New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-24
,WAYrED-coFREg TATERSS

The saloon is the poor mans club. The
Prohibitionists, who think they can abolish it
altogether, overlook the fact that the saloon is
the centre of social pleasures for a large class
of the population. The poor man escapes to 10
from the noises, doors and many discomtorts
of his tenement-house home. He finds there
light warmth and general air Of comfort.
with newspapers to read, companions to talk to
and games to play. These attractions bring
the saloons much Of their patronage end have
to account for share Of the sum total of drunk
enness and crime though, to be sure, the
sources Of the larger part Of these lie much
deeper II the SALOON is closed, how are these
social cravings to be satisfied? There Is
more practical question stills there not some
agency which can be set at work TO meet these
wants of the poorer classes, and which can thus
compete with the saloon on its own groundS
The coffee tavern, az it exists in the larger of
the English cities, is such an agency, and its
praoticability has been thoroughly demonStrat-
ed. Robert Graham the well known secretary
Of the Church Temperance Society, gives some
account OF these in its organ, Temperance"
They are divided into two clAsses-those which
arc conducted purely as business enterprises.
and are expected TO pay full dividend on tho
money invested; and those which have sD
ayowed moral purpose in carrying on mission
work in connection with the establishment.
With the first class the rule has been followed
In all cases of making tho coffee taverns equally
attractive with the saloons, and quite as free
from any suggestion that they arc charitable
institutions. They are conducted by limited
liability stock companies. The first Of these
was formed in Liverpool fourteen years ago
with share capital Of $500, 600. II now has
sixty three houses in Different quarters OF the
city, and It's dividends have never fallen below
10 per cent New-YOrk cannot possibly pre-
sent greater need for an undertaking Of thft
kind than Liverpool. The saloons were the
only resources, both for food and shelter. Of .
great floating sailor population and vast
number Of unsldlIed laborers working IN the
docks. The first house was opened for this
class, and succeeded because the food was cheap
and good, was promptly served and the whole
enterprise was we'll managed. As the houses
have multiplied, they have been made hand
somer and more attractive. Mr.. Graham gives
a picture of one which cost $50, 900. He pre-
cents also q picture of q similar tavern In
birmingham WHICH WOulu Do rSBuIuou az ~
handsome structure on any business thorough
fare in the world. II is barely twelve years
since this company was formed, and IL now has
in Birmingham twenty-three houses and pays
dividends Of from 0 to / s per cent.
II Is hardly necessary to multiply examples.
II the coffee tavern which is conducted as q
business enterprise succeeds so admirably, the
coffee tavern which provides, besides the coffee
bar and reading rooms, lecture hall for re-
ligious services and popular entertainments
does not need to pay 30 we'll to be considered
successful. Persons who should undertake to
found establishments Of the latter class would
look more to their eleyatng influences than TO
the return upon the money invested. Yet, un-
doubtedly, these also could be made self-sup-
porting, and even remunerakve. What better
work could be done by some Of our philan-
thropists than to establish dozen or twenty
coffee taverns in the worst parts Of the city 2
II Is not enough to attempt to restrict the num-
ber of saloons, as all right minded citizens are
anxious TO do. We must supplement- this, as
Mr.. Graham tersely says, by supplying the
place Of the liQu .aloon by saloons without
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