Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-11-19
LIQUOR QuEsrIoNIs NEW YORK

No sooner has New York by an over
wheImlng vote decided for pure and
moral" city administration, than the
question of Sunday closing OF the
saloons Is brought up for discussion,
and the important point is that the
opinions on this question are as divided
as ever Under the old regime, sa-
looms were held open unmolested, pro-
vided the owners paid literally for
their defiance Of the law. The law
unfolding citizens naturally concluded
that with the ousting of the old OFF,
GERS, the licensed law-breaking would
cease, but now many Of the voters
claim that their intention was not to
make New York dry town" but
only TO stop the infamous blackmail-
ing that was carried on. They clamor
for Sunday beer.
Strange to say. DR.. Parkhurst, total
abstainer and leader in the reform
movement. has placed himself on rec
ord as not opposed to Sunday opening,
II the sale Of intoxicants is confined to
beer and light wines. He argues thus:
II consider the Germans as a most
valuable part Of our population. They
want their Sunday beer with their
families. The fathers go 10 beer gar
dens with their wives and children;
they hear good music, surrounded by
their families. Ii does no one any
harm. ] look upon the German idea
OF beer garden as one Of the most
beneficial examples OF domesticity In
the world. have been in them on
every day In the week. and ! know
about Them
There Is much curiosity manifested In
the probable position the new mayor
win take on the question. The New
York Evening Post predicts that he
win pursue the course he did twenty
years ago in Brooklyn. There, says
the Post 1.-THE sale Of liquor to people
entering the sde-doors OF saloons in
Brooklyn during the years lSS2-lSs5 did
not disturb the quiet OF the community
or interrupt religious services, and this
system. which hourlshed for those four
years under Mr.. Low and later for two
years under Mayor sehieren without
police blackmail, satisfied all reason
able people as the best possible solu-
ton Of the problem, pending changes
IN the law. II is safe to say that time
has only strengthened Mr., Lows con-
vlctions In this matter. and that he viii
apply his old principles OF action on a
larger scale" If this Representation
is correct, New York will continue very
much as II has been in the past, ex-
eept for the levying Of blackmail. and
the reforiners win have TO commence
work anew. The moral lesson II
was hoped New York would set the rest
Of the country, will be to a great ex-
tent lost.
Undoubtedly an effort will be made
to have new regulations for the Gale OF
intoxicants passed, during the next SEES
sion Of the legislature. Whether this
win result In local option for the larger
ciues. or the general throwing open
OF all saloons In the State on certain
hours on Sunday. or in the retaining
Of the law as It now stands. matters
not. The important point is that the
law, as II is, or whatever II may be-
come, is strictly and impartially en-
forced. according to the letter and the
spirit thereof. II Is best TO enforce
even bad law. as far as doing so
does not conflict with higher principles,
for the enforcement Of such a law is
sure to demonstrate its defects and
bring about its repeal Nothing is
more demoralizing than the constant
evasion Of law. That fosters contempt
for all law. II breeds the spirit OF an
archy. 1t is responsible for many OF
the crimes OF our time.