New-York tribune., 1902-01-14
"OPEN," SAY BARTENDERS.
THE MEN WHO SERVE DRINKS OBJECT
TO WORKING UNDER BAN OF THE
LAW ON SUNDAYS.

Religious workers, politicians. representative
and with the city's best interest close at
heart have given from time to time expression TO
their views the excise question. Yesterday a
Tribune reporter listend to what a number of bar
tenders had to say the subject. These men
treated the question with force and fairness They
seem to understand the difficulties which
round 1t.
city are Of German descent. With hardly an ex-
ception the bartenders declared that they
favored the opening OF saloons all day Sunday
II, they added, their belief was radical they
would accept the proposition to open saloons from
noon Sunday until II p. midnight.
This is the way I think and I'm giving It TO you
straight, said a Park Row bartender, whose tone
betrayed no levity or disposition to deprecate the
seriousness and complexity Of the problem. open
the saloons all day Sunday. or. If the adminstra
ton won't stand for that. open them Sunday after
Moons There are six bartenders here. We get SIS
week, which is 81 to Sc more than eight-tenths
or them outside the swell hotels get. We have all
we can do to keep families in shape. This s1s
a week includes meal a day. Two of the six
men here take turns working Sunday. All OF
get one day Off in two weeks. Now. If they close
up on sunday, some OF get let out of job. be-
cause the boss wouldn't need many So we
say keep the saloons open on Sunday. We're like
conductors and motormen: we'll work overtime
every chance we get for the sake of the missus
and the kids
Now. here's why I want them closed. but this
amt much of point. because used to tax
Ing chances: Sundays know when we're
going to be run in by some COP or sDotter We
never know when one will come in and say
You're under arrest. You see, If get run in
there's mighty little chance of the boss bailing
out He's not around Sunday. and nobody touches
him We can't tell how much he's paying the cops
10 Keep away. Suppose he amt paying all that's
wanted; then sufer-not him.
But the principal reason want saloons open
Sunday is because need the money. That's more
important than feeling scary over cops. The boss
wants the place open because he makes just
| much as he does week day. We don't have
many customers, perhaps but get square by
not letting them help themselves. You know, week
days comes in and he may pour out whole
glass of whskey. and We can't stop him. On Sun
day the bar is closed; pour the stuff out, and
TIE the waiter carries II into the inside room to them
f for the price Calculating on how many drinks p
1 merry; That's why the old man wants the place
Now, suppose we 'barkeeps' were all off Sun
Gays Ga and the place here was really honest inJan
there Wouldn't be any theatre o to 20 ono place
where and the family could sit around and talk
kids What would be the use OF having Sundays
of? IA rather work here and get the extra
What position does your union take on this ques-
Union? We amt had any kind of a union.
,Taint a success, and never would be- But bun nun
20 you
Leaving Park Row. the reporter entered dingy.
Sure I'm a German said the bartender. Most
of US are. Sunday opening for me. You see I'm
honest don't want sneaking and foolng and
making believe. The saloons got a worse name
than they deserve We never close here night and
day people come in here. and don't have no
trouble. We pay lot Of money to keep open Sun
day; that's bad, but who help ii? Nobody. The
only way they can shut saloons up on the seventh
day of the week is 20 put spoilers the police and
keep watching and arresJing. watching and
resting. and be serious about IL. I'm earning
honest living, and l get money doing my
twelve hours Sunday like any other day. II they
close things up Sunday, all right; but have them
do the thing on the square. Riding on a rail with
one foot in one yard and one in the other amt
certain and Il amt comfortable
Other saloons visited where bartenders
stood their work from seventy-ive to eighty
hours q week for Sl2 10 SO. Almost without ex-
ception these answered:
Il get, say, 81 and couple OF meals day. Do
you think l could tell the boss / wouldn't work
Sunday. considering what get"'