The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-10

in an unfortunate moment, he had in
vested. though be himself is not resi-
dent OF the said Ward 6.
Folk acquainted with social, political
and economic conditions as they exist in
Ward could have warned MIR. BURKE
that the carpet baggsr from some other
ward who should venture into the terri
tory would naturally be regarded with
suspicion, u to say aversion. Barroom
society in Ward is proverbially exclu-
sive. The figurat,ve Four Hundred of the
saloon business in Ward 6 live In we'll
defined boundaries and do not mix with
what may be termed the common herd.
1t need not, therefore, have been mat
ter OF surprise to MIR. BURKE that in
venturing to go into business in Ward 6
nc was taking his license in his hands,
so to speak, and however fragrant the
olive branch he bore, rarroom society
down there would not willingly admit
him to the social status SO much to be
desired.
The result OF Mr.. BURKE's effort to en-
ter harroom society in Ward was,a nat
urally might have been expected, n
cles down in that select section.
The Journal as the recognized
mentor and consAvator of barroom
society, took up the matter and the Demo-
cratic party decided to go into the muni-
cipal campaign on this purely social issue
Saloon circles all over town were shortly
involved in a very much heated discus
sion. Candidate a. cGUINNEss, represent
ing one faction OF the upper tendon OF
the liquor business, made speeches on
behalf of preserving the social status Of
saloon society in Ward 6 from being en-
croachcd upon By Mr.. BURKE. The issue.
in Ward became an issue for the whole
Republicans were SO stirred in their
bosoms by the uprisl e in saloon society
that they became Goo-Goos. Alderman
FULLER didn't make any speeches, but
confined himself to vote hunting, and
he got good bag. The result of the
upheaval in saloon society was that the
barroom Four Hundred in Ward were
sustained by the people against the en-
,roachment OF Mr.. BURKE. Candidate
| McGUINNEss was elected. Alderman
FULLER was elected. Many Democratic
and Goo-Goo Councilmen were elected.
The integrity of saloon society in Ward 9
was successfully maintained.
But though thus receiving moral JUS
'tiHcation saloon circles in Ward were
not satisfied Mayor McGUINNEss was
not satisfied Alderman FULLER
was rot satisfied. For Mr.. BURKE
still had his license. Though, de jure,
ostracised from the Saloon Four Hundred
OF Ward 6, DE facto Mr.. BURKE may be
said to have been right in it, and saloon
circles ia Ward Six were naturally not
content with simply a moral victory. Mr..
BURKE, or his representative, was in
stalled in their mid4 There was danger
OF a popular revolutiot in his favor. II
Mr.. BURKE's representative sold better
rum at the same prices or the same rum
at a more advantageous price, that dan
ger would be real. Under such condi-
tions the mass OF the people in Ward Six,
who judge OF the social standing OF a
salo. n keeper only by the quality of the
liquor he sells at the price he charges for
it,and care nothing for ancestry or armor-
ial bearings on the tin signs that adorn
the front door, would in time renounce
their allegiance 90 the select coterie OF
sa oondom and give their patronage to
Mr.. BURKE's place. After oil IL a fellow is
real thirsty social prestige counts for
little in the selection of a drinking
place.
Accordingly II became> desirable to
drive Mr.. BURKE ont in fact as he was
already out in the sense that Mayor Nc
GUINNESS and Alderman FULLER had re-
ceived the endorsement of the people
in their campaign-though, it is
only fair to say, that the supporters of
the opponents OF these gentlemen
had not really understood the important
issue at stake, else the contest might
have been hotter. SO, under the guise of
an "investigat on" OF the license com
mis- ion, the warfare against the social
status assumed by Mr.. BURKE and main
tanned by him In defiance OF the will of