The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1886-04-24
For THE CARBON ADvooATBl
The Saloon Question.

ihdllAAg anu lllt StlllllUtul WHICH
( was crystalized INTO very respectable pro-
test against the licens & Of new saloons for
the sale of intoxicating beverages; and while
there saw and heard things that were new
and strange to me; and although was per-
mitted to answer q few commonplace ques-
tions, was not enabled to express my sent-
mcnts ON the subject, and by your kindness |
VIII use your columns for that purpose. There
was quite large attendance at court, and
the principal business of the day seemed to
be the renewal Of old and the creating Of
new licenses; aud a big batch of old licenses
were renewed with dispatch because there
was no protest against them. I found the ap-
pllcants for license, from tins place, were well
prepared to push their respective claims
There was quite formidable array Of legal
talent, and goodly number Of witnesses. /
found the principal point was to prove the
necessity gf these PLACES, aud whcn this vital
point was touched upon, 1t was somewhat
amusing to neticc the apparent hcsitancs and
desire TO eyildc II on the part Of the witnesses
Mr. j. RaudCnbush testified thatthey were rs
| necessary now as ever before; aud this loop
hole OF escape was taken up by nearly all of
the witnesses who favored tie granting Of
License. Dr. Reber modestly acknowledged
that he was no authority rs to their ncces
| S.ty but presumed that they were as neces-
sary now as ever, Mr. Grayer, the Chief
Burgess, also testified 10 their necessity; but
when directly appealed to acknowledged that
really none Of the s;1oons werc real neces-
slty. Mr.. Gillian also added the weight Of
his testimony rs to their necessity. Mr. Hauk
testified that they were needed, ard especial
ly during Fair time and during the session Of
the County Institute. DO school teachers
patroniZe saloons? Tile young man Stockcr
testified quite emphatlcally as TO the neceS
sity OF such saloon as Mr.. Peters proposed
to keep; having himself, heretofore, fot the
necessity Ofa warm meal at such hours when
they can not be had elsewhere. / suppose
that need referred to q time when he was
stlll growing, as know by experience that
the physical deyelopemcnt Of boys often calls
for extra fool, Mr.. Bower and u number of
others, were called to the stand who gave
about the same evidence; some aclSnoNledg-
ing that possibly ono-half OF tho hotels and
| saloons might supply the needs of the place
Mr.. Hagaman, MIR. Bowman, Mr.. Durling and
| myself testified that there was no necessity
for these new places. DR.. Horns name was
| found on an application for license, and as he
had also signed the protest, he seemed to
straddlo the issue; what weight his testimony
had l do moi know; but where Is the consis-
| tcncy? The argument OF these cases came
up on Saturday last; having heard the testl-
| mony was also anxious 10 hear the law The
| older members OF the bar, engaged ON the
| cases, seemed to take the matter quite cOoly,
none of them seemed to warm up or show
| much animation In the business before them
Mr. Craig, who no doubt Is the leading spirit
Of the bar in this county, kept on in the even
| tenor OF his way, and acted like one who Is
| perfectly at home In his profession and knows
what he Is about. Mr.. FryTnan, the attorney
Of the opposition TO licenses, stated the case
In such straightforward manner that would
be more likely to reach the judgment than
create any special sentiment through impulse.
The most surprising part of the proceedings
was the part taken by our respected towns
man, f. A. Snyder. He was the attorney of
Mr. Peters lie Is young man aud possibly
this was his maiden speech at the bar; he
surely manifested more zeal In the matter
than any one else, and his animation showed
| he had the cause for which he so successfully
| plead at heart and as his client get license
he surely deserves credit for his success; and
If should be called upon to compliment him
upon this victory, should feel constrained to
give hlEl the sobriquet OF champion ofhe
hsdry ir6t.. He put in an earnest plea for the
new saloon; lie touched upon the evidence
| proving It's necessity; and then showed the
special need Of just such place, which Is TO
| taYe al the modern improvements, and an
D1
has two great systems of public education.
| One OF them, known as the common school
| system, is represented In this county Ey T. A.
Snyder. No wOrth!er object can engage the
attention Of any state than the proper educa.
tion of the children thereof. The whole
number Of schools, Of this system IS about
| twenty thousand, and the whole number of
| teachers employed about twenty-five thcuS-
and 1--WE hundred. The other system of pub
| lie education is the saiOOn system. 1t Is rep
resented by an equal If not greater number Of
schools, in which, at least double, II not
| thrice the number Of teachers are employed.
regret that there Is nc County or State Sup
| erntcnGent of the latter class. that we might
| have, as in tie first case, an annual report
| giving us figures and res ults which would cr-
a'le rs TO speak Of the system more accurate
| than is possible where we are so largely
| dependent upon estimate. The schools of
the first class are intended to teach our child
ren The principles Of morality, to teach them
science aud literature, TO At them for business
and to make them good and useful citlzenc.
But the other class OF schools, are schools of
Vice and crime and of moral and political
corruption. While the schools of the first
class are open on an average OF about SIX or
seven months in the year, and six hours on
each Of the five days Of the week, the saloon
schools are open all day long and far into the
night, and many of them open on Sabbath as
well as on week days, all the year round.
| In the schools of the first class there are
about nine hundred and seventy-Ryc thou
| sand scholars. In the schools of the other
| class-the saloon schUOl-how many scholars
| there are, we know not if we could only
| know how many entered these schools in the
| past year and how many graduated 1t wosld
be fearful record that would make the
SiouteSt heart quiyer. How many prospects
blasted? How many souls ruined? Both
these school systems are the creations of
law. Both are established, aud carry out
t!rlr respective curriculums under the at
,hnrity of the State.
cannot see the consistency OF Supi. OF
Pdblic Schools giving his sanction and aid
to the establishing OF that institution which
is in direct opposition TO the best interests
Of man. l have in my time become a.
qualnted with all classes of society, and
have not yet found Il respectable, quiet, good
christian man that keeps a saloon
1t is significant sign OF the times that tie
| Kpiulfg of lghns h1Vn "a of
p inciples concerning liquor sellers and in
temperate men, Mr.. Powderly SAYS in the
y. Y. Sun, March 2S, The knights of Labor
will not allow Il liquor distiller, or brewer. or
liquor seller, or one whose wife is, LIQUOR.
seller 10 become member OF the Order ana
am nov striving 20 prevent liquor drinkers
from Joining
am sorry that Mr. snyder had no respect
Tor the three score names OF voters, and the
list OF over one hundred of our best women,