Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 244, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 October 1912 — A DEAL WITH THE BREWERIES [ARTICLE]

A DEAL WITH THE BREWERIES

Former Governor J. Frank Hanly Confirms Deal of A. J. Beveridge With Indianapolis Brewer.,^ Reports that have gone abroad relative to a deal made by A. J. Beveridge, when a candidate for U. S. Senator, for the support of the brewery interests of the state, have been confirmed by former Governor J. Frank Hanly, who is quoted in the Patriot Phalanx, the Prohibition organ, of Indianapolis, which says: ——fir last week’s issue of the Patriot Phalanx we referred to the record of Albert J. Beveridge on the temperance issue. An extract was given from an editorial in the Marion Chronicle by editor Lockwood, reviewing some of the history of the campaigh eight years ago. At that time Beveridge was striving for re-election as United States senator, and made alliances with the brewery i,..erests, but after election he could not deliver the goods. This greatly angered Albert Lieber, president of the Indianapolis Brewing Company.

A Phalanx representative, wishing to know more particulars concerning the things mentioned in the chronicle, this week interviewed ex-Governor J. Frank Hanly, who furnished some interesting information. In January, 1905, Mr. Hanly, in his inaugural message jto the legislature, recommended the passage of a township remonstrance law. The next day brewer liieber rushed excitedly into the Governor’s office and hotly declared to the state executive: “I want to tell you, Mr. Hanly, that the measure you recommended yesterday can not pass in this legislature.” Taken by surprise, the Governor demanded: “What right have you, sir, to say that temperance laws can or can not be passed?” “Well, I serve notice on you that if such a bill does go through I’ll put a majority in the houses and senate two years from now which will repeal it,” retorted the brewer.

To this Mr. Hanly replied: “I am glad to know your position, Mr. Lieber, and I will tell you that if you carry out that threat and try to do that I will take the question to the people and tell them what you have said to me here today.” Mr. Lieber then changed his tactics and said, “Anyway, your message is a breach of confidence, for I was assured that there would be no temperance legislation this year.” “Upon whose authority, sir, were you given such a promise? Certainly not from me,” said the Governor. “No, not directly, for I have never talked with you before today, but Jim Goodrich (Republican state chairman), told me that.”

“All right, Mr. Goodrich is in the city and we can telephone and have him here in ten minutes. He will not dare say in my presence that he had any authority to make you such a promise as you have described.” At this point the brewer let the cat out of the bag and showed who was the person with whom he had been bargaining by saying: • “Well, it was not Mr. Goodrich who talked to me, but Mr. Beveridge told me that Goodrich said that was the agreement, and that in case of Republican success at the last election no temperance bills were to be passed in this legislature.” “Then that, Is a matter for you and Mr. Beveridge to settle between yourselves,” said Governor Hanly, and the interview concluded. Mad as a wet hen Lieber rushed out. and a few minutes later met Chairman Goodrich, to whom he denounced Beveridge as a liar, and his remarks were punctuated with oaths. Since Mr. Beveridge is himself a candidate for Governor this year he will be in a position to speak with more authority when it comes to assuring the brewers that their business will be undisturbed by him in case of election.