Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 279, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 November 1916 — The Handwriting On the Wall. [ARTICLE]

The Handwriting On the Wall.

Information has come to me that one of the largest brewing companies in the world is remodeling half of its plant to produce a temperance drink. This drink will contain no alcohol and is designed for sale in prohibition territory. I am not at liberty to give the name of this brewer, but he is one of the wealthiest m the country. He has not hesitated in the past to send his agents in dry territory to violate the laws by taking orders for liquor. He has coined millions from the life blood of men, the tears of women and the suffering of children. There is no reason to think that he has had a change of heart. He still proposes to devote half of his establishment to the manufacture of intoxicants. He sees, however, that his markets are slipping away. His business acumen suggests that he take a new tack and manufacture a product that can be sold where to sell liquor is illegal. Probably he will try to evade the law by putting a little alcohol into the drink. I have no faith in men who manufacture a product to debauch their fellows, even when they be’fein to make something else. However, one thing is sure. This brewer has Seen the handwriting on the wall. He foresees an increase of the dry territory. If he sold more liquor under prohibition than under license he would not be preparing to manufacture a temperance drink.