New-York tribune., 1919-01-17
Unions Predict
10000 Will
Lose Jobs Here
Labor Leaders at ALBANY.
Convention Plan Fight
on Prohibition Measure
Beer Nearly All Consumed
Only Four Weeks Supply ON
Hand in New York, SAYS
Head of Brewers Union
STAFF Correspondence

STAFF Correspondence
ALBANY, Jan. 16. - Thousands -
men will be put on the scrap hesnp
as a result OF the ratification of n.
nation wide bone dry Federal amend.
ment, according to the New York CITY
labor leaders, who are here to-dav AZ,
tending reconstruction conference NJ
the New York State Federation of Ia
Dor. Some placed the number Of wor,
ers, directly or indirectly affected
throughout the state as high as l70,
600. This figure includes no, oniv
brewery workers. but bartenders. cigar
makers, cafe cooks and walters. plum
bers. machinists and teamsters.
Organized labor is opposed to the
prohibition amendment III any form"
Said James P. Holland, president of the
Federation. 81 believe that if prohibj.
ton is to be forced down the throats
of the people it should have been dons uss
by vote of the people and not by the
legislature. l know that in New York
City the brewers will be forced to nut
out on the sidewalks men who have
worked for them for years and who
cannot work at any other trade They
won't be able to get jobs as the COM
monest laboters. We believe that light
wines and beers should be permitted
and that the taking of them away will
have a bad effect upon the country.
This is shown by the fact that with
the growing wave of prohibition dur
ing the last year, over a million dol
lars more was spent for drugs in this
country. Our young men might better
drink beer or light wines than snir
cocaine"
President Holland told conference
CT repres esentatives of brewery workers
and kindred trades that as long as he
was president of the State Federation
he would do everything in his power
10 prevent thousands of their number
from being sent to the 'Escrap heap"
John Prehtl, president of New York
City Brewers Union, No. /, said labor
would support the brewers in making
every possible attempt to block pro.
hibition.
"If the war measure stopping the
making of beer last December is not
reconsidered," he added, "prohibition
on beer will go into effect in New
York City IN four weeks. The present
beer supply won't last any longer than
that. This will throw out of employ
ment in New York City alone $4,000
brewery workers and thousands more
of workers in allied trades. We have
already petitioned the authorities at
Washington 10 rescind the order and
are waiting fer reply"
John C. Hillsdorf, president of the
joint labor committee of the Cigar
makers Union, of New York City, said
prohibition will make for the un-
employment of thousands of cigar
makers.
"The biggest cigar making firms in
New York" he said, ARE made up of
saloon owners and brewers, who make
cigars tor the saloon trade With the
saloons out of business they viii have
to discontinue these factories"
Joseph A. Mullaney, of New York,
vice president Of the State Federation
estimated that at least 10000 workers
in the state would be directly affected
by prohibition.
f. J. Deering, business agent of
District Is. international Association
of Machinists, said that only the peo-
pie should have the right to say
whether they shall drink or not.