New-York tribune., 1902-01-13
'REsPECTABILITYD OF THE SALOON
A PROTEST AGAINST THE INSTITUTION AS
THE poor MANS CLUB"
To the Editor OF The Tribune.

4
THE POOR MANS CLUB"
To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: AS constant reader Of The Tribune. will
you grant me space in your columns for a few
words?
II has come to pass that prominent men IN New
Tork-among them ministers OF the Gospel-are
preaching the necessity and dignity and
spectability, Of the saloon. have followed care
fully their utterances II they mean anything
they mean TO establish the propositions % that
the saloon is the poor mans club" a democratic
institution. and is necessary; C0 that the saloon
is respectable business and should be recognized
such. Among the last declarations OF eminent
cergymen these: Prohibition is a fraud"
'Prohibitionists are hypocrites" Women temper
ance workers are really DEVILS workers" We
may expect, logically. the next statement TO be
that the salvation Of humanity depends upon the
liquor business; that churches should be converted
into saloons and handed over the brewers and
distiIlers the regenerators OF the
Il is altogether too late in the history OF civza
ton for clergyman or any other person 70 expect
rational minds 20 accept such ideas truth or
ordinary common sense. The whole Christian
Church, Catholic and Protestant combined, could
not by any declaration policy make out that the
American saloon IS necessary respectable or de-
sirable. Everybody knows that the American sa-
loon Is OF the greatest enemies Of the family,
OF society and Of the State. Everybody knows-and
than the poor man hlrnself-that
the saloon IS OF the worst enemies OF the poor
enemy 70 his pocket his brain, MS muscle
and his morals. The saloon may Ofrsr opportunity
TO meet acquaintances 10 crafty to extent
ones social desires. II may offer food sometimes
those who Go not pay. but in It's totally II Is
curse, a curse the majority OF those who
patronize ii, and in their calm. reflective moments
they will generally tell you so. defy the advo-
cate defender Of the so-calleG poor mans club"
TO stand the door OF OF these places for
twenty-four hours and discover evidence that win
not lead honest 10 condemn the saloon
quauhedly. 7 am no third partyite and
have been one. but a fairly honest and intelIi-
gent I compelled 70 admit that the a5oh-
ton OF the drinking saloon III any community.
State nation would be desirable IL II could be
accomplished. And / know what Bishop Potter
does not know. viz. that in State.
least, where have lived and where the liquor
business is prohibited absolutely the people, espe-
of materially and morally than the same class
in New-York state. As 70 the expediency or POS
liquor traffic at any particular time and place.
there may, Of course, be difference OF opinion. But
OF ethics? II Sunday closing in New-York IS i'm
possible because the majority OF the people are
what is the use OF trying 10 make out that the
saloon is a benehcent necessary institution,
when the only question open 70 discussion IS Can
II be clcsedf The popularity or a thing can make
whit better worse than IL actually IS
Has an honest administration in New-York
demonstrated that the saloons cannot be made TO
obey the law on Sunday II Mayor Low. District
Attorney Jerome and the higher police officers and
judges Of the courts want Sunday excise laws
in the enforcement? VIII eminent advo-
cate of free whiskey Sunday afternoons show US
pie OF New-York really want il?
Let add one more word OF protest. For any
saloon offers a needed refuge to the poor man from
the annoyance and sQua!Or Of his home is rank
treason TO every prlncP5s oI fTPtn hanoT an9 de
Syracuse. y. Y. Jan. g. 1902,