The Saint Paul globe., 1900-04-30

I
| AS an incident OF the progress of the
/ present campaign Mr.. Chester r. Smith
recently appeared before the Liquor Deal
! ers association. Of which am a member
and explained his views of the true policy
| 70 De ,aoopted by a city executive to-
ward the retail liquor traffic.
In his statement he declared his pur-
! pose to establish a saloon at the state
| fair grounds during the progress of the
fair himself being member of the board
| OF managers.
| Such a course would in the opinions of
the men of the calling be an unjust dis
| elimination in behalf of one favored deal
would thus be deprived of a valuable,
| even II a temporary, business.
| take the liberty of suggesting that the
| Republican candidate for mayor be asked
before the election by the liquor dealers
/ Of the city to pledge himself not to carry
| out his expressed purpose of extending
| grounds. Yours respectfully,
Robert N. Grady.
ST. Paul, April 2s, 1s0O
| This communication is printed In the
G o e without any accompanying sug-
| gestion on the merits Of the proposed
measure of the Republican mayoraIty
| candidate, or concerning the wisdom or
| propriety of the action which Mr. Smith
| has declared to be a part of his pro-
gramme in the regulation Of the liquor
| traffic.
It may be said, however, and G i b e
| readers generally will agree that the
! proposal of Mr., Chester r. Smith to es-
/ tablish a saloon privilege on the fair
| grounds during the fair is at best a
/ matter of very doubtful expediency. The
| objection which Mr.. Grady raises to such
a course of action naturally appeals en-
| tirely to the men engaged in the liquor
I traffic. 1t is not to be expected that the
general public will regard that feature
| of it with anything like the intense in
kerest which it presents to liquor dealers.
| But there are other objections to the pro-
i ceeding which will necessarily suggest
/ themselves as possessing more or less inn
/ portance according to the point of view
| from which they are regarded.
No doubt for instance, that good
many persons who will attend the state
fair will have a decided objection to see
| ing the traffic carried on on the grounds,
on account of It's possible results. Many
country people will be present, who, in
their Vicinity, would not twice year
have access to a saloon With saloon
running wide open on the grounds, it
would not be surprising If 1t were found
resorted to by the country folks with
/ the result that drunkenness might not be
an uncommon feature of the proceedings
/! during the week which is designed for
the valuable object lessons which it is
i expected to present to the farmer of the
/ advancement made in the various depart
ments of the agricultural industry.
1t will naturally be urged by a certain
class Of citizens that 1t Is not fair to
deprive the mass of men in attendance
at the fair of the privilege of indulging
in reason in alcoholic drink. 1t would
indeed add greatly to the enjoyment of a
visit to the state fair grounds for many,
city persons particularly, If they might
have placed a glass of beer at their dis
posal, especially since the district in
| which Mr.. Smith proposes to establish his
saloon privilege Is included in the prohi-
bition district. 1t is doubtful, however,
whether that consideration of itself is
strong enough to justify the experiment
in which Mr.. Smith has decided to en-
bark if he should by any accident sit in
the mayors chair.
1t Is understood that Mr. Smith declar-
ed as his reason for deciding on such a
course, that "the boys ought to have
the privilege of taking a drink during
their stay on the grounds. This is, of
course, in a certain view very thought
full suggestion on the part of the Republi-
can candidate. 1t shows more liberality
of thought than many were disposed to
d
which, while it may operate to the COM
fort of respectable minority, is not un-
likely to be of decidedly evil consequences
in its general results.
Mr.. Grady's suggestion that Chester R.
Smith shall pledge himself to not estab-
lish his saloon privilege is no doubt well
considered. It will inevitably operate to
the. great disadvantage of the men who
nov M foe 70 xxys1I lrr
somewhat akin to, in a smaller sphere,
the course followed last year, when
the evenings at the fair were occupied by
| fireworks and other like attractions, thus
| keeping great many visitors On the
| fair grounds during the evening who 9TH
erwise would be certain to remain in
! either of the cities, and whose presence
must certainly operate to the business
advantage of the merchants of the cities
! The liquor dealers are entitled to the
/ same consideration IN their business in
terests as are other business people. They
| have a right to exact such pledge from
Mr.. Smith if they can secure 1t.
The G o be naturally cannot be ex-
pected to influence In any great measure
| the action of the Republican candidate
The liquor dealers should, it seems to
| the G o b e, address themselves directly
| to Mr. Smith, and, If possible, secure
| from him the necessary pledge In this
undertaking, 1t is beyond doubt that they
| will be able to secure the cooperation
Of a good many of the residents of the
Hamline district who are not willing un-
der any circumstances to have liquor sold
within the limits of their ward, or within
the prohibited district anywhere Mr.
Smith is understood to be ready to con-
! slider the interests as well as the preju-
dices of the people. He may be, perhaps,
| even willing in his present distressed sit
uation to pledge himself to many things
which he could not easily carry out when
| in the mayors chair.
The value of such pledge is not in
every event very plain. Mr. Smith will
no doubt find objections urged from 9TH
! ers beside the saloonkeepers of the two
cities. And he will probably find also
| that the value of the saloon privilege
which he intends to establish will be
great enough to make him the object of
| a good deal of political pressure to secure
| its establishment by him In accordance
with his own preferences. The price of
such a privilege might be Of considera-