The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-03-18
:APOT SCANDAL
AS NOTHING ON
MISSOURI CRAFT
oli6cians Soaked In
Beer Graft
BY MARTIN A. DILLMON.
Especial 10 The Daily Worksr)

GALALGUIV
en- attracted from the Teapot
me scandal at Washington to
iolesale bribery and political cor
ption within their own state. Sew
al perfectly good political repu-
lions are threatened with disaster
a result Of the confession of a
Louis brewer, that he paid large
ms of money to certain state Off
ais for protection" in the manu-
cture Of real beer.
For sometime past rumors had
zen afloat to the effect that "pro-
cted" beer was being widely sold
this city. The rumor reached
'ashington, and federal investiga-
RS were dispatched to St. Louis in
nding to raid the Griesedick brew
y, which was under suspicion. Evil
emily there was a leak somewhere
nd state dry agents made a spon-
aneous raid on the brewery and con-
seated huge quantity of bottled
eer.
One Dollar a Case.
Taken into custody, officials Of the
rewery made confessions in which
hey said they paid 81 for each case
f real beer sent out Of the brew
ny on the condition that there
would be no interference from dry
enforcement agents. During a per-
Cd of fourteen weeks, the confess
non says, about $4,000 cases of pro-
ected beer were sold by the brew
cry for a total of approximately
$50, 1000, of which $4,000 was paid
n bride for protection. The con-
fession names the recipient of the
bride money as ga prominent state
official"
The prominent state Official" ac-
cording to the confession, took the
lead by proposing to the brewers that
they resume the production of real
beer, for which the firm had paid
fine and penalties of $4,000 as
result of a previous raid. The state
official, the confession continues,
professed to be acting for another
state official and for a third party
in official position. He further rep
to Griesedick, according to
the confession, that two other st.
Louis breweries were being protect
ed for cash, and that che could take
on one more brewery"
Brewers Squealed.
The brewer was told his 'protec-
ton" would cost him 81 for each
case Of real beer sold, and that in
consideration of the bride, he would
not be molested. II accepted the
proposed terms and began the man
ufacture Of beer" the brewer says.
Several times the brewer complain
ed to the bride taker that 81 a case
for protection was excessive and did
not leave the brewery a fair profit,
risk considered. The prominent
state oficial' refused to consent to
a reduction, and collected his graft
until the raid, February 2l
Following promptly the brewers
accusation of the mysterious "prom-
inent state official" Charles S. Pra-
Their, State Food and Drug commits
sioner, handed Gov. Hyde his resig-
nation. Prather is known as a close
pal of the governor, and has been re-
garded as his confidential political
adviser. Prather figured in the Low
den slush fund scandal in the Re
publican national convention, 1920,
the result Of which sent Warren G.
Harding to Washington as President
of the United States.
Labor Head Mentioned
The name of Heber Nations, state
labor commissioner, has been men
toned in the investigation of the
bride ring. He is brother Of Gus
o. Nation, chief of prohibition
agents in st. Louis. Both Nations
and Prather are appointees Of Gov.
Hyde. Prather received a re-appoint-
ment last June for a four-year term.
Nations was appointed by the gov
ernor last year.
With several other appointees of
the governor under fire, including
the recent charges that revolving
conditions exist in some of the state
penal institutions, and with the ex-
plosion of the beer scandal, it is re-
called that Arthur M. Hyde made his
race for governor on a ''house-
cleaning" platform. Hyde waged
sham battle with some of the un-
popular men in the Republican party,
Of which he is member, and walk
ed into Office hands down.
Hyde captured many votes on his
mock pretenses as a 'friend" Of la
Dor. That friendship was demon
strat& when he lent state troops to
the railroad companies as scab herd
ers during the strike Of shopmen.
There was no violence in the strike
centers. When IL became known that
the Governor had ordered out the
militia, r. I. Wood, president, Mis-
Iouri State Federation Of Labor.
headed delegation with him to re-
consider. But Hyde then was safe
y in Office, election day was far dis
ant, and he laughed the labor men
,ut Of court
Labor Union Foe
Filling a vacancy on the st. Louis
Police Board, Hyde selected Clar-
nee M. Howard, president, Com
nonwealth Steel company, an out
standing wage slave owner and a
litter foe of labor unions. At the
fr,na ~ the annointnnent Howard'e