Advance of Prohibition.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3733, 11 February 1891, Page 2

Advance of Prohibition.

[From Tire Voice! Chicago, ill, November 28.—A. few months ago, when the great M'Avoy Brewing company, tlie largest in this city, sold their plant to a British syndicate, but little interest was aroused and the fact received but passing comment by jChioago papers; bat the inside history of the is of such a nature as to make it of interest,

While the agents of the British syuaicato - wel ' e in and negotiations for the sale 01 Ha 15 brsyepy wero pending, the president of the brewing compary, Charles P. M'Avoy, telephoned to'a prominent real estate agent, and who is well known as a Prohibitionist, asking if he would be at leisure the next day. An appoiu'Br t was lliade, and the

next day President M'Avoy and the treasurer of the brewing company, Thomas S. Eobinson, stepped into the office of the real estate agent, and for two hours an earnest conversation was cirried on behind closed doors relating entirely to the present status and possible future outcome of the Prohibition movement.

These gentlemanly brewers said they had watched with interest the steady rise of the Prohibition party, had informed themselves to some extent of the character of its leaders, and had begun to view with alarm the increase of Prohibition sentiment all over the country, and that they had come to get the candid opinion of one whom they knew could speak with authority as to what was to be the outcome of this temperance agitation; they had come to him principally because lie was a Prohibitionist, but also because from a long personal acquaintance they knew him to be an honest, reliable business man, and who could, if asked, give an unprejudiced opinion from a purely business standpoint. After explaining that the reason for bringing the matter up at that time was that negotiations were in progress for the sale of their brewery to some English gentlemen whose representatives were in the city, they announced themselves as ready for once to listen to an exposition of the signs of the times from a Prohibition poiut of view.

The opportunity was an excellent one, and the real estate agent was equal to the occasion. He commenced by giving a brief review of some of the most important national reforms of the world's history, dwelt somewhat at length on the conditions which brought about the abolition of slavery in the United States, drew some striking comparisons of the conditions which existed before the war with those which exist to-day, showed that the couse for which we fight is of vastly greater import than was the question of slavery ; that slavery had the Federal Supreme Court at its back, and that the liquor traffic has not; in short, proved to their entire satisfaction that the saloon is doomed, and that its overthrow is inevitable. These gentlemen then asked that all-important question "How long will it be until the result sought after is attained In answer he told them that it might be two years, it might be ten ; that reforms are are not so slow as they were fifty years ago ; and said that when an alpine avalanche is hanging over a Swiss village the people do not ask when it will come down, but they " stand from under,"

This ended the interview, tlie brewers retired, aud the same night closed the deal with the British syndicate, and the largest brewery in Chicago passed into the hands of foreigners. The next day Mr M'Avov stepped into the real estate agent's office with a valise full of abstracts which were turned over to him ; the details of the sale were explained, and he was told to "do the needful" with the abstracts, and return them and send in his bill. He did so, and along with the cheque in payment for his services which he received m return he also received their sincere thanks for his advice. Immediately following this sale came the sale of thirteen other breweries in Chicago, and now there are but two breweries in the city which are not owned by the British syndicates. It might be added that in nearly all cases the previous officers of the breweries retain their places, but simply as salaried men.