New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-03-03
THE WARFARE In WORCESTER.
A REVIEW OF THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES IN THE WAY
or THE PRAYER CRUSADE.
lBY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNE.

fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.
WORCESTER, March 2.-WOrcester is place
OF 80 600 Inhabitants The exact number OF these
that get candesunely drunk every year neither the
City irshal nor tho State constables tell but last
year $50 persons arrested for drunkenness aud
2l6 more chauaby home by the city police.
fair proportion OF these cases. however, come from
the little towns which lie the outskirts Of the city,
The Massachusetts Pcohibitory law, OF course,
utters Its threats from the statute books, and
there are two state constables here TO see that
The law s respected. During the last year these
stables have made 13 seizures in the city and few
neghborug towns, and in the whole County Of WOrces-
Ter there under the law either for
soIing conveying, keeping liquor with intent to sell.
This the city that has ibeen selected by Die Lewis
aud cOadiutors for beginning the temperance
movement in Massachusetts,. From the figures given
above Worcester TO Offer excellent field for the
experiment Whether the people ready to make
the movement is another question, which cannot be
decided until the effect Of the meeting this evening shall
be
Though the statistics show good harvest Of drunk
ards aud there plenty work for temper
reform the effort in Worcester will be beset with
difficulties which did not appear In the West While in
the crusade IN Ohio aud throughout the West hundreds
OF shops could be found where the beer and whisky bar
Tcs piled up inside the door without regard pub
lilo sentiment official curiosity, not single place Of
ths kind be found ia Worcester. The vigilance OF
the officers made II easy. or chooses
consider it, difficult work for the prayer crusade.
Nearly all the rum-seers has been driven into holes and
corners. liquor is deaed stealthily and in small
Quantities. and there large saloons where liquor
is Elegantly sold The prayer crusaders have therefore
few points Of attack. There about 2Osaloous
where lager beer is sodand possibly these may be as
sailed There also about Is apotheeary shops that
sell ql nor. ostensiby medicine. Many bottles no
doubt filed at these places for other purposes these
shops VIII hardly be assaled. Including these lager
beer saloons and apOhocary shops aud the hotels
lug saloons. and groceries, the State cOnstabes have
ahou; SIC places their books Many OF these little
stores where there is not more than 81 or s.
worth liquor at time. aud where the
sale IS carefully disguised, as, for instance, in
"a place which the officers recently discovered
whore barrel Of cOntraband liquor carefully
cealod tunnel dug under basement floor the liquor
being drawn by means OF rubber tube. This instance
shows the difference between Worcester aud OHIO The
great difficulty here will be to get to admit that
they sell 1t at all. II the admission is made those
Tossing become at objects Of prey for the State
constables who in this particular locality prey without
ceasng S.iu the State cOnstables believe that the
womens movement may be productive Of good and are
ready 10 cooperate. They will furnish the crusaders
lst Of all suspected places and the import
ant of these will be selected for attack.
The history Of the movement here goes back to meet
ing held Boston about month ago, just previous 10
DR.. Lewis's departure for the West. 1t proposed
then undertake the work in Boston. DR.. Lewis OPP
posed h believing that 1t would be necessary TO kiDde
u fire 10 Of the neighboring cities and towns 10
order to " thaw out and burn Boston," Worcester
accordingly selected, aud committee of citizens and
cergymen appointed Some Of these were not con-
suited to their views and sympahes and there lie not
entire unauimity either in the committee among the
clergy OF the city. Two meetings have been held One
a general meeting OF clergymeD, who canvassed
the subject aud adjourned unt tomorrow TIE other
meeting was held by the women Of the Friends and
aso adjourned until tomorrow TO wait the result OF the
meeting This evening and Dr. bio LeWiss lecture.