The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1891-12-16
TEMPERANCE NOTES.
DRINK AT THE CLUBS,
Growing Evil Among SOCIAL Organizes
tlOn.

tiOn.
One of the pleas made by the advo-
Gates of Sunday liquor selling in this
city and elsewhere, in favor of opening
the saloons on Sunday, is to the effect
that the saloon is the poor mans club.
1t is urged that while gentlemen who
are members of wealthy, fashionable
clubs can purchase liquor on Sunday
within the club precincts, so ought also
the poor man to be able to obtain as
readily his Sunday supply of beer and
other liquors at the saloons. Thus
does the modern club not only promote
Che drink temptation among its own
members. and in many instances great
ly to their own injury. and to the det-
riment and ruin of the homes they rep
resent, but it becomes also a pretext
for Sunday saloon opening, and, in eff
feet, bulwark of the saloon system,
Much is said, and with great occa.
sion, against the evil influence of the
saloon, and a popular rallying cry
among the friends of temperance is
that "the saloon must 60" But one
of the most influential obstacles in the
way of abolishing the saloon is the
modern club. There are, of course,
notable and praise worthy exceptions
of clubs wherein Intoxicating bever-
ages are not allowed. But in clubs of
gentlemen of the wealthy class in most
of our large cities, wines and other
liquors are served to individual mem.
bers, and dispensed freely to members
and guests on all occasions of club
banquets and receptions. The polit-
ical influence of the saloon is great,
because of the political power which
Its voters, in combination, represent
But the wealthy, popular club, as the
center and rallying place of the more
intelligent political leaders and manip-
ulators, is also most important factor
of modern politics. Themselves wine
bibbers, these men, rather than sur
render their own indulgence, are prac-
tically in league with the saloon
habitues to perpetuate license, and to
oppose the onward progress of prohib-
tory legislation.
In many clubs, such as those upon
which we comment, are also many
members of Christian churches. With
the environment of elegance. and Of
eminent social responsibility, these
gentlemen assent, in the matter OF
liquor selling and the dispensing of in
toxicants in hospitality, to what in the
vulgar saloon they would not for mo-
ment personally consent to be identi.
fed with. We commend to the
thoughtful consideration of Christian
gentlemen, members of liquor selling
clubs. the noteworthy example of the
late Hon. William Z. Dodge, who re-
nounced his membership in the Union
League club of New York because o.
its completely with liquor selling.
The social influence of the moderr
club, in perpetuating and extending in
furious drinking usages, especially
among young men and women, is de-
plorable. 1t is latterly extending from
the large cities, such. as. New York, to
the smaller centers of population. We
know of a suburban city, not many
miles from this, where within year a
club has been established by some Of
its well-to-do citizens, in which intoxi
cants are served to members who de-
sire, and where young ladies and gen
tlemen indulge in wine who would no,
prior to this, or even now, think of such
indulgence in their own homes, and on
account of which great heartache has
already been occasioned in more than
one family. And even here liquors are
dispensed asthetieally, or Sundays
8lsn
1t is quite time to invite more gen.
eral attention to- and to emphasize the
warming against, the insidious and
growing evil, in connection with the
drink temptation of the modern club -
M.,f, AL I.N,~. Il