The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1930-11-01

In its issue of May !. 1870 the BreC-
erS' Journal made this editorial pro-
nouncement, mo matter what laws may
be made to cripple the beverage indus
tries Of our present times they cannot
and will not be observed by those manag-
ing these industries"
And the brewers have lived up TO this
declaration, as not law of the United
States has remained untrampled upon by
them if it in the remotest degree OBJ
structed their operations.
Parallel to their legalized business, they
carried on a vast underground illegal
trade. In 1910 it was discovered that al
though 34,884 federal tax receipts had
been taken out to sell drink in New York
state, the entire number of legalized
places was but 27949 In other words,
nearly 1000 places were selling drink
without state license, and a similar con-
dition prevailed in other states
IN PITTSBURGH
In Pittsburgh the licensed dealers ap-
pealed to Mayor Magee to suppress the
1000 illegal places in the city, but were
opposed by the brewers who sold beer in
these places THE situation has become
unbearable" said the president of the LID
uor Dealers Association OF Pittsburgh. ut
is making it almost impossible for a re-
tail dealer to pay his rents and make
profit. At the very lowest estimates, the
speakeasies, clubs, and other resorts de-
mand the legitimate trade at least 40 per
cent annually
The Saloonkeepers Of Indianapolis in
old saloon days organized protective
league against the brewers. They COM
planned that the brewers canvassed sales
from house to house by mail, and by tele-
phone, they supplied beer to picnics and
parties at ridiculously low prices, and sold
wholesale or retail to any who had the
money.
The same story came from Ohio cities.
The brewers were actually selling from
carts in competition with saloons, al
though the carts paid no license. Albert
Eisele, head of the Cuyahoga county deal
ers association, said February IL, 1915,
"More than 1900 speakeasies are operat-
ing openly in this city. For weeks l have
had detectives and state liquor board in
spectors quietly investigating in Cleve-
land. The breweries and distilleries are
to blame They know where they deliver
liquor, and could stop the traflc."
WHAT POSTMASTER GENERAL
SAID
Mr.. Burleson, postmaster general in the
Wilson administration, stated that his de-
DafJfQPnU WIS III ItLciIJb VI NilNGiS1AS
mailed by distillers to postmaSters in dry
areas in which cash prizes were offered to
postmasters issuing the greatest number
of money orders in favor of the distillers.
The brewers were not behind the distill-
ers, as the following letter will show
which was sent to number OF Milwaukee
brewers:
"Gentlemen, This is one OF the driest
counties of Michigan, but think perhaps
there would be a chance for blind pig
and I wonder if started something, could
I get seventy-hve to hundred dozen
quart bottles of beer for some months, 1t
must be shipped as furniture or some
thing else, of course. Please let we know
soon"
This letter came from South Lyon,
MICHIGAN, and replies we're received from
the Schlitz Brewing Company, the Pabst
Brewing Company, and the Fred Miller
Brewing Company, Of Milwaukee, all of
them enclosing price lists and hoping to
be favored with the order Of this speak
easy keeper.
CHICAGO AND INDIANA
In Chicago Mr.. Arthur Burrage Far
well, of the Chicago Law and Order
League, published evidence showing that
while a number of brewers In that city
were glad to live in fine residence sections
where drink selling was prohibited, they
were glad to sell beer to blind pigs ped
ding it in that area. One brewery presi-