The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-10-04
Sunday Closing In New York.


From the Toledo Blade
Every reader of the Blade knows that the
efforts to enforce the law closing the saloons
of New York City on Sunday are successful
and as New York is the largest city in the
United States, this fact disproves the prop
osition that restrictive liquor laws cannot be
enforced In great cities. The matter Is one
of sueh interest all over the union that we
will give synopsis of the whole matter,
that our readers may follow the struggle In
New York understandiIgly.
The law was passed several years ago by
the legislature of New York known as
the excise law, which provided regulations
for the retail traffic in intoxicating liquors.
Among other things it prohibited the open
ing of bars or sale of liquor on Sunday, be-
tween the hours of twelve Saturday night
and twelve Sunday night. The law was
passed by democratic legislature and
signed by democratic governor but until
recently the Sunday feature was only par
TALLY enforced or rather its violation was
permitted In New York city by the
authorities then in power.
When, however, Mr.. Theodore Roosevelt
was appointed, by Mayor Strong, president
of the board of police commissioners of New
York city, he concluded that the law being
on the statute books, should be enforced.
He took the impregnable ground that no
law should be passed that is in any way
unjust, therefore there should be no law on
the statute books to be considered as a dead
letter. All laws should be enforced, amend
ed or repealed.
The enforcement of the Sunday closing
provision caused much excitement in New
York City and the Tammany Hall demo-
Gratis sought to use it against the reform
administration; but the authorities went
ahead, and every saloon and bar in New
York City was virtually closed on Sunday
and that is now the situation.
Senator Hill, in an interview. while adj
hitting the law was passed by democrats
and signed by democratic governor, said
1T was never intended to be strictly con-
strued." He probably told the truth. The
main purpose of the law was to widen the
field of blackmail in New York city in the
interest of the Tammany managers, much
of their wealth being drawn from the liquor
dealers. Police authorities assumed the
privilege to enforce the law or wink at open
doors and for every wink, tribute was
levied and thus only those who submitted to
blackmail were permitted to violate the law.
This was the situation when Tammany was
overthrown but it is not the situation now
under Roosevelt and Strong.
When it became clear that the law was to
be enforced fully and impartially, the asso-
citation of liquor dealers of New York City
met to consider the situation and issued an
address to the public. In that they claim
that the business of retailing liquors is a
! legitimate one. 1t is authorized by the
state, and for the privilege they pay heavy
license. This being the case, they do not
choose to be blackmailed or classed as law
breakers. They do not wish their business
TO be illegitimately oppressed or that them
selves shall be disgracea; therefore they
give notice that they will obey the law,
close their places of business on Sunday and
aid the authorities in compelling everyone
engaged in the traffic to render compliance
with the provisions of the statute. They
even denounce side door evasion.
But they appeal to the people and declare
| it will remain for the latter to decide wheth-
er the Sunday law shall stand. They ask
for "local option" statute; that is that a
law shall be passed giving the voters of the
city of New York the right to ballot on the
question whether the saloons shall be
allowed to be open on certain hours on Sun
day.
This is the shape in which the matter
stands just now. The saloons of the city
are closed on Sunday; and the liquor men
instead of seeking to evade the law, are
clamoring for its modification so that they
may be allowed to keep their saloons open a
portion of the day on Sundays. What the
outcome may be, no one can foretell. But
it is certainly proved that Sunday closing
can be enforced in our great cities and thus
another argument is placed in the hands of
those who seek to
Pulverize the Rum Power.
The only remedy in the world that will at