The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-03-21
THE CLERGY ARE ALI. AGAINST IT.
Most of Them Only Demand High License
and Sunday Closing.


Most of Them Only Demand High License
and Sunday Closing.
Icalled upon the Rev. Father Hennessy,
of St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church,
last evening, and asked him what he
thought of the provisions of the new law.
The reverend gentleman received me cor
daily and prefaced his views by saying
II am satisfied with high license and
closing the saloons on Sunday. | do not
think prohibition is feature we can en-
force, because we cannot prohibit the sale
of liquor altogether. Our great work is
to regulate and control the traffic.
There are many features which could
have been introduced into the law, and if
we could secure the absolute closing of
the saloons on Sunday that would be a
great gain.
"The leading feature of the new law, as
understand it, does away with
all summary proceedings and pro.
vides for the trial by jury of
all offenders against the law. This
may do away with Sunday closing, but. |
am of the opinion that the principle of a
fair and impartial trial by jury is one
which should not be interfered with. So
far / am satisfied with the new law.
'sFor us here the restoration of trial by
the closing of the saloons on the Lords
day. The commission law is
repealed, and the Sheriff has
the power to draw juries which will be in
sympathy with the liquor sellers. 1t will
be our part to watch the officers of the
servance of the law by closing all the
| saloons on Sunday.
This matter of closing the saloons here
ON Sunday practically amounts to nothing,
as the side doors are open and the police
are not authorized TO enter and ascertain
whether or not liquor is sold within. Still,
| it is an homage to the Lords day that
even the front doors are closed and the
| lights put out. / am glad we have even
that much, as | was afraid these features
of the old law would be abolished alto
gether.
81 am afraid, however, that owing to the
| possibilities of immunity from punish
ment which the new law presents, the
! LIQUOR sellers will become elnboldened and
all endeavors to enforce the closing of the
saloons on Sunday will be useless"
The Rev. William Eakins, pastor of
Simpson Methodist Church. said
II don't believe in the bill, and that, I
believe, is all / can say. do object
to anything that interferes with
the existing law, which is an advance IN
the cause of temperance. | have thought
of looking into the matter closely and
preaching on it Sunday night"
The Rev T. f. Davis, pastor of the Sum-
NIT Avenue Baptist Church, was much
surprised to learn from me that the Werts
bill was law, and what its provisions
were. He said when it was explained to
him.
81 hardly feel capable of passing an
opinion on this subject; but am in favor
OF any step toward temperance, and be-
lievesin ultimate prohibition in this State. +"
The Rev. Father Cassidy, of St. Peters,
said that he had not read the bill, but he
=. q 1,afx fond 10
break up the low grog shop. He thinks
the higher the license the better
The Rev John l.. Scudder of the Taber-
nacle was next visited.
ssWhy,n said he, sit is only retrogading.
Jersey was always behind the age, but
she won't always stay there. This thing
is the work of the rum power, which has
forced the politicians to do what they
were afraid to do. twill return upon them
all, however, like boomerang 1t will
serve to encourage the temperance people,
who will unite and in the end crush all
hands. This move will eventually kill the
rum power.
The Rev. w. C. Snodgrass thinks the new
law much less desirable than the one it
replaces.
bill, - he said, 'sas an attempt to satisfy the
temperance people with less strict law
than the present one, and give the liquor
business ulls tH6 lUclplco pO5olUAc uutiSI
existing circumstances" 4"
The Rev. d. Halleron, of st. PauPs
Methodist Church on Third street, said
that he fully approved of last years tenn
perance Legislation, as far as it went,
especially the local option and Sabbath
closing features.
wherever the Werts act conflicts with
that legislation" said he, II heartily con-
denim it, The Werts bill is a compromise
measure, in my Judgment designed to
placate the liquor interests without offend
ing the God-fearing and temperance peo-
pie of the State, which is impossible, be-
cause they are elements thoroughly an
tagonistic."
The Rev. Mr.. Mitchell, of the Scotch
Presbyterian Church, on Mercer street,
wrote this:--
II regret exceedingly the passage of any
| bill that will encourage more liquor sell
| ing, or that will affect the laws affecting
this business on the Sabbath. The only
comfort is that when the worst is reached
the public will be aroused on the whole
question of the liquor traffic. Meanwhile
| It is for temperance reformers to get
| together and adopt measures looking to
the future and that will ensure radical
| reformation--the change of heart and life
| by the Gospel of Christ"
! SAN HE GOT DRINK WITH THE KEEPER