New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-15
DENOUNCED BEFORE WOMEN.
PERNICIOUs EFFECTS OF THE RAINES
BILL SET FORTH.
John T. CHAPMAN DISCUSSES THE EXCISE CUES
TON AT THE MEETING OF THE LEAGUE
FOR POLITICAL. EDUCATION.

FOR POLITICAL EDUCATION.
"rhe Excise Question was the subject under con-
sideration by the League for Political Education
Yesterday morning. The League now numbers over
800 members, and many invited guests attend
its Saturday morning conferences. the audito-
rum at the Berkeley Lyceum adjoining the League
rooms. was filled with women ana sunicleHt
sprinkng Of men to keep in counenance the speaker
of the day, John J. Chapman who had consented
to unrave certain knotty points regarding the liquor
question for the benefit of the auditors.
The Woman's Political League founded for
the purpose of promoting intelligent interest in the
conditions and responsibilities Of citizenship its aim
being rather to overcome the disparity now exist
Ing between the IN their knowledge OF ana
interest in public affairs than to concern itself with
the question of equal suffrage. Among the women
and men who are identified with the association
there are as many who Indifferent TO as there
are tsose in favor of the suffrage movement me
League organized for active work on Janu-
airy l. 1885, and has since then increased rapidly IN
influence and numbers and taken up various courses
of study bearing civil and municipal govern
ment
The officers are: President. Mrs II. NJ. Sanders;
yice-presidents, Mrs. Robert Able, Mrs. Ben All
Haggin, Mrs W. J. lie Moyne Alfred Bishop Mason.
Miss Helen Mcdowell, Mrs. Runlle the Rev. Dr.
Henry A. Stimson and W. II. Tolman; treasurer
Miss Laura " Day; corresponding secretary Dr.
Mary Putnam jacob. and recording secretary, Miss
Adele VI. Fie.de.
Mrs Runkle's class this year has studied the sub
ject of Economics Affecting the Social Struct-
ure" the members meeting each "Wednesday at the
Berkeley Lyceum There have been classes for
the study of Bryce's american Commonwealth
meeting on Friday mornings, papers and debates
being read on that subject. and on Saturdays the
various municipal departments OF the city govern
ment have been considered. Miss FHelde acting as
chairman and instructor. and having in charge also
a series OF drill lessons in parliamentary usage,
,I,n T1iasf
days.
Recently Il has become the custom or the munich
pal class to ask specialists on the different topics
to conduct its Saturday meetings. thus arordng
the opportunity OF appealing to expert
masculine authority in regard to certain COM
plicated questions which might battle their EFFORTS at
research understanding.
If. before Mr.. Chapman's address yesterday morn
ing any of them felt uncertain TO the good or
evil effects of the Raines bill on the excise ques-
ton, the speaker left them with n very DEFINITE
impression of its iniquous and pernicious tendency
Mr. Chapman pointed out the measures of the bill
in detail He said that 1t matter OF astonlsh-
ment that there had been no public dem9 p
why such meeting had taken place was because.
owing to the subtle "REMINISCENCES anu anu anerai nnh
lie did no; understand II at present. lie gave M
figures OF the money that war likely 20 be made
out OF the new measure by the commissioners, ana
said that its enactment was putting temptation
piimented the ability which the trainers OF the bill
had displayed in causing IL 10 appear that in ap-
PPrtuay ang nquor out Of pC,cs There
enough perqulsites and spclls in that bin to &. go
the speaker and the audience iatsne5 ana APP ap
not of the city, these asiue legislators Sc, their
wits to work TO find out how best they could g..
the Greater at New.York bin what called the
Lexow BILL and last bns not eas s ,ns steps
gained II % n Of hs ! b III
sioner can say to n saloonkeeper: You sell liquor
on Sunday. l can get witnesses to prove that you
plenty OF his contemporaries who do) and II you
don't give me $50 by Monday VIII break up your
Mr.. Chapman declared that the question Of closing
or not closing on Sunday should be put 10 yoe
Of ,hs t Of ieT Who Would
uphold the Sunday opening. and Mr. CHAIRMAN an IN
swered that even b %I ad vote against open
saloons. The Legislature was opposed TO putting
the question to vote ana ha cn es oDJrnv for
blackmail lay IN the Sunday law. The Legislature
did not want the question put to the test s road IN
the papers about the excise question the more con,
fused She became. and asked II a high license dd
not diminish the number Of saloons and 70 dimin.
sh the proportion of drunkenness; The referee
answered in the affirmative put sad ,hat IN ms at
could offset the political corruption that instisaied
member of the League. whom Mr.. Chapman's
there were In the tenement house districts now 400
saloons 700 bakeries and, in her opinion, any
the proportion Of saloons among the poor vas
Sod % Mr. T csapa adnd % his
statement regarding the importance or potichi cor
ruption compared with the welfare OF me lndl-
regard to the Norwegian method Of dealing with
this question how OHIO MANAGED her liquor tax taX
measures, etc me 9iscuss'oh was ""''''"''" u"'''
the meeting adjourned