New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-22
Nearly 100000
Here Vote for
Beer Strike
Every Union That Has Taken
Referendum Unanimous,
est Bohm Reports
To Ask Wilson's Aid
Union Leaders Will Call OH
President and Seek His
Help in Fighting Drys

Nearly 10000. union men of this
city have voted IN favor of striking
July 1 and to remain out in protest
until the prohibition law is annulled,
Ernest Bohm, secretary of the Central
Federated Union, announced last night
at meeting of that body at Labor
Temple in East Eightyfourth Street.
In every organization where the vote
had been taken, he said, it was viz
tually unanimous in favor of the pro-
test strike.
BY the end of the week. he contin-
ucd, 100000 men will have voted on
the question All of the unions whose
votes were reported last night are
affiliated with the Central Federated
Union. Their representatives had eX-
pressed their approval of such strike,
but decided that the final decision
must be left to a referendum of the
men.
Those who have spoken their will,
almost with one voice, include 10000
ironworkers, 10000 iron shipbuilders.
$1,000 longshoremen, $4,000 members OF
the brotherhood of Firemen, $4,000
members of Engineers Local 20 and
5000 PAYERS and rammermen.
Letter Carriers Sympathize
Some of the unions, Mr.. Bohm ex-
planned, hold meetings only once a
month, and it would be impossible to
learn their will in the matter until next
week He read letter from the New
York Letter Carriers Association, in
which that organization declared itself
as cordially in favor of a strike against
prohibition, though it explained that
it's members were barred by law from
joining in the strike. Local of the
Hatters' Union of North America report
ed that it was in favor of quitting work
July until the law was repealed.
The reports made by Mr.. Bohm
brought forth new protests against
prohibition from the delegates. John
Sullivan, of the brewery workers, ad-
vocated direct petitions by the work.
men to the President and to members
of Congress. 1t was the duty of labor,
he declared, to oppose any object
sought by the Anti-Saloon League,
which had forced prohibition on the
country as q wartime measure and had
obtained it's end by "force, fraud and
deceit"
Fortunes for Coffee Ring"
William Bowes, of the boxmakers'
union, said that 100000 boxmakers
would be thrown out of employment
when prohibition took effect. He de-
clared also that the "cotfee ring" was
making fortunes out of prohibition, and
that the price of coffee might be ex-
pccted to rise indefinitely while other
beverages were under the ban.
Daniel Jacobs quoted from "The
Stars and Stripes" the newspaper of
the cxpeditionary forces, to show that
American soldiers in France thought
"Uncle Sam was putting something
over on them in adopting prohibition
during their absence.
Definite steps to keep the beer sup
ply adequate are being considered by
the Association Opposing National
Prohibition, labor unions of brewery
workers, saloonkeepers and hotel
owners.
The most concrete development of
the day was the proposal of national
labor leaders that they call upon Pres
dent Wilson Immediately after his
return to the United States and ask
him to prevent the prohibition of light
wines and beer. BY so doing, the
labor leaders said, the President can
prevent the threatened nation wide
! beer strike.
Every national labor union presi-
dent has been called upon to become
member of the delegation that will
call upon President Wilson.
John Sullivan, district representa-
tive of the international Union Of
Brewery, Flour, Cereal and Soft Drink
Workers, said the call had been sent
out to these officials, but without
date for the conference being named.
This viii be agreed upon within few
days, he said
NEWARK, N. j., Feb. Supple
menting his statement of yesterday
that the beer supply Of the nation
would be exhausted by May |, Chris
tian w. Fcigenspan, president of the
United States Brewers Association.
declared to-day breweries in New York,
New Jersey, Massachusetts and Con-
nccticut that in normal times sell L.
25o,00 barrels Of beer yearly have
closed down because their stock is ex-
haustcd
with some Of the biggest breweries
in the country shut down it means
that the stock Of other plants will 20
in 40 time" said Mr. Foigenspan to-
day. "I am certain that the East will
be beerless April Is, unless the Presi-
Dental bar on brewing is lifted. The
brewers may then manufacture until
May /, when they viii have to dscon-
tnuc under the wartime prohibition