The sun., 1902-03-11
RETAIL LIQUOR TRUST NEXT?
EARL GREY AND ". r. DODGE T.
UOJLD NOT GO ~ FOR PROFITS,
Bishop Potter Would. and suggests q Com
bine on the steel. Coal and OIL Lines
Earl Grey Tells city club About
the English Public House Trust.


the English Public House Trust.
The conference held yesterday at the
City Club 10 discuss Tho feasibility of fnd-
ing some substitute for and competitor Of
the present saloon developed the fact that
there was difference Of opinion between
Earl Grey. the head OF the English Central
Public House Trust, William Earl Dodge
and Bishop II 'nry c. Potter.
Earl Grey and Mr.. Dodge we're Of the
opinion that the best way 10 solve the
question was 10 have saloons started bv a
company, which should not have any in
tention OF making a private profit out Of
their operation. Bishop Potter said thst
he thought that there was field for the
legitimate investment OF money in the
business, and that he would Ike 20 sec the
matter taken up by the men who have con-
solidated the steel, oil and coal trades.
The conference was called in order that
Earl Grey might explain the workings OF
the Central Public House Trust TO the men
and women in New York who are interested
in the matter. X. Fulton Cutting presided
and introduced the Earl, who explained
the plan on which the corporation Of which
he il the head operates.
Mr. Cutting said that it was a prime ne
cessity that the saloon ard the liquor trade
should he driven out Of politics, though
he thought that the time had not come yet
when tho people were ready 20 have tho
saloon driven out Of social life.
We're not ready for chat vet. said Mr.
Cutting. that is, the public is not yet ready
20 have tho saloon taken from social / fe.-
Earl Grey said that he had been invited
lt,. hn
had felt that he ought not TO do this. though
he took a deep and sympathetic interest
IN the progress Of the nation. He said
that a public meeting was an invitation
for every crank TO attend ana air his
views Prohibition, he said. was not III
the field of practical politics, and the work
ingmen must have places 10 go after their
work was done The cndeayor OF the
English Trust. he said, was 10 huma nize
the saloons 70 that they might be- blessing
instead of a curse to the country.
He said that the consumption Of spirits
and intOXicants III England was twice as
great to each man as in this country aud
lie added that the present system of monop-
DIV of licenses was bad one. for IL was
10 the interest Of the saloonkeeper 10 sell
all that h. could for tho purpose of reaplng
~ great a profit as he could. he added
that the second great evil was that the
men who patrOni2ed the places under pri-
vatc management had no guarantee that
they would get the best liquor that there
was.
He described the results Of cooperative
owncrship in several communities of miners
In scot land, IN each case the profits. after
3 per cent. was paid to the shareholders,
being spent for the construction Of reading
rooms bowling greens, libraries and the
like He said thai IN one case the committee
in charge hat cut the time of closing from
lOP NJ. to9P NJ, aud IN another had closed
,I. aFffi m
prevent drunkenness.
In one case the surplus earnings had
been used to hire a certlfCated nurse Tor
the town. In all Of the Trust bic houses
every effort is made 10 reduce the drinking
Of alcoholic drinks and good meals are
served.
The Trust is now building a great house
al the entrance to the Armstrong works.
Opposite il is a house where the mana ger
puts out 400 noggins OF gin for the work
to put out as many basins Of broth, or
cups of coffee.
in all of the Trust houses stamped on a
copper sheet is stanza Of George Her
bert,s poem, beginning Drink not the
third glass" and every effort is made TO
have the patrons drink temperance drinks
CITY Chamberlain Gould said that the
problem was complicated here because
The LIQUOR Tax law returned great dividends
TO the rural districts and that thus the
best people of those parts became the ene-
mics of the city, u1knowingly and inno-
Gently.
Several questions were asked of the
Earl and then Mr.. Dodge offered this reso-
luton:
That in the opinion OF this meeting IL is
desirable TO hold a public meeting TO con-
sder the cNpediency OF securing the elimina.
tIu. ot private profit from the retail sale OF
alcoholic liquors
Bishop Potter then said that he would
have been willing to second the resolution
offered by Mr.. Dodge. had he been willing
to agree to the proposition that the ele.
ment of private profit should be eliminated
from the management Of the saloons. He
thought, however, that the resolution
should he so worded that its scope would
be larger. He regarded the statements
and the movement as epochal
Il saw il with all reverence. he went on,
that provdential ordering brought Earl
Grey TO New York al this time, There wac
never a problem in which We were moIe
hoplessly perpleNed,
Il think that n legitimate private interest
might be concerned with the matter which
we are now discussing ] should like TO
see the men who have organized the coal,
oil and steel industries and put millions of
dollars in them, take hold OF this great
social question
On account of the Bishops remarks the
resolution was amended so that the whole
matter was referred 20 the City Club com
mittee with power to act. Another con-
ference will be held soon. and then a COM
pany may be formed tO take out license
. h. IYaVl ltAh alan