The Tucson citizen., 1901-12-28

OF Prohibition Ia confined to mar
row circle OF cranks and dyspeptics,
the issues that agitate the people of
the great metropolis only attract
amazement or amusement.
William T. Jerome. who was re-
Gently elected District Attorney Of
New York and who attracted so much
attention by his speeches during the
campaign, Is a man apparently who
has ideas and is not afraid TO express
them. He has just shown this quality
In a speech delivered at banquet In
Rochester in the course of which he
discussed the liquor law OF New York
which Is very stringent as to Sunday
closing. His condemnation OF the
law was both sweeping and pic
turesque and Mr.. Jerome Is qualified
to speak. for he was associated In
attempting to enforce the law with
Theodore Roosevelt and Recorder
Gofi. This law Is known as the Raines
law and was enacted by the Republi-
cans. Its practical result is to charter
assignation houses. foster falsehood.
encourage blackmail, propagate perjury
and create drunkards. Mr. Jerome ad-
nits that he himself In his judicial
capacity sent a widow who had
family to support to the penitentiary
for three months because she sold a
glass OF beer on Sunday" He insisted
that the law was enforced at that time
as fully as 1t could be enforced. and
what came of 1t?
The result OF this fair test OF the
law was to raise the amount OF black
mei; from the S. month levied on the
sa sa'oonkeeper during former admin
STATIONS to $40 during ours That
est produced the world famous fly
blown sandwich that does duty all
day long. and the india rubber sand
wiah attached to the wall that is dis
played when a drink IS ordered. and
allowed to snap back into the wall
Nhen the drink Is finished"
This is very 70. chile testimony to
CLne from such a source, and 1t is the
more forcible because the honesty and
sincerity OF the man are impressive
rio law says thai drinks can only be
sived on Sunday in hotels and with
meals. This caused the invention Of
the famous sandwich. Mr.. Jerome, Is
a PRACTICAL reformer but does not be-
lcvc in impossible laws, and there can
o. little doubt of the accuracy of his
statement that there are at least 1000
sa oons open every Sunday in New
York City In defiance of law, and that
they have in the City OF New York at
least 100000 voters who every Sunday
IN the year go into saloon and take
one or more drinks They cannot be
made to believe that the offense Is
moral one or one involving moral
turpitude. They cannot be made TO
feel that II is a crime to go by the
side door and solicit another man to
&C mmit a crime by selling to them"
And this feeling Is natural enough.
for nobody can expect any respect for
a law under which the poor man can
walk down Fifth avenue and pass the
University Club, the Manhattan Club.
Union League Club and others and
can see them blinking and enjoying
themselves while the poor go thirsty
II Is on temperance grounds that he
advocates the repeal or modification
OF the law, and he puts his argument
thus:
We want a chance to deal with this
moral question by moral means; we
want chance TO save people from in
temperance. We would save them
from any other sin. by sweeter lives.
by religion. by better influences. and
not by trying 10 do the impossible
with the criminal law The fault lies
with the people outside of the city of
New York who are unable to accustom
themselves to our conditions. The
question Is not whether or not such a
law will have evils attending II; |
know of no law that does not have In
cidental evils attending it. God knows
with the experience | have had. II
could close the saloons for all time.
would vote on that proposition. AS
DR. Parkhurst says "A bill for Sunday
opening during limited hours in the
City OF New York Is not bill for
Sunday opening; it is bill for Sun
dav closing"
It is very possible that Mr.. Jerome's
appeal may not have any great weight
with the Prohbitionsts and reformers
for revenue only; with the blackmail-
ers and professional perjurers; with
narrow minded cranks and drastic
autocrats. but it will have the effect
of convincing reasonable and reflect
ing people that radical methods are
seldom effective methods.