Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-29
SORROW IN SALOONS.
Many Retail Liquor Dealers Ready
to Get Out of the Business.
BIG PROFIT A THING OF THE PAST.
Growth of Intelligence CrOwding Out the
Drinking Habit.
POLITICIANS REJOICE AT THE FACT

There is either a less amount OF stimu-
liant consumed in Pittsburg than formerly,
or people go about the consumption in a
different manner than in former years.
Various causes are assigned, some of which
follow: IS.
Observant persons have noticed great
change in the last 20 years, one that would
not attract the attention of strangers, per.
| haps but is prominent to lifelong citizens
who keep eye and ear open. Squire Cas-
sidy was induced to scan his mental
notebook, last evening, and he OBJ
served that silent influences had
been taking root for more than a
decade that promise in few years more to
revolutionize society in this city. In the
first place the long strikes following the ebb
alter the currency initiation taught thousands
the necessity of economizing-people who
would never have learned it in any other
school. Another thing readily observable
is the growth of the reading habit, which
has increased much faster than the growth
Of the city. Mr.. Cassidy estimates that the
newspaper circulation has doubled since
1880, while population has increased less
than per cent in the same time.
OBTAINING MENTAL NoURIsHMENT.
While it may be true, and doubtless is, as
some hold, that many people take newspa-
pers merely to get police and sporting news,
and are not greatly nourlshed, yet there can
be no doubt that while looking for this news
they will stumble from time to time on
something substantial, and gradually acquire
taste for better mental pabulum. The
donbling in circulation of Pittsburg papers
means an increase of 350, 900 readers in the
territory of which it is the center, and the
broadening of reasoning base to that ex-
tent
Squire Cassidy says IT. will
eventually be felt in politics, as
it has already in morals. He has
detected weakening in machine power,
in that it takes more cash to accomplish po-
litical results than formerly, though the
number OF vote-sellers has not increased
with population. He also states that fac
trade-unionism. There are brainy men in
unions who are we'll up in economic ques-
tions. and advocates of both high tariff and
tariff reform, who could give 20 per cent OF
our Congressman points. AS iron sharpen
eth iron, so these men sharpen the intellects
of men of less endowment, stim ulate thought
and desire for knowledge.
LESS DRINKING NOW.
Mr.. Cassidy further calls attention to the
fact that the drinking habit has declined
Pittsburg supported more saloons than she
does to-day, and most of them made money.
1t may be argued that there has been an in
crease in home drinking, but if so, the
"wanity" is of a milder type than that of
20 years ago. being generally beer instead
OF whisky. Some may hold this as an argu-
ment for high license, which reduces
the number of saloons, but it is partly, at
least, the outgrowth of the reading
and thinking habit. The vacuum which
nature abhors must be filled, either by
thought or the fumes of booze, and it does
not detract from the assertion to say that
many men of gifted minds drink to excess.
There are other reasons for their intem-
perauce.
Finally, Mr.. Cassidy observes what con-
siderable number of other people have, to
wit: While there may be more speak-easies
or original package houses next year than
this, it is almost certain there will be fewer
saloons. He would not give names for pub
Iication, but he knew q pumber of saloon
keepers, who were not making any money,
but were being carried by wholesale dealers
and brewers, in the hope that business may
grow before the present licenses expire
sALooN1sTs LOSING MONEY.
Thus it is seen that 307 liquor sellers, even
with speak-easies hermetically sealed, can
not all make money, pay high rents and $500
license, though nearly 1000 fourished 20
years ago, with more than 100000 less pop
ulation to draw from. In view of the whole
situation, one must conclude that either
people drink much less than formerly, or
have chosen some other stimulant than those
furnished by saloon keepers.
From another source it was learned that
the reduction in the number of saloons have
been a great saving to politicians who wish
to be considered in their claims for favor, on
their merits alone, and conversely, an elm
ination of the political ROSTERS power.
County Commissioner Mercer casually re-
marked that it cost much less to make a
political canvass now than formerly,
and this started discussion that
intensified the contrast between the present
and the days when ex-Commlssioner Beckert
was in Office. Then the procession of bum
mers who insisted not only on candidates
for Office buying tickets to metaphysical
balls, picnies, etc., and to real events of
these descriptions, but considered even
those safely in the saddle OF legitimate
game.
WANT OUT OF THE BUSINESS.
Saloons on prominent thoroughfares are
still largely patronized, but in the suburbs
many proprietors wish they had their $500
and other expenses incurred back in their
pockets, and would exchange their licenses
for them and give little to boot.
A good many people want to transfer,
some of them succeed and some do not. Yes
terday was fixed for the hearing on the ap-
plication OF W. L. Lipplncott for the trans
fer of his wholesale liquor dealers license
at the corner OF Smithfeld and West Car
son street to A. A. MiIligan, of Boggs
avenue. The case was not reached and
there seemed to be an impression in the
Clerk of Courts Office that the petition will
not be granted when it is reached. The ap-
plication of Charles Manning to transfer to
T. E. Brophy, and Fred Schultis to L. W.
Ebert were granted.
A. J. McQuitsy stated that he had heard
that saloon keepers in Mansfield and Char
tiers boroughs were not doing much bust
ness, though there are but five saloons. and
in former years there were over 40 within
the same boundaries, and all made a living
and some laid away money.
NO MORE RICH HARyEsTs.
George H. Bennett 8, Bros. stated that
they had not noted any change. but as thev
do wholesale business and are not in the
bottle and jug trade, they could not esti-
mate what effect the latter might have on
the saloon trade. They had understood.
however, that wholesaling in a bottle and
jug way had hurt saloons in the suburbs,
and they supposed there was some truth in
the reports.
A number of people said they had heard
that the saloon keepers, as class, were not
reaping anything like SO great harvest as
fhav did 1act vear and thev kneyv this IN ha