New-York tribune., 1922-11-12
Cheaper Beer, Longer Drinking Hours,
Among Big Issues i'm British Elections
Liberal Party Backed by
''Cocoa Press Said
TO Indorse Fight
Waged by Drys

liquor element in the party. The Astor
influence, for example, of weight In the
party counseIs, with it's liberal backing
OF the party funds and welding a big
press power in "The Sunday Observer
now to be strengthened by Major
John Jacob Astor's part holding In the
new proprietorship Of "The Times:---
swings in the direction Of prohibition
II there may be, rs Lord Beaverbrock
believes, votes to be won with the
slogan of cheaper beer,' thare surely
is also influential backing to be lost.
But there is another end more power.
full reason why that slogan should not
nc raised by the Conservative party
Lord Beayerbrock Is right in saying
that the increase in the price Of beer
goes into the pockets Of the brewers
and on this point, curiously enough, he
is supported by the Laborites--it is ut
least equally true that the influence of
the liquor interest in the Conservative
party does not end with the extinction
VI Or aTEUlDafO SAIV5uRc.
The Laborites have "a good deal OF
evidence on their side In identifying
"tho trade" with reaction in politics.
by which they mean the Conservatives.
Almost without exception, prominent
representatives Of brewing and distiI,-
ing industries in politics are to be
found in the ranks of the Conservative
party. Colonel Gretton, House Of Com
mons spokesman of the Tory "Die-
hards," who ultimately were RESPONSE
bic for the overthrow Of the Lloyd
George coalition, is director Of the
famous brewing firm of Bass, Ratclif
d. Gretton. Lord Woolavington, a lead
ing supporter of the Conservative
party, who in this year won both a
peerage and the Derby with Captain
Cutie, is better known as Sir James
Buchanan, and that name Identifies him
with Scottish distilling firm.
Lord Dewar, another power behind
the party scenes, bears name which
Is household, or at least q saloon.
word in this country. Then there are
the Irish Unionist interests. still pow
erful in British politics, and of these
the outstanding names are Guinness
end Jameson-names as familiar to the
pub" man and the clubman as in tho
Conservative headquarters. Sir James
Craig himself, the Ulster Unionist Pre-
micr, is cOnnected-much to his own
inconvenience in local politics-with an
Ulster distilling firm.
One way and another, every party in
British politics finds it convenient to
have as little to say as possible about
the liquor question. BY common con-
sent it is not, strictly speaking, an
issue in the election. But that it is an
issue in the minds Of the electors is
shown by the fact that at least one in.
dependent candidate has made 1t plat
form plank. This is Kyrle Bellew, the
actress, wife of Arthur Bourchier. She
is standing as an independent candi-
date for Brighton. "My third plank"
she says, ''is reduction in the price
of tobacco and beer. Beer is the back
bone of the country, and always has
been. l speak as q wife, mother and
business woman" Kyrle Bellew may
or may not be elected to Parliament,
but there is no question that in these
sentiments she represents pretty
solid block of voters