Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-19
NEWTON DECLARES
FACTS On BEER FOR
NOT HOOVER
Presidents Secretary Re-
fuses to Reveal Who Sought
information.

The mystery as to the latest OF the
recurrent reports of impending action
to legalize beer has been deepened to-
day by the refusal Of Walter H. New
ton, one of President Hoover's secre-
taries, to reveal the person or organi-
cation for when he has collected data
on the brewery industry.
In disclosing that he had asked the
Census Bureau for statistics on workers
and wages in the brewing industry,
Mr.. Newton made clear that the fig-
ures had not been obtained at the
behest of Mr.. Hoover or any White
House official He inferred the in
formation was for "a friend" but
would not say whether that friend
was associated with the Government
A report that the information might
have been requested by the Presidents
Unemployment Relief Organization.
headed by Walter S. Clifford, was de-
MED at the organizations headquar-
tiers.
SpecuIates on Rumors.
Despits denials that the adrninistra-
ton was looking into the question Of
legalizing beer as one means of reliev-
ing unemployment and increasing Fed
eral revenues, there was considerable
speculation in the Capital today on
the subject.
For weeks, rumors have been circu-
lated that demands of organized labor
and other organizations for legislation
legalizing beer have been treated with
some consideration.
The information from Mr. Newton
yesterday was the first of positive
nature, however. The Secretary, after
explaining that he had asked the Gen.
sus Bureau for the number of men en-
ployed In the industry in 1919 1919 and
1929. emphatically declared:
This information WAS not requested
for the President, nor was 1t asked for
any one connected with the White
House"
The statement was made in reply to
inquiries relative to a published report
that President Hoover was considering
appeals from various groups for the re-
turn Of or 4 per cent beer.
II followed long conference between
Mfr. Newton and President Hoover. The
Secretary said he was mot at liberty
to divulge the names of the organiza-
tons who asked for the statistics" and
added he had forwarded the informa-
ton as an accommodation.
1855 Workers in 1919. /,
The figures showed the brewing in
oustry employed $4,000 persons and
paid $50, 100000 in wages in 1914, 1885
persons and $4,000, 900 in 1919, and
6.4Oe persons and $4,000, 900 in 1929,
the last for workers in near-beer plants.
The value Of the products were SAL
900 900 in 1914. $4,000, 900 in 1919
and $4,000 900 in 1929.
Mr.. Newton denied having requested
the Treasury for facts concerning the
revenue obtained from breweries.
NJ. ]. McDonough, president Of the
building trades department of the
American Federation of Labor, told the
American Legions Employment Con-
ference here early this week that legali-
cation of beer would permit immediate
employment of $50 900 men.
Several Senator'S and Representatives
and prominent business men have pro-
posed the return of beer manufacture
claiming economic benefits through in
creased employment and Federal rev.
enues.
President Hoover has been silent on
prohibition Stree the Wickersham Com
missions report. Then he rejected the
commissions proposal that the eight
zenith amendment be revised some time
in the future IL enforcement did MOI
prove successful after further try.
This was in January, and soon after
Continued on Page 2, Column A.