Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-28
"The Saloons O: South Washington"

To the Editor OF Tie Evsnin- Sta:
Mr.. J. ID. Baltimore, in an article which ap-
peared in yesterdays STAR tells the pubic
tina. ''ilere axe too many 3rinHing places. both
OF private and a pa3lic character. in South
Washington and that for the existence OF
.'.hese ka1n: IS OF vice and sin, where SO many
of our young men and women are ruined" the
Commissioners are not altogether to blame.
The ministers Of tine gospel and thoge associated
with them in the effort to reduce 1.-The number
OF saloons with which South Washington is UNI
fortunately cursed" have not tried TO lay all
the blame On the Commissioners. Nor have
We charged the intelligent. refined an1 cultured
people of South Washington with produc-
ing all this evil. We have laid the
sin at the doors Of people poor
and uneducated,'' VINO consent to their
own degradation and ruin to please the dram
sellers CT tina. section. Bat this i. just what
displsases Mr.. Baltimore, for, while he has no
good word to speak io- tine saloons. he earnestly
objects to the language in our protest and APP
peal. which describes the people of South
Washing ton, who make it possible for the liquor
men to run riot iii that section as they are now
doing. as poor, uneducated and residing where
elevasing influences are most nee1ed." Well.
somebody is to blame. and if the ''poor and
uneducated people" are not then 1.-THE refined
and cultured people OF that section are.
Is MIR. Baltimore willing to charge
the better thinking, educated and cul-
tured people OF South Washington with
giving their written consent to establish at
their very doors, and without restraint
''haunts OF vice and SIM as he is pleased to term
the saloons Of South Washington? II SO, the
refined and cultured people OF that section will
have nothing to thank him for. No, my
brother. this deluge Of saloons has not been
poured into South Washington by the consent
or at the demand Of the best people Of that
section, but ''our poor and uneducated' masses
have done 1t thoughtlessly or from motives Of
no praiseworthy character. Certainly intelli-
gent, cultured, refined people would not
make it possible, as it is today
for the pastor Of Mr. Baltimore's own
church to "stand OH his church premises and
throw stones and strike nine bar rooms;" nor
would it be possible for another preacher OF
this same section, whose house of worship is
surrounded with dram shops, to declare that he
had seen a dozen kegs Of beer rolled into sin
gle saloon On Saturday evening: had seen scores
Of men going into that saloon on Sunday, and
the empty kegs rolled out OF it on the Monday
following. This il the work of people whom
We all love and with whom we are identified
in interests and blood, but people who lack
self-respect, respect for family. respect for
church property and respect for the hopes and
reputation of the race. We can richly afford
speech if Mr.. Baltimore will only Join with US
and the Commissioners in aiding the colored
citizens Of South Washington, with the rest of
the people Of this community, in reducing the
number Of liquor saloons In residence localities.
WArrvR H BROORa