New-York tribune., 1886-04-21
SELLING LIQUOR TO MINORS.
EARNEST PROTEST FROM LEADING MEN

DIR. CROSBY. FATHER M'GLYNN AND OTHERS ON THE
DIsTRICT-ATTOINEYs OFFICE.
The announcement of n public meeting to
nrotest against tho non OF the law forbid
ding the sale of liquor to minors under fourteen years
ace drew good sized and enthusiastic audbnce las
night to Chckerng Hail. The meeting was held under
the direction OF the Cndrens Committee OF the Society
for the Prevention OF Crime OF which the Rev. NJ Is.
ThomI son is chairman and the Rev. Dr. C. F. Deems
nastor OF the Church Of the Strangers presided Among
the Others on the platform the Rev. DIR. Crosby
ex-Judge ArpOux, the Rev. Dr. H. C. MACARTHUR the
Rev. DR.. j. NJ. King, the Rev. o. r. BoutoD, VICE
Chancellor McCracken, the Rev. Hugh Prtclard, the
Rev. Father Nc Gynn, Lewis 7. Tiebals ana kaooi
Browne statement OF the work of the committee
was made by Chairman Thompson, and slips for con-
trhutons were passed about among the audience at the
close OF the evening. The committee has been at woik
ONLY few months and IS seriously embarrassed Id en-
forcing the law protecting children by lack OF funds
Dr. Deems taking the chair said that the present law
reads as follows;
or by his wife servant empoye other agent sell or
give away any strong or srtuous LIQUOR ae, peer OF
wine TO any Indian In this state or shall sell any Ucer
ale wine any strong sprituous liquor to any minor
under the age OF fourteen yeais' KmoMng c o s
be deemed guilty OF misdeme 'nor and on cohvctio
shall be liable to fine of twenty hve dollars ior each
and every offence.
Thi. law, hs said. would stsrtle an antiquarian two
centuries hence perhaps monsrous piece OF legis-
lation on account Of its inadeQuacy and incompeencss
But even this law could not now be enforced In New
York In London he had been told fr ON 1000 to 5000
children nnder fourteen years of age coulu be found
every night in the grog Shops and almost half that
number be carrying pals and jugs In and ont
of liquor stores any day In New York and brooklyn lie
Prohbitonst principle but II he could not get
the loaf he would take crb and went heartily III lot
applying what laws have TO check the liquor traic
Dr. Crosby was then introduced and spoke in part as
follows;
There a question deeper than this one or whether
liquor shall be allowed to be sold to children That
be- It's single privileged class. They not only break
the laws systematically but announce that they VIII
of the Excise laws does lie with the police The
police Of we have reason M 10 DC oo p0uG @ U
erty. Applause We have AT the head OF the police
trnstod any extent Bat the police are Handicapped
in the District Attorneys oihee have h"d ,"s ono
But where is the indictment siunbering IN tne DIS
CGe AG Snere FG in the same way
"Wc have time TO take up these DMaole Inducements.
ali 10 tie prisoners Iansuishinc tile Tombs" And
the tried We must am All our guns AT
and more assistants In the District Attorneys Office
And not only does this power defy the law win
cass On the 18th and lIth o. January last certain
society announced two balls In the Academy OF Music.
informed the police that the sale OF liquors would he
carried on there without license, and they were ready
to cary out the sw %s s G s Booae and a
STATING that they afraid OF being arrested for selling
without license, actually got an injunction Tor those
two evenings against the police. And the same thlnS
was done udgeDonOhue again FOR tue balls OF the lsh
and 10Th Of January There ia bur one way out Ol tis
horrible OF things to make ourselves iet az Tue
polls and In politics and try TO drag the political class
back out OF its present slavery to the liquor power
The Rev Father McGlynD keIt the audience laughing
for almost an hour. He said in part:
Crosby careful not to say too much about tne
police captains. who sometimes live III $4,000 way
on a salary OF $500. Many Of them, as hear, are
silent partners OF the dives and houses OF namy IN
their districts. And the District Attorney and his
assistants they lying awake nights trying TO lnveh,
n WAY to bring to light some Of those indictments J.
signed tue petition TO ha Judge Donohues case IN
vostigated One OF the most prominent lawyers IN he
city brought 1t and said 10 him, Why don't the
lawyers push this matter o. What do you think lie
ans wered Tho lawyers are all afraid. am glad TO
talk in the interest OF health and virtue and
sobriety for q measure which teroSs protection
around so dangerous and sacred leriod as childhood
Ex-Judge Arnoux told of child OF eighteen months
that had been found day two ago in liquor store at
the point OF death from being dosed with whiskey and
the Rev. Dr. King spoke briefly the present law and
the need OF amending II TO protect minors up
to eighteen and tw enty one years OF age.