The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-15
WANT WET SUNDAYS
MEETING AT NEW YORK IN THE IN
TEREsT OF SALOON KEEPERS.
Rev. Rainsford Pleads for the Open
ing of the "Worlcingmen's Club"
on the Day of Rest.

NEW YORK, March H.--Those who ex-
pected an expression of opinion on the
question of Sunday opening from Mayor
Strong at he mass meeting in Cooper
Union tonight were disappointed. No such
expression was Forthcoming. The Mayor,
on the contrary, sent a brief note to DR..
John Friedrichs, signed by Secretary
Hedges, in which he expressed his inability
to be present at the meeting or to send
lengthy letter More than two thousand
people were gathered in the big hall in
Cooper Union when ex-senator John c.
Boyd called the meeting to order. On the
southern end of the hall was a faring pos
ter bearing the words: 1--WE demand a vote
pn the Sunday question; let the majority
rule
The speakers of the evening were DIR.
w. S. Rainsford, DR.. John Friedrichs, and
DR.. J. H. Rylance. Among the prominent
people who occupied seats on the stage
Ter, Theodore Sutro, General Franz Sigel
and Judge Leonard A. Giegerch. Some of
the organizations represented. in bodies ut
the meeting were: knights of Labor, Cen
trai Labor Union rs, Federation of Labor
Central T1irnverin and the iron Society.
speaker william steinway, he he said, aid was was
unable to preside on account of illness.
livered a speech of some length against the
Sunday, closing law.
Rev, DIR. w: S. Rainsford, of st. Georges
present excise law law which Closes Closes saloons al @
on sunday | am in favor Of opening sa-
say from IL midday to TO- Let me give
some Of my reasons He said he believed
that the opening of saloons for certain
ing. The present law, he thought, was im-
possible OF enforcement and its disregard
healthy for the public morals. AS to this
evasion, he said: Il need not say that this
IS not true of Irish or Germans alone. 1t
is also true of large proportion of cur
American population"
Secondly, 1 am in favor of opening the
saloons on Sunday because / think such
action fairer to the poor men and to the
working classes Personally, / believe the
vast majority of men in every way healthier
and richer for not touching alcohol. i have
tried both plans myself. / was once
moderate drinker. / am now a total alb
this truth, yet l cannot force him to it.
The only club the working man has is the
saloon. He does not go there simply To
drink, or to smoke; he goes to meet his
friends, and he has got to go there to meet
his friends, for he has no home in which
they can meet him. You have no right to
close up the workingmans club on Sunday
If you do you must close up the gentle
mems clubs also, for we do not need clubs
/ wish there were other clubs for the wage
sarners. ear . Iis believe Sin in time thNe must be-
not DR.. Rainsford said he believed sun
day saloons would diminish drunkenness
and would take the saloons out of politics.
The present law, he said, gave opportunity
for blackmail.
Dr.. Rainsford left the hall amid cheers.
letter from Carl Schurz was read in
which he pursued substantially the same
argument as had DR.. Rainsford. DIR. John
J. H. Rylance, rector of St. Mary's Church.
also spoke. Resolutions were passed as fol-
lows:
the present Legislature of bill removing
retrictions upon Sunday closing during the
some measure that will leave the question
of Sunday opening to a vote of our citizens
at the next election.
Resolved, That the chairman be author
lied to appoint a committee of twenty-five
to take such action as may be deemed neces-
sary to further the object of this mass
meeting and also to formulate plan of
permanent organization, whose sole purpose
shall be to advance the cause of Sunday
liberty