Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1901-01-31
SALOONoLGY.
Some Deductions from n Careful study
of the Saloon Problem by a
College Student.

II sociology is the science OF Social
relations why should not a scientific
study of the saloon business in all
of it's relations be called entomology?
But call it what you may-and asaloon
under any name does not smell sweet
such a study was carried on by Mr..
Royal L. Melendy, who was sent by
the faculty of the University of Mich
igan to reside for six months in the
Chicago Commons to learn by careful
personal investigation what is the
function of the saloon in the social
life of man. This investigation forms
part of the work carried on by the
ethical subcommittee of the commit
tee of 80, a committee which is now
studying the liquor problem in all OF
it's aspects, with the intention of maxi
ing an exhaustive report which shall
be impartial and scientific. A par
tial report of Mr.. Melendy's investi-
cations appears in the American Jour
nal of Sociology for November, and
somewhat briefer report is given
in the November number Of The Com
mons, published by Prof. Graham Tay-
lor, warden of the Chicago Commons.
The ardent temperance reformer
may feel inclined to say: what
need is. there of making such an in
vestigation? Why need we send scien-
tifcally equipped spies into this un-
promising land, this devil-country Of
saloons, for we know now what is the
ruling purpose of the saloon business?
It's purpose is evil, and only evil, and
that continually. 1t is to sell various
kinds of intoxicating liquor, and in
toxicating liquor is the hell out OF
which has come, to curse mankind,
legion of evils worse than the many
which Jesus cast out of the demoniac
of Gadeara."
But the matter is not so simple as
it appears at the first blush. What
is it that makes the saloons of the
Seventeenth ward-where Mr.. Melen-
dy began his study - so popular?
There are in that ward 1873 saloons
and only a few churches. Say what
we may, the saloon is much more pop
ular than the church in the Seven
teenth ward, and we should strive
to discover what are the elements
of their popularity, for we may find
in the methods which they use to at
tract patrons verifcation of Christ's
saying: "For the sons of this world
are for their own generation wiser
than the sons of light" No doubt
the ruling purpose of the saloon keep
er is to sell as many drinks" as pos
sible, but he tries to cloak that pur-
pose by an attractive garb of social
service.
BY ministering to the social nature
of man the saloon completes with the
home, greatly to the detriment of so
ciety. It no doubt is true that the av-
erage saloon of the Seventeenth ward
is a dangerous social competitor to
the average home of that ward in
light, heat. furniture, games, music,
laughter, sprightly conversation and
all that appeals to the companionable
nature of man; and by the bitter
irony of fate every cent that goes to
the support of the saloon is a vote
against the home and against the wife
and mother, who would like to make
the home attractive, but how can she
do it when so much money of the
wage-earners goes to the support of
the 1863 saloons? The saloons can
start out with gorgeous appointments
because most of them are fitted up
by the great brewing companies, but
the little home of the working man
has to start in modest way, and too
often, alas! the wife in striving to
make it, with small means, the CEN
ter of social attraction for her hus-
band is "held up" and robbed by the
saloon.
Some saloons provide gymnasiums,
hand-ball courts, and baths for their
patrons. Others have music and
vaudeville performances. Many sa-
looms furnish free lunches, and some
serve full meals at small cost. Others
have "wine rooms" and drinking COM
partments where women of the worst
class resort to find companions in sin.
In others, various kinds of gambling
games are carried on under the pro-
lection of an unreported "tax." The
saloon is a place where attractive
vices of every feather flock to-
gether.
But in the better parts of the city
there are respectable" saloons, some
of them palatial in their appoint
ments, where business men resort for
q double purpose. Mr.. Melendy says:
''The head of a department in one of
Chicago's largest wholesale houses as
sures me that certain of their best
statesmen sell large portion of their
goods over a glass of beer in the
neighboring saloon" Then there are
trade saloons for the men of this or
that craft, family" saloons with
family" entrances, beer gardens with
the attractions of music and out
door sports-all sorts of saloons which
appeal in all sorts of ways to all sorts
of people.
The cure? Not to speak in this
connection of legal repression and
moral and spiritual forces, the at
fractions of the saloon may be fought
with a good degree Of success by
counter attractions. The attractions
of the home are first and best Were
our homes all that they should be the
saloons would have to close their |
doors. In "tug of war" for the pos
session of men the saloons have little
chance against pure and happy |
homes.
But homes are often handicapped in
the way already indicated, and in such |
eases we should fight the saloons by |
the establishment of social settle
ments, like the Chicago Commons
the brightest spot in the Seventeenth |
ward-by friendly visitors, by sum-
mer camps for women and children,
by rescue work, by every helpful