The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-25
THE ROCHESTER, EXPERIMENT..
vIndication OF tho Policy OF the Mayor
Reputable Liquor Dealers Approve 1t.

Reputable Liquor Dealers Approve 1t.
ROCHESTER,. May 23.-1t is only natural that
SO radical q change as has occurred In this
city since the Sunday closing OF saloons has
been in oper alton should arouse opposition. It
has at last found voice in o Sunday newspaper
newly started. and eager to make a sensation in
almost any way. 1t finds fault with the Mayor
and with leading Democrats who are supposed
to advise with him in the policy he has been pur-
suing. Without doubt the criticisms thus ex-
pressed voice the feelings OF some liquor SELL
ers and OF some liquor drinkers unable. except
surreptitously. to visit their favorite saloons
on Sunday. But the action Of the local liquor
dealers association urging compliance with
the Sunday closing law has not been modified
II the majority Of liquor dealers are opposed to
this policy, 1t is strange that no attempt has
been made to make this opposition known Of
Rcaly. In the absence OF such attempt such
sporadic opposition as has been shown TO
Mayor Carroll does not count
The criticisms. though given in the Sunday
paper as original. are reproduced word for
word from the TankeeDers' Journal as written
by visiting correspondent. who spent only a
few days In the city. and made what was. I'M
der the circumstances. the natural mistake OF
taking few individual expressions. uttered,
perhaps. rather noisily for the voice Of an
tire community. Possibly the old saying
about appealing from Philip drunk to Philip
sober may apply in this case The collective
opinion OF the mass OF reputable liquor sellers
has been officially decl AIRED in the approval by
their organization OF the Mayors policy. That.
so far, Is conclusive, unless reversed. which ID
Closing the saloon on Sunday is not merely
the law. but 1t is always made a condition on
sellers may and do differ widely as to the poll.
have for years closed their places OF business
on Sunday; for the purpose, OF enjoying day
OF rest. hey did this under administrations
when no attempt was made TO enforce sunday
closing. and when liquor dealers, who would
gladly Join them felt them;elves obliged by
the stress OF competition TO keep their places
open. Tho saloon keeper who closed while
others about him were doing business lost
many customers; who. once lost, continued to
patroni2e other places during the week. Now
this complaint Is no longer heard. All places
are closed. There was for one or two Sundays
thereafter an increased outpour from the city
to neighboring watering places. where Sunday
closing was not enforced This has fallen of.
this season. There is however, considerably
more liuor bought Saturday mig, night and used
at home on sunday than before tho saloons
were closed on that day.
Having sought the views OF o number Of re.
them agreeing that sunday closing is good
thing. some Of them say II they cannot make
q living by SIX days, attention to their business
OF It, When they have kent oDen heretofore 1t
has been for tho convenience OF their GUS
toners rather than for their own profit. 1t IS
better every way for these customers to get
supplies the day before. and keep their bust
moss places closed At first there was some
grumbling about the exodus OF Rochester men
and money to outside Watering places. but
since this has fallen on this objection does not
now Apply. Ii LIQUOR sellers can make as much
or nearly as much by working six days rs they
can can n seven they viii be very foolish 10 deny
themselves their extra day OF rest.
moro important and controlling considera-
ton Is that the li1uor closing movement is an
tlon OF law instead OF making it contrabnnd. az
tho opposite policy has done. 1t is incredible
t Hnd repufHbe men. rs the large proportl0n OF
place themselves under the ban OF legal as Well
Ut popuiar iisnpproval. Thai is the preference
OF comparatively small number. though 1t
may he dlsrroportionately noisy and sell as
sertIve., COMPLAINT Is made By tho linuor
ll25 and lao Hglicensed liquor places open IN
Rochester These are mostly low dives. which
sell surreptit ously at MI times. and probably
more On SUNDAY than on any other day OF the
woek. The elect OF Sunday closing has been
to sharply discriminate tho reputable from the
vantage OF the former. How many OF the rep
ntnole LIQUOR sellers would wish TO weaken
the goou ropute OF their establishments for the
pa!try patronage that disregard OF their license
Obligations might secure?
Liquor Dealers Association up to the mark It
SGT for Itself ut It's last state convention IN this
reputable basis, 1t was agreed then that tho
only way TO do this was TO live up to the law
while seeking BY every honorable means 10
librraliHe the laws. as experience might show
10 DO IustilIable and advisable. The Sunday
cause many believed that its illbeTaiity needed
to becorrected before general enforcement was
possible. But the same principle upon which
compliance with the law against selling liquor
70 minors was urgedi also logically demands
like compliance with the Sunday closing law
now howl in Roehester. The local Ti%no ar Dsass
Association. IN urging Its members to comply
icaIiy followed out It's own original policy i , 81
obedience TO the law.