Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 September 1908 — WANT ADDRESSES OF DRINKERS [ARTICLE]

WANT ADDRESSES OF DRINKERS

Brewers Make Appeal Direct to Tipplers—Wives and Cnildren Should Also be Interested.

The latest move on the part of the brewers of Indiana, who are putting up such a desperate fight against republican candidates, is to secure the names of all the men who drink. To all such, circular letters are sent with the object of having all local option laws repealed. It Js a despicable business at the best and will certainly do the brewery cause no good. The circular .which is an entertaining a piece of brewery literature as has been seen in this campaign, is as follows:

Dear Sir—We are perfecting an organization through which we hope to have the local option laws of Illinois, Indiana and other states repealed. Believing you to be in sympathy with such movement,we trust you will favor us with such help as you may give. We do not want money contributions from you or from any one else in your county, but in order to carry oqt our plans it is necessary to have the name of every voter who is not opposed to the . sale* of liquors. All we ask of you is to confidentially furnish us with a list of the men in your town and vicinity whom you personally know use liquor. By doing this you will not be obligated In any way. You need not even sign your name to the list unless you so desire.

All money necessary to carry out this campaign will be furnished at the proper time. Neither you <n those whose names you send in will be asked to subscribe a penny. We inclose blank form and stamped envelope, which we trust you will use in giving the information we must have. The sooner you furnish us the names the quicker we can get to work on a plan that is for your benefit as well as ours. The letter is signed "The National League of Liberty.” It is written on the stationary of the “league.” Why didn’t the brewers go a stop further and ask for the names of the wives and children of the men who are tipplers? Beyond a doul t the women and children of Indiana would just fall all over themselves trying to help the "League” repeal local option laws in order that men may go out and get beastly drunk whenever their idea of “personal liberty” impels them to. What a shame it is that the democratic party has permitted itself to be taken charge of, body and soul, by the brewery combination.