The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-21
AS SEEN BY RIIS
Well-Known Writer and Lecturer
Talks of Gotham.
HE CONDEMNS THE RA1NES LAW
Too Early to Criticize LOw-Mr. Hills
Lectured Last Night at I.
M. C. A. Hall.

Jacob A. -Riis, the well-known writer
and lecturer on sociological topics, VINO
lectured at the Y. NJ. G. A. hall last nlgnl'
arrived in Minneapolis yesterday morn
ing and went at once to the West Hotel
where he received many callers.
This is Mr.. Riis' first trip west. ne
finds much to admire and IS particularly
impressed with the crescent importance
Of Western educational institutions. SAID
he: Gov
My first impression Of the west was iar
from satisfactory. AS we came along the
little towns and villages seemed to have
cheerless aspect They appeared very unlove-
lv and unattractive. Then, the other n1snt.
I lectured at the Illinois state university, ana
discovered that the young men ana women
who attend that inst1tutionf and your own,
suppose also, come from these same Attle
unattractive towns. Their fathers maze the
farms and pioneered the way 1t remains
for their children to beautify them, and !
have no doubt this will be done. This coun-
try has great future, and it will be well
cared for by the graduates from your state
universities. ..-..-.- -:
Views on the Raines Law.
Mr.. Riis is strong partizan in politics,
with no love for Tammany. His several
years experience as police reporter OF
the New York Sun made him familiar with
Tammany methods, and he has nothing
hit: condemnation for the manner I'M
which Tammany has governed New York.
He hopes for much better things under
the Low administration and hopes, ABOVE
all. that the Raines hotel law, which, he
says, has transformed every saloon In
New York into house OF prostitution,
may be wiped off the statutes.
do, q ]
t,urst's criticism of Mayor Low. Said he:
The mayor should be given more time be-
fore he is subjected to such criticism. He
cannot do everything at once Tammany has
been in power two years and to think that
the work Of that time can be overturned and
nullif3ed in a week or two weeks. Is folly.
The Excise Laws.
The excise laws Of New York, as they
are at present, can never be enforced. Puo-
lie sentiment is not behind them, and in or
der to close the saloons on Sunday you would
have to station policeman at both the front
and back door Of every saloon in the city. 1t
is the abuse of the saloon, not the saloon
itself. that is an evil l see nothing wrong
In a mans taking glass OF beer II he wants
It. With many residences of New York beer
is a daily beverage, and to deprive them OF
that drink on one day Of the week is unjust.
Thew are SOBER INDUSTRIOUS Clt1Aous dAu l1eAI
rights should be respected. In New York
we have a law passed, not by the citizens
Of New York city, but by granger legislators
at Albany. 1t cannot be enforced, and yet
it Is doubtful whether we can get that law
repealed If we cannot, it means sure de-
feat for the reform forces at the next cleo
ton. The Raines law is one of the most
UBIQUITOUS, measures ever adopted. 1t has re-
suited in the stsblshment of a certain num-
her of beds in connection with most of the
New York saloons. These saloons then be-
come "hotels' within the definition of the
law, and may legally sell liquor at times
when the saloon itself cannot do SO. The
result of such measure is obvious.
Rank and File of Police.
Mr.. Riis paid high tribute to the rank
and file Of the New York police depart
ment. He said that q vast majority OF po-
ltcemen wanted to enforce the laws but un-
der Tammany, when they were held re-
sponsible for their acts to precinct pol1t-
ical leaders, had been unable to do So
Since Mr. Lows induction into office,
Mr., Riis said, the gang nuisance had been
abated; and trouble with. cadets who
lived of the price OF .women's shame in
the red light district. had practically
ceased.