The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1884-05-30
Chester.

towns and villages of our state have proven OF
great interest to us obstetrics, possibly the
progress of the cause here may be of equal in
terest to the readers of the GAZETTE elsewhere.
King Apple Jack has many strongholds in New
jersey but in none of them is he more strongly
entrenched than in the village of Chester. Up
to very recent date we had become the scott OF
neighboring towns in consequence of the appar-
ent futility of the excise laws here, and the
Indifference of the citizens. to the alarming
progress of intemperance.
For number of generations the distilerles
here have done thriving business. The owners
have waxed rich at the cost of thousands who
have been made poor, wretched and degraded.
Whiskey unauthorized is bad enough, but of
late years there has sprung up among us still
worse curse in the shap@ of numerous saloons.
The demoralizing tendency of this traffic is now
painfully manifested in the Indifference of what
is termed the religious clement to the temper
ance movement. When Mabee and English
were here in December, at first they were re-
fused the use of all the meeting houses in the
place, excepting the one belonging to the Meth
odists but the temperance sentiment grew so
fast that finally one denomination yielded and
upon the last night of their stay, the other eX-
tended tardy invitation to the total abstinence
evangelists At that time some five hundred
took the pledge, and Reform Club of one hun
bred and fifty members was formed. and the
temperance cause as a theory was delightful;
but when it was suggested that the theory be
made to assume practical shape by moving
against the saloons and taverns in the county
courts, a general chilliness seemed to pervade
the moral atmosphere and great number OF the
enthusiasts found it too cold to stay out OF
doors.
By manifestation of some determination on
the part of the actively inclined members of the
club, the keepers of the saloons who bad all no.
toriously violated the law, and one groceryman
who had sold stone-fence in the shape of hard
cider and whiskey mixed, were induced to make
affidavts to the effect that they would sell moth
ing included in our pledge in Chester for ten
years. This compromise was accepted, and OBJ
served on the part of the saloonists for one
week until the grand jury dispersed, when the
immediate danger being passed, they boldly re-
turned to their Illicit business. The breaking of
their agreement however, proved so extremely
unpleasant in consequences to two of them, that
they departed from among US.
About this time the services of Major E. T.
Scott and wife were secured. The major deliy-
cred two courses of lectures. one of two and one
of five in the Methodist Episcopal church of
this place. A committee of the club applied to
the trustees of the Presbyterian and Congrega-
tional denominations for the use of their build
ing, but were refused. On the last night of the
majors stay the crush was so great that even
standing room within the building was not OBJ.
tainable. As an educator of the masses upon
the liquor traffic, he is not surpassed, and the
result of his efforts in this place was unifying
of sentiments and an elevation of moral tone.
At the assembly of the May term, but four
men could be found in Chester who were will
ing to endure the odium and sustain the shock
of the rum power in the courts. The rest sent
their highest respects, and deepest regrets, and
profoundest sympathy, but circumstances over
which they had no control etc.
An attempt was made to indict the proprietor
of the principal hotel in this place, for noto-
rious violations of the terms of the license law;
but Mr.. Editor, you know what grand juries are
at those terms of courts, when the ajority of
this town was equal to the occasion. Being an
habitual signer of license applications he real
lied his responsibility and defended his protege
in the grand jury room with vim and volubil-
ity rarely equalled by an advocate in the court
room before petit jury. The attempt for an
Indictment failed, but the next day the same
evidence before the bench of judges. prevented
a renewal of the license. and drew from their
honors severe and sweeping reprimand upon
the conduct of the applicant. 1t is understood
that the keeper of the only remaining saloon in
Chester was indicted; but upon the night pre-
vious to the day appointed for his hearing, after
declaring that he would continue in the business,
license or license, in despite of all the courts
in chrstendom, he retired and before morning
was summoned to the highest court of all.
What makes this case the more impressive is
the fact that this is the third saloon keeper, who,
within few years, has died suddenly in the
same house under similar circumstances.
At the present writing, practical prohibition is
in full force within the village of Chester. 1t is
rum furnaces are in blast, but within the immc-
date precincts of the village, no intoXicant can
be sold legally. This state of affairs is without
precedent, and the curses launched against the
temperance cranks are both loud and deep.
The triumph of the temperance cause in this
town is greater and more significant than ap-
pears to an outsider. The hotel which this year