Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-07-07

Continued on Page Two. Column Two
meeting of the Bartenders' Union, Local
No. 115. held in the headquarters at
926 North Broad street The strike of
the bartenders is planned to make this
city as 'dry" as possible and crystal
lie resentment against wartime prohi-
bition.
J. j. McElroy, president of the bar
tenders union. said today that 1000 Of
the 2T00 members of the union had
already quit work. and that the other
100 men would be out by 10 80 o'clock
tomorrow morning. The union will
impose fine of 500 on every member
who works after that hour.
The bartenders are striking be-
cause they want to comply with the
law the union leader said. 1--WE
consider it Il violation to sell even 2&
per cent beer. The men will not re-
turn until President Wilson announces
that rehabilitation has been completed,
because at that time the wartime
prohibition law will end
Bar Owners Ask Aid
So many members of the union quit
work today that several of the saloon
keepers appealed to the Retail Liquor
Dealers Association for assistance. No
help was given, in view of the fact
that all saloons have been ordered to
close by the dealers organization
A meeting of the officials of the as
sociation was held this afternoon. 1t
was said then that the sentiment of
Philadelphians shows that the great
majority of the people are in favor of
reopening the saloons.
The striking bartenders claim they
have the support of all other trade
unions in the city. A general meeting
will be held at the Central Labor
Union headquarters, 232 North Ninth
street, Wednesday night, when it is
expected the assistance of all the trade
unions here will be given to the strike.
In discussing the operation of
speakeasies' here, Mr.. Gibboney said ::
1T is not surprise to me. This
condition always follows in cities and
states where prohibition has been en-
forced. 1t is very difficult to locate
the violators of the law in Philadelphia,
because the people generally are op-
posed to prohibition on account of the
unfairness of the act. The public sym
pathy has been aroused, and there is
little tendency on the part of the public
to inform on speak easies.
1T is an unjust law-the most un-
just legislation that has ever been put
across. If learned counsel and high
class judges do not know what the law
Is, how can one expect a saIoonkeeper
to know?
THE Law and Order Society will
investigate any alleged speak easies
called to our notice.
Try Test Case Friday
Argument of the test case of the
dry" law against the Bergner &
Engel Brewing Company will be heard
on Friday before Judge Dickinson, in
the United States District Court in the
Federal Building. No date has been
set for the hearing of the test case
forced by Neil Bonner, president of the
Philadelphia Retail Liquor Dealers
Association. Mr.. Bonner, by special
arrangement, sold a glass of pa per
cent beer to a Department of Justice
agent and was arrested.
On information received, the fed =
+ efh1 dutnOTltleS Drought prosecution
against the brewers, alleging that they
were using grain and cereal in the
manufacture of pa per cent beer in
violation of the food conservation laws
specially enacted to conserve food dur
Ing the period of war. 1t is held by the
government that beverages containing
more than one-half of per cent
alcohol are brewed in violation of this
law. The brewers contend that beer
containing only 2& per cent alcohol is
Misunderstanding and is not in violation
cf the provisions of the act of Con
gress.
Results of an analysis of beer brewed
BIZ the Bergner & Engle Company
prior to May l were made known today
BY the federal agents. Three samples of
the beer were examined by govern.
ment chemist in Washington. and were
found to contain only ~ per cent alco
hol. The analysis was made by weight
rather than by volume. II was pointed
ont that, had the analysis been made by
volume, the percentage of alcohol con
tanned in the beer would have been
one half per cent higher.