The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-03-08
An Investigators Report at
the Embury N. E. Church
Last Evening.
Rev. L. q. Horton Preached a
Powerful Discourse BefOrea
Large Audience.
SERMON STRONG AND ELOQUENT.
The Reverend Speaker Claims That the Sixty
Eight Saloons in This City are Not Pay.
Ing Inyestment-LocaI Notes.

A large congregation assembled at the
Embury M. E. Church last evening to
listen to Rev. l.. q. Horton, pastor OF the
church, preach his monthly sermon in
the "Good Government" series. His sub
ject was an "Investigator's Report" 1t
was based on a portion of the eight chap
ter of Ezekiel. The sermon, like previous
ones, was strong, clear and to the point,
and commanded close attention. The fol-
lowing is a summary:
In view of the fact that the citizens OF
Central Falls are about to have another
opportunity to vote on the question
whether or not the sale OF intoxicants
shall be licensed, deem it pertinent that
4 should endeavor to state certain conclu-
sion at W hich havesrrived t fter new
and painstaking canvass OF this grave
question. Postmaster General Wilson in
a speech before the New York Chamber OF
Commerce said recently, ''in country
where every question ultimately rests on
popular suffrage, the campaign OF educa-
ton is perpetual duty" What applies
to our great national issues applies equally
we'll TO our local issues. Even though 1t
may not be possible to carry no-licence,
it is our duty to agitate and educate, to
state our convictions with clearness and
in every legitimate way seek to influence
public opinion And in attempting to do
SO | am aware that many men of good
sense and good morals differ with me. So
while tonight state my position you will
understand that ! give everyone before
me credit for honesty and sincerity OF
thought and motive. IL my statements
coincide with your ideas you are priv
iieged to say amen; IL not, would gladly
win by nsweet reasonableness" to my way
OF thinking.
The main question before us is, shall it
be license or refuse to license the saloon in
this city? Mark you, we are solely dealing
with the saloon problem. Let us not COM
plicate the question with others easily
confounded with IL. We are not consider
ing the different parties TO ask which Is
best any most worthy of our support
this is not a party issue. We do not repre-
sent the "third party" which stands for
the abolition of the manufacture and sale
of intoxicants at wholesale and retail for
drinking purposes. We must recognize
that our fellow citizens of foreign birth
who are engaged in this business do not
understand the sentiment that prevail
around them. The large number of them
What we have our eyes upon, what we can
see no good in, what we seek to annihilate
is the open saloon where liquors are sold to
be drunk on the premises? Now as candid
persons ask yourselfs if the saloon confers
any merits ON the community. Within a
few years we have seen a complete change
i'm sentiment regarding certain great in
dustries which hitherto have been allowed
to thrive and fatten at the public expense.
For example, cities are beginning to refuse
franchises and to build and manage their
own water and gas works, electric lightn-
ing and car systems instead of giving the
priviledges away to monopolists.
Now what is for the best interests of
Central Falls? Does the saloon assist the
Individual, improve the home, increase
legitimate business, raise the price Of real
estate or conduce to public order or de-
cency? AS to the individual we do not
need to argue the debasing effect Of the
saloon upon the physical, mental, moral
and spiritual life. II the saloon benefits
the individual why does not the saloon
keeper exhibit his products at the State
fair? The State farm is the place to see
the never ending exhibition. The saloon
is the resort of the low and criminal. At
the McGinty trial Thursday every witness
the courts, charged with some misde-
meanor. The saloon filches a mans honor
so that his word Is worthless, even under
solemn oath. Said our city solicitor, in
my hearing, "Never yet was a crowd COL
lected i'm rum shop that would not in
cases of the kind testify to that which Is
false. There Is not an honorable calling
in this city that is not materially damaged
by the sale OF liquor. j could name 30
kinds Of business that are sorely crippled
by it and would flourish without 1t.
No community would tolerate the waste
and woe of the liquor traffic IL it received
absolutely no return. 1t is tolerated for
money. Think of q city receiving a rev.
snue from the vices OF its citizens. 1t
sounds business like to say "since 1t exists
make it pay its own share of the expenses"
Il might be business like IL 1t could be
made to do so. It would pay our police
and court bills, build and maintain all
jails and warehouses and support the poor
of our cities. But it does not do 1t. From
the report of the License Commissioners
learn that sum somewhere between w.
600 and $4,000 was received from liquor
licenses during the past year. II looks
large, but have you ever taken the trouble
to compute the loss? II Is more difficult
to trace, yet approximate figures can be
secured. i say emphatically our sixty
eight saloons are not paying investment
for this city.
The money that goes into the till is
wasted, for there Is no adequate return for
the outlay. II is a direct loss to the city.
III we call the average income of saloon.
$l20O, which Is only quarter Of the usual
estimate (fS1, ,600) we have squandered i'm
year. Add The loss Of labor on the part of
those who drink and the depreciation in
wage-earning capacity caused dy drink.
Add the proportion of pauperism, insanity
and crime caused by the liquor traffic.
Add the shortened lives of the victims of
A he. q