The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-01-23
BISHOP POTTER's CRITICS.
Objections to His Statement That
Saloons Are Necessity.

New York Jan. 23.-Bishop Potter's
declaration before the Church Temper
ance society that the saloon is the poor
mans club--a social necessity under
present conditions-is still causing COM
ment Many clergymen indorse his opin-
ION. Others oppose it vehemently.
Bishop Potter" said Henry Hirsch,
late president of the Retail Wine and
Liquor Dealers association, has once
more shown his sterling common sense
by his declaration that the saloon is the
poor mans club. He means, of course,
the proper and decent sort of saloon.
He speaks with authority. During six
weeks of the very worst weather last
summer Bishop Potter lived in one of
the poorest neighborhoods on the east
side. He knows how poor people live
and what they need. He is broad mind
ed enough and fair enough to speak the
truth"
Mrs. Ella A. Boole. president of the
Women's Christian Temperance union
OF New York state, said:
Il speak for $4,000 temperance work.
ers in this state when 1 say that do
not consider the saloon a necessity. As
an organization, the Women's Chris
establishment Of such places as the
Squirrel Inn. If more of the money
which is spent In the saloons was spent
an improving homes there would be no
need of places for men to go to and
drink. Saloons and slums go hand in
hand. The saloon makes the slums.
Il think it very unfortunate that
Bishop Potter should have made use of
such statements at the meeting OF the
Church Temperance society"
In a sermon to men in the Church CT
the Paulist Fathers last evening the
Rev. Father Doyle said:
There is a good deal of maudlin talk
these days about the saloon being the
poor mans club In the name of the
poor but honest workingman of this
city, 1 resent the imputatiOn that the
saloon is his club. The saloon has been
a club indeed to beat the brains from
too many a poor mans head in intoxi-
cation; a club to knock from his pockets
the money that should clOthe his family
and feed his children; a club to strike
him down again when he has got on his
feet toward honest and independent
manhood.
There is not doubt that the saloon
as it exists here and now in this city is
responsible in a great measure for the
destruction of civic honor as we'll as for
the debasement of home and virtue.
Whatever the reason may be know
that never has such viciousness grouped
itself about the saloons before as now
surrounds them in this city.
"At any time the liquor traffic is a
monster to be restrained by all power
full laws, but the utter disregard for de-
cency that is exhibited by the saloon
element in this city today is bearing
dreadful fruits in the debasement of the
most sacred relations of life. The vilest
places are hourishing right under the
eyes of the police, and If they do not
know of them it is because they are SO
derelict in their duty as to overlook
what ordinary citizens see without half
trying"
William Brewer, editor-in-chief of the
Salvation Army, writes to the World:
1.-THE saloon is not a necessity. The
curse, the blighting, devastating curse
of the saloon cannot be hidden by the
assertion that the saloon is the work.
ingman's club. If it is his club, it is
used only by him to brain his wife and
beat all the joy, hope and honor from
the hearts and lives of his offspring,
who have a right by the sacredness of
birth to the sheltering care and protec-
ton of a father in the full control of
his senses and OF the home fellowship
of faithful parents. The saloon robs
them of this enjoyment"