New-York tribune., 1901-12-23
SELECTIONS FROU THE NAIL
SUNDAY SALOONS ALTOGETHER VILE.
BATH UNION ON THAT ORGANI-
ZATION'S ATTITUDE.
o the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: After the considera BILE discussion of ques
tion Of the legal opening of saloons Sunday in
this and other cities in the Empire State will you
allow space in The Tribune the secretary of the
American Sabbath Union to briefly state not only
his own views. but those OF the union on a few
leading points of this discussion?
We have doubt that Mr.. Jerome is strongly
convinced that the legal opening of the saloons on
Sunday will be the best solution Of certain trouble
some questions: bat believe that he in
judgment. and that he fails to look deep enough or
far enough discover the evils that will be gen.
Grated and the far reaching disastrous effects both
social and political.
The argument that the opening Of the saloons a
part of tie day would prevent blackmail believe
10 be utterly fallacious. What would prevent the
temptations this evil permit open side door
during forbidden hours and in the night after legal
hours? In fact, is not the demand for dram
stronger in the morning than in any other time Of
the day?
Again. how the open Sunday saloon could or
would prevent limit the greater evil which
is charged to the Raines law hotel no one has
undertaken 10 demonstrate When both young men
and women at liberty to spend their time as
they may elect and when they enter these
places freely, will human passion be allayed ana
their zeal for virtue be strengthened and Will those
that they meet and that which they drink IN a
Sunday saloon cause the bartender and the patron
Immediately become champions of Righteousness! !
A few years ago heard very much of the edu-
catonal possibilities of Sunday concerts It was
assumed that all these Sunday concerts would be
the 'handmaiden' of the Church; but what are
most of them to-day but vaudeville shows, ana
many of them Of the lowest order evading the
present law against theatrical shows by teen
nicality in the of dress?
Again. IL is asserted that the present law cannot
be enforced and therefore the saloons should be
open legally. The question arises Why cannot the
law be enforced? And the only true answer TO this IS
that it is not enforced because il would not be
political wisdom. In other words, the saloon mas
come 10 have large political power that II
defies authority OF the law. This is the PLAIN
simple truth The saloon is not closed on SUNDAY
because of political power. and the claim that II
saloon is the political boss of any party that may
hope for success in this country.
The argument would apply 10 the Socldl
evil or 70 gambling if either of these should attain
the political power which the saloon now mas
We do not believe that there is so large a denano
for the open saloon Sunday as some are led 10
think II is a mistake to suppose that the Germans
as Germans desire 1t. but only a small percentage
of our German citizens; and certainly the women
and children are not camoring for 1t, ana they
the law. - ..-.t..,..o,
The American Christian Sabbath is an INSTITUTION
that cannot be dealt with by local opton. ana We
stand irrevocably opposed to the submission OF any
one of the Ten Commandments to a vote OF dilS
election district borough city, and II one Were SO
submitted WHY not any and all others OF the tenE
we do not touch the question OF the rlsnt ol
every man to use whatever beverages ne may utSl
o elect hut simply demand that this business sha
Ioa held in conformity with all other business loT
Shr,stendom as benefcent and necessary civic IN
.I..s;oEI L w. HATHAWAY,
General Secretary of the American Sabbath Cnon
New-Yor5, Dec u, lSl