New-York tribune., 1901-12-25
SUNDAY LIQUOR QUESTION.
PLEA FOR ENFORCEMENT OF THE Ex.
ISTING LAW.
~o The Editor OF TIE Tribune.

To The Editor OF TIE Tribune
Sir: In Judge Jerome's speech at the banoue+ oe
-he Rochester Chamber Of Commerce he said. ..vy.
look for law that can enforce for a law that
viii not dangle blacknau before the Police Depart-
rrent department that has deteriorated under the
influence OF q system adapted TO debauch them"
A law that we can enforce? VIII Mr. Jerome
hermit TO ask, Is there any law that va have
been able 70 enforce under the Tammany admin
,st-ation2 How about gambling and the social
evil? Have the laws against these been any better
enforced than has the law against the SUNDAY sa-
Ioon? And has there not been even more black
mailing il the former cases than In the lsttAr7
What then? Are We 10 permit gambling and the
social evil in order 10 prevent 'backmaiing being
5angled before the police?
Does not Judge Jerome know that the trouble
with al these laws has been the unscrupulous char
acter and influence Of the party in power, assisted
BY ar ofttimes corrupt judiciary?
Give Us men good and true at the head of the
-uunicipalitg-as We trust and believe We are now
70 have-ard give US judges of the same character
es Mr.. Jerome himself. and the laws then can be
and viii be enforced, and there will be no coiusion
with mscreants nor paid efforts to screen them
Then the law and the PENALTY will be a terror 10
eyIdoers, and gambling houses, houses OF evil re-
sort and Sunday liquor saloons will alike find them
selves obliged 70 reduce their vicious practices TO
minimum or meet punishment certain speedy and
dire
But fl IS argued that men will have their liquor
81 al hazards and will break the law prohibit
ing its sale on Sunday. Undoubtedly there will be
some men who will do so-though comparatively
few. in view OF the certain risk and punishment
but admitting that so also there will be some who
spite Of any law punishment. will gamble rob
and murder; but is that any reason why we should
ehrogate the laws against gambling and robbery
and murder Nay, verify; let US rather strengthen
The laws by the more rigidly enforcing them and
making the penalty inevitable and absolute Why
have vice and crime grown u their present enor-
nous extent? It was owing fault OF the laws:
II was simply because those in authority only
protected vice and crime. hut helped and encour-
aged It and shared in its vile and Infamous gains
And that the people have risen in their might
and cast out these evildoers shall begin these
DAYS Of better things by compromising with evil
Hnd trimming down laws TO suit those who,
sre told. VIII refuse tC obey them unless they are
trimmed DOWN. And now that God in His mercy
has heard prayers and emancipated US can il
De possible that the very first thing We are con-
sidering the expediency Of taking from Him His
one Gay in seven and giving Him only half? Is
This the way going 10 show gratitude?
But Nj Jerome speaks Of the present Sunday sa-
loon law encouraging blackmail Does Mr. Jerome
believe that opening the saloons on Sunday from
? 70 i P. N, will prevent blacilmail? II black
mail has been the result Of the closing OF the
i0si2 - t,e haSTai VII c6ntn1Ie TO be the re-
suit q closing them for the half SUNDAY and for
the same reason, because OF such closing II. as
oannot be prevented. then they Will have it at any
time on Sunday that they wish II. and blackrnal
VII be as assured the in the other.
Mr.. Jerome argues that as the clubs are open and
men are seen drinking there Sundays, therefore
the saloons should be open and the poor man be
allowed 10 drink also. But at the club men eat
and sleep and live and for many it IS their only
hone and every one NAV eat and drink what he
chooses in his home; and the public generally are
not admitted there any more than 10 private
house On the contrary. the saloon Is never the
home Of the poor man, he lives elsewhere. while
eny one who chooses can be admitted there; there
can be no comparison. therefore. between the Two
Let Us take bold ard manly ground, as Mr- Je
rome so generally does. and if there is law let Us
enforce The law unfinchingly persistently and ao-
eoluIey, and give il thoroughly fair trial before
We change II. and let not weakly and supInely
hence there will be blacknail, and We must 2 b.
rogate the law and make others so that these law
breakers may have their way. at least in part
Nj Jerome would give the liquor dealer q chance
10 respeCta bic And does he think TO accom-
psh that result by facilitating him in the coninu
arce OF his soul destroying business on sundays as
Wen as weekdays, for saloonkeepsr connnes MS
business TO the sale of beer. sunday OF any cay
Will he be made respectable by giving MIN
1ha liberty TO make his employees work seven DAYS
week and by permitting him 10 lure the poor
man inebrie1y and misery on SUNDAY as Wei as
on every other day.
For so wise man. SO fearless and so true: Nj
jerome is certainly srvellously and larleta oy n
consistent in his views this SUBJECT ana while
we all have for him the very greatest esteem, We
keeuy depiore and very decidedly oppose
the stand he has taken in this matter. so Tl1aly
important TO Us al as men and women as CITIZENS
and Christians ANNA LEE ittO1-
Sew-Iork. Dec. . 1891