followed the
abolishing of all drink in that ridicu-
lous country. Chaos
The brewery official nodded solemn
ly and went on.
If the manufacture of beer IS pro-
hibited by December that will mean
that the country will be without a
80 hnA Fgh W "a "
l." The b. o. paused and shuddered.
Also, If liquor is forbidden sale be-
ginning in July that will, mean that
there won't be a drop TO drink, except
water and pop. obtainabIe in this
country after July. Well. look at
Russia If you want an idea of what
complete prohibition means"
But as the official talked there was
no night" in his remarks 30 promise
of argumentative combat with the
prohibition edict. Inquiry among
number of similar officials revealed
merely that a state of NONRESIDENT
sorrow had overcome the industry.
Here and there It WAS pointed out
that tho corn crop was a bumper one
and that there was enough to go
around for all purposes. The brewery
interests pointed out, further. that
barley was their chief grain and that
it was no great shucks as a food
product
Would the price OF beer so up be-
fore December? How much money
was affected by the prohibition edtct?
How many people would lose employ
mentr Would the beer and liquor In
terests fight7 These and similar ques-
tons only served TO deepen the gloom
in the neishborhood. Perhaps the
price OF beer would 60 up--'twould
serve everybody right
AS for the money the city Of Chi
cago alone would al a direct loss
Of So 0o0 GOO from saloon licenses and
a loss OF $4,000 GOA from additional
taxes In Chicago alone the beer and
iiauor Industries did about $50, ooo goo
in business a year. Seven thouSa no
retailers would have TO go out Of bust
ness. $4,000 hartenders would hit the
skids. 5000 walters would be bounced
out Of their jobs. 1000 musicians
would pass away. $500 brewery work
crs would ind themselves unempioy-
ed. 5000 porters would be thrown out
ef work and i ace rsen in allied Indus
tries would he minus emp3cN1n ent.
THIS in Chicago alone. bear in mind
AS for any possible ''hght' against
the presidents decision by The ma
tionai brewery interests representing
millions upon millions of invested
dollars. this was improbable, The
president had spoken. He should
know what he was speaking about.
II the situation demanded IT, there
was nothing 10 do but take your
medicine. For even il was only a
duration -of-the- war measure. the
blow was a knockout, For further
details, just take a good look al the
history of Russia since vodka and
allied drinks were abolished. they say
--RuN Liherix Honda