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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (March 1, 1917)
The Commoner MARCH, -1917 27 Brewers Levy on Merchants for Dry Fight From tho New York Sun, Jan. 23, 1917. ' . ' '' The spectro of national prohibi tion hovering closer each year over the United States haa spurred the big brewers to.undertako a new cam paign of education," tho details of which came to light yesterday. This timo the bills will bo footed not by tho brewers themselves but by the firms with whom they deal. Back of tho movement is the United Brewers Association, which has its headquarters at 50 Union Square. Already tho plan has been tried on a small scale in the west, and it worked so admirably that it was formally adopted by the national as sociation, and will be put in opera tion throughout tfhq. United States. It is now in operation liivNew York, also in Jersey :'Clty.A - The brewers, are holding-, back a small percentage' on; each bill they pay, aflixing stamps to.. , cover the amount withheld. The stamps are issued in different denominations by the National Association oL, Com merce and Labor of Chicago, and the money raised in this way is sent to that association to be used for edu cational purposes, such as engaging speakers and issuing and distribut ing literature showinc the menano of nationwide prohibition that really prohibits. Purpose of tho System Tho purpose' of this novel system, according to Hugh .Ifoxsecretary of the United States Brewe'rs' Asso ciation, is threefold. The raising of money and the great campaign against prohibitipn are but second ary purposes. The underlying prin ciple of the whole scheme is to make missionaries in the cause against prohibition of IffiS flnns allied with the brewers, the firms that sell hops to the brewers, or malt or bottles. Although the brewer pays a stamp tax to the government for the priv ilege of selling the goods he manu factures, Mr. Fox pointed out, the man who sells malt to the brewer, whose entire business depends upon the brewer, has heretofore paid no part of this tax. It is mainly to make such allied firms feel the force of this tax and to enlist them in the cause against prohibition as allies of the brewers that the campaign is conducted In this way. Will Reach Other Firms At first only the industries closely allien with the brewing industry are to bo taxed, but .gradually the sys tem will be extended to Include all of the firms with whom the brewers deal. The tax rate is based on a sliding scale carefully worked out. In each case the percentage will be very small. The rate on hops, for instance, is fixed at five cents a bale. Hops are selling now at about ?30 a bale. The rate for malt is 1-8 of a cent a bushel. In some cases the rate is as high as 1 per cent. Here is a case in point. A supply house sold recently to one of the large New York breweries ?108 orth of truck parts. - When the cneck came froji the brewery in pay ment it was made out for $106.92 and there was enclosed in the en velope ?1.08 worth of tne stamps. ne brewers recognize that they nave no power to force any firm to accept a cut in the amount of a .bill as rendered, but so far they .have found that tho firms with whom they deal were glad to co-operate. Purpose of tho Fund "We are aflixing to your invoice stamps of the National Association of Commerce and Labor aud making deduction from your bill. Wo are taking this action upon tho assump tion that your own business interests make you wholly or partly concerned in tho, welfare of such of your cui? tomers as would be affected by na tional prohibition. Wo further be lieve that you are willing to aid in protecting pur property and indus try from, confiscation and destruc tion without compensation. "The amount of this deduction is small, and will be remitted by us to ' 4. Wo favor the use of the In fluence of this country in ovcry 'prop er way to end the horriblo conflict m wurope, reminding tho world that dono anything that savor of favor itism to any country, we'do'riofap-, prove of it, anil wo hope mid pray , , ai.i Vi! I" . umir.uii uucu uwigB snau cease, so umt wo stand for the American principlo our beloved land may stand; before. . .i ft .V tu n,uua u,rj u, juugropni oar. or., history. wuiiout . play to all. To that end wo favor' a Htain upon her flag, tho flag we a conference of all tho neutral na- lovo. - . uons to consider peaceful ways aim "Resolved, that conies hereof ho forwarded to tho Prcsldont and con gress of the United States and the press. , . "I certify nbovo resolution was enthusiastically and uhlrnousiy . auoptcd by meeting of thlrty-flv means df terminating tho war at tnu earliest possible moment. "5. Wo urge all American citi zens, and believe it their duty in be half of their country to keep out of mo oarrcti -zones of all belligerents. C. We believe that those citizonn hunrirnrl MHnnu limit f i.n who object to being dragged into ! paclty. Sovon thousand moro could iignung otnor nations' battles aro ' not gain entrance. the above named association when f "Cr 1(Rron countries, and adiustine our Rtamm, aomnnf wth n ur dealings with other nations, not lacking in patriotism for Amor lea; and wo denounco tho idea pro mulgated by tho press that only tho desiro for war is tho test of loyalty. "7. Wo hold to tho principlo laid down by Washington, father of his country, to avoid entangling alli ances with European countries, and adjusting our stamps account with it. . While this contribution aids us indirectly, it also directly serves to insure the continuance of your own business either in full or in part. All funds so received aro expended by this association in an educational campaign in . tho various states against sumptuary and compulsory prohibitory laws. We assume that our action will have your approval; if we are mistaken advise us at once and we will remit to you the amount of the deduction." The National AfinnMnMnn nf rnm jmerce and Labor, the solo function of which is to sell the stamps to the brewers and spend the money for the campaign of education, was or ganized three years ago. The firms that "supply articles that the brewer uses have three representatives on tho finance committee, and the United Siates Brewers Association also has threo representatives. By this means both sides havo a voice in the manner in which tho money shall bo spent. RESOLUTIONS Following are resolutions adopted at a mass meeting held in Minne apolis, Minn.: "We, American citizens, assembled in mass meeting at tho call of the mayor of Minneapolis, beg to address the President and congress of tho United States, as follows: "1. We appreciate the difficulties confronting the administration in the conduct of our foreign affairs. We are grateful that our beloved America is not a party to the awful war which is devastating Europe, and pray you will use your great in fluence anl authority to-keep our land at peace. - "2. We desire to respectfully re call the fact that in the election of November, the citizens of this coun try strongly favored our keeping out of the. war in Europe, and the administration then elected was committed to peace. To now aban don that policy and plunge us into war, we hold, is to make a solemn mockery of the great American prin ciple of the consent of tne governed. "3. .We denounce the attempt .of a large portion of our press to stampede our great nation into, war; and, therefore, we believe, that the time for the citizens and the gov ernment to take counsel is now, for as loyal men and women of America we shall stand by our country, but as thoughtful men and women we realize and repeat the time of sane counsel Q now, for, when the fate. fni nlunW is taken our lips must land shallTcealed. to deal justly by all, and make fa vorites of none, and if, during this awful war our nation in its dealings with either or any belligerent has "GHA8. A. DALBY. "Chairman of the Mass. Meeting." HE KNEW Willis ."The Highfliers arc going to give up their big house this win ter." Mrs. Willis "You must bo mis taken. I was talking with Mrs. Highflier only yesterday." Willis "Well, I was talking with tho mortgagee only this morning." Puck. 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