New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-05
DRY. EXCEPT FOR THE RAIN.
LITTLE MOISTURE FOR THE INNER MAN
YESTERDAY.


DRIEsr SUNDAY ON RECORD. HE
sAYs-MEMBERs or THE CITY VIC
LANCE LEAGUE ON DETECT
I'VE DUTY - DIR. PARK
HCRsTs LETTER.
40 variation from the rigid policy mapped out py
Commissioner Roosevelt when he undertook inc
task OF closing all saloons Sunday was nouoe'
able yesterday. Only the elements saVeo INC '"'
from being the driest Sunday since the present
crusade was begun. Previous sundays nave oee'
hot and dusty. but yesterday intermt'eh, s"o"e'
through the day kept the air cool. and the GOWN
nour in the evening made II uncomfortable OUTSIDE.
During the last few Sundays. which nave pee"
typicaI hot summer days. those VINO hao piou'ouS
tendencies knew intuitivey that they couio not
satisfy their thirst in the city. and accordingly
went of to spend the day al some place where the
LIQUORS flowed freely. Manhattan Beach. Coney
Island and similar resorts have in this way drawn
larger crowds than usual AT least. the visitor 10
one Of these places was assured that there "ouiu
be no dearth of liquid refreshment Yesterday,
however was not the sort OF a day that one would
naturally pick on; for journey down 10 the sea-
side. AS result. the percentage OF bipuous CHI
zens that remained in town was. perhaps. larger
than on any previous Sunday since Mr.. Roosevelt
took charge of affairs. Consequently. the grumoins
increased In a corresponding ratio. but IT ala no
good.
II there was ANYTHING noticeable about the
forcement of the Excise law 1t the I'M
usual number of policemen on duty. and the
manner in which they placed The Commits
sioners have made out a blacklist, and saloon
keepers who have been constantly evading the
law received particular attention. In front OF
many saloons and sometimes three police
men, in their uniforms, could be seen watch
ing saloon. In this way the persistent law
breakers unable to accomplish anything.
The hotel stand manfully by their agree
tna,v oil
no liquor except the law provides for As re-
suit the cafes leather and buffet rooms were
tightly closed. The restaurants did normal bus-
ness Strangers in the city were inclined to object
TO the usual order of things. but when they were
told OF Commissioner Roosevets determination
they were forced to submit. and the result
that a great many Sunday political arguments
were started TO the effect that the enforcement
OF the law will have in the next election This is
regular theme OF discussion in the uptown districts
these Sundays.
One method of getting around the law in a legiti-
mate way. put in operation by Oliver Sumner
Teall Yesterday Mr.. Teall is president of the
Girder Club. which has rooms at No. 1852 Broad
way. Yesterday he opened at No. IS West Thirty
thrd-st what known the Girder Clubs
Branch Club No. !. This cubroom open from
noon until II at night. The srictest of house rules
prevailed and but members allowed to
get drink.
MR. DEMENT'S CRUSADE.
Superintendent bennett Of the Society for the
Prevention of Crime. on the warpath yesterday
and when he started from his home in the
morning for a days crusade against recreant
loon-keepers ne fearfully and wonderfully
rayed A Tribune reporter met him at the Offices
Of the society No 2s7 Fourth-ave. just he
turned from his wanderings the East Side and
for a few seconds failed TO recognize Mr. bennett
Ordinarily. he is man OF smart appearance and
energetic demeanor. but yesterday not even his
closest friend meeting him in the street would have
taken him for aught but Thoroughbred ruffian
or a slouching ongshoreman He pair of
trousers that the average man would disdain 10
go GARD rnng in, a coat that must look back many
years TO the halcyon days of its first appearance.
a collarless shirt. with the least suspicion OF
the washtub about it. and pair of boots adj
mirably ventilated. To this outfit must be added
three four days growth OF beard. a battered felt
hat stuck the head at a jaunty angle, coat collar
turned up. hands in his pockets, and the word
sketch Of Mr.. Dement'S appearance is complete.
Well known ne is. it is small wonder that he
imposed upon saloon-keepers. who undoubtedly
would believe they had in him a regular seven-day
imbiber. with sympathy for the efforts of Presi
dent Roosevelt and his supporters. But notwith-
standing his careful preparations, Mr.. bennett
gained admission to few saloons, and the spells Of
the sortie amounted TO only three half-pnt bottles
OF whskey. which he carefully labelled and will
probably lay before the Commissioners. TO be used
tomorrow evidence.
SATISFIED WITH HIS DAYS WORK.
Mr.. bennett was. however. thoroughly satisfied
with his days work among the East Side saloons.
He found thai they were practically all closed dur
ing the whole OF the day. He spoke in praise of the
majority OF the saloon-keepers who, he said showed
every desire TO keep within the bounds of the law.
He added
There is no doubt whatever that to-day has been
the driest day have had yet, and II todays
fanda no
for anything better under the present condition of
things. l have made thorough tour OF the East
Side to-day and out OF the 800 saloons which
visited, l only gained admission to three-only !
per cent you And it only after pitching
a big ghost story that / got into these three.
Il have anything ike IT, and 1t sur
passed my most sanguine expectations. The sa-
looms tina, l was admitted in the
Union Market and Madison-st. precincts but,
mind you. the police in these districts were
thoroughly doing their duty; In fact, the police
generally seemed for some reason to be much more
viglant to-day than upon any previous Sunday.
Last week ii difficult enough to get drink.
but to-day, with the exception Of few isolated
cases. It absolutely impossible. tell you
and know what am talking about could get
drink easier in the prohibition State OF New
Hampshire than in New-York to-day. many
peop.e trying to get in at side doors, but without
a a 10 an n TO
thought it would come this. Maggie" she gave
about out the streets and although some Of the win
dow curtains were down. l satisfied myself that
those saloons not doing business. James
Breen, who lives at No. Is Monroe-st., and has
lived in the same street forty years, told me
ne had never seen so dry Sunday.
LIQUOR-sELLERs NOT OPPOSED TO SUNDAY
CLOSING.
During the last few days l have had talks with
a good many saoon-keepers and | confident
that the greater proportion Of them not averse
TO closing on Sunday. They admit, Of course. that
Roosevelt is top. and that while their gross re-
cepts are not much this is Offset by other
considerations A well-known aloon-keeper said TO
me yesterday: i like Sunday closing: find my
bartenders work better during the week. am not
visited by ward men who are getting up subscrip-
tions for some cause or other. l don't have TO
buy Hollywood whiskey. / don't have troops of
Indians from the Comanche. Iroquois and other