New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-19
BLACKMAIL GAME
HOW THE SUNDAY LAW WAS USED FOR
POLITICAL PURPOSES
STATEMENT BY THE EDITOR OF THE WINE AND
SPIRIT GAzETTG"-IiILL SAID HE WOULD GO
ALMOST ANY LENGTH TO HELP
THE LIQUOR MEN.

ALMOST ANY LENGTH TO HELP
THE LIQUOR MEN.
The following interview with J. p. Smith. Editor
OF The Wine and Spirit Gazette" on the Sunday
liquor law question. was printed yesterday in The
New-York Times":
have just returned from Albany. where I had
interviews with several prominent liquor-dealers
from the Interior Of the state. and they are unan-
forcement of the Sunday law here in New-York Will
lead to the solution Of the Sunday-law problem In
strict enforcement of the law entails hardshps on
the trade. they also believe that these hardships
come out OF the present method of enforcing the
statute This opinion. know, Is also held BY
very large number OF liquordealers In this city
They said further that the Excise law Of 1892, while
1t contained some good features did not meet ct 'nef
sunlay,closlnss law OF former years~oi 1851
Governor Flower, as we'll as the legislature which
Iinct pledges that that" relief would be given BY the
IN tho c,e Party of to the 10 rcoranee WITH sh
the Excise bill Of lss2 Mr Hcrzberg attorney.
OF Albany was the counsel of the LIQUOR Dealers H
Association. and drew the bill In It's original form
ne sunday opening clause was emnodied IN tne
bill After tho bin was drawn; copy OF II was as
taken to Governor Flower as his Signature vas o.
passage by the Legislature.
FLOWER OPPOSED SUNDAY OPENING
The Governor then said that he could not ap-
churches and that he n strong believer In the
sanctity OF the American Sunday. Seeing the hope
essness OF the efforts to have Sunday-opening
bill passed by a Democratic Legislature and signed
pledges OF regulating the question: the Liquor
Dealers Association. which had charge OF tne
bill. and It's attorneys struck the Sunday-openlhB
clause out. and the old provisions OF the Ia" on
the sunday question were rc-enacted D., ,Do soo
oni term had several Interviews with INN on
that very subject He told me: You know am
h. frfa Of fha lfa on
to any length to help them and give them relief.
but do not ask me TO recommend 10 ne aess'aiuro
tho passage OF law opening the saloons on sun
day J cannot do i: for 1t would rum the Demo-
Governor Hin gave the interview to vari-
members Of the State Liquor Dealers Asso-
OF New.York. who waited upon him for the pui-
pose OF getting relief from ne oackmaii OF mo
question properly regulated AT the bottom Of
the troube. Blaekmai had been brought TO such
that they communicated first with Governor lin
The wine and spiriu Gazette" had meanwhile
taken up the subject and denounced ne police ior
the manner In which The law wa pe n NnI'pG'u
tho gross discrimination made by the police In tho
pafer again and again called upon the Police Com
missioncrs 20 either uniformly enforce me Jaw or
trail Association OF Liquor Dealers OF this city then
took up the matter and called upon Police CON-
between m" leaders Of Tammany Hall and the
uor-dealers. according 10 which the monetary
in return Tor politica! support
BLACKMAIL STILL WENT on.
In other words. the retail dealers should bind
themselves to a,diy support the Tammany ticket
In consideration Of tho dsconthuance OF the none
tary blackmali by the police. This agreement was
carried out, Now what was the consequence? IL
the liauor-dealer after the monetary backmail
ceased showed any signs OF inueps ndence the Tam
many Hall district leader would give the tip TO the
uo.ce capta,n and that man would be pulled
and arrested the following Sunday
AS To IN. present enforcement OF the law, am
satisfied that IL L. hardship TO the liquor
and that the falling or In the receipts on SUNDAY
satisfied that IN the end II VII lead 10 better CON
dillon and a radical cnangc m tho regulation Oh the
traffic on sunday by legislative enactment
From what | have heard tho Police ,onlinlsslon-
crs honestly endeavoring 10 nave tne INV IN,
u.rsons and our Information from all classes or
nguordeaerr Ia that the rich ana The poor; the m
nuentlAl and the on-nnuenal. are required equalIy
to obey the law. think the Police Commissioners
ar be commended -.
/, strikes me that in every crisis where the right
OF "A principe ia AT stake IN war "a III peace som"
an. must suffer FOR the sake OF the genera good,
AMI think that II this present strict ctiorSeineh'
a., me Sunday law should lead 10 proper settle
mont OF the question by he Legislature. the trade
after "A few years VIII look back upon the
present period with feelings OF gratitude rather
than resentment ., , -. c,,,a,.
probcm lies In local option on that question IN the
cites OF the state I would exempt the country as
tricts because the conditions In the cities are totay
fierent from those prevailing In me rural uis,tcts
,rhe sunday question IL not burning issue IN the
country districts but II IL 80 with the cities or the
state with their cosmopolitan Character ana their
enormous population