New-York tribune., 1902-04-16
rRY TELEGRAPH TO THE TR1BUNE.l

tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRTBUNE.l
Port Jervis y. Y April 13-This town was
never before so stirred up over the excise prob
lem. Among fourteen thousand citizens there
are fifty saloons. which. it is charged by the re-
formers are open all night and Sundays. Nmle
Il is not desired TO close the saloons entirety
the effort has been general to prevent theih
from selling to minors and keeping open on
Sundays. A petition, recently signed by aboUI
seventy-five representative citizens came oeioIe
the grand jury, sitting at Newburg, demaholhB
the enforcement of law and order among the
saloons: that the officers should do what theE
have been elected TO do. what they are sworn
to do and what they paid to do The names
of the men who signed the petition it is alleged
bv the reformers have been posted in the
saloons of Port Jervis. and every man VINO
could be hurt by boycott has been boycotted
Every saloon man seen tonight declares that
3he hoycott is all news to him. The Rev Dr
W. f. Foote, pastor of the Baptist Church here.
tonight gave Tribune reporter the following
story about the fight:
.HThe anti-salon movement began about two
wears ago. It did nothing in particular but
stop Sunday baseball About two months ago
the Rev f f. Tower. of Poughkeepsie, superin-
1endent of this district Of the Anti-Saloon
League. came here and said if we were desirous
Of fighting the saloon the State league would
help us He talked with all the ministers. and
all agreed that something ought 10 be done.
He sent detectives here to discover any infrac-
tions Of the law among the saloonkeepers. and
drew up petition. copy Of which was placed
in each church asking that the law be enforced.
The petition was signed by about seventy-fve
voters Of the town. and was given to the Dis
trict Attorney with the evidence the detectives
had secured. The result was the Indictment of
three men here for breaking the law.
Somebody secured the list Of signers from
the District Attorney at Newburg. and showed
it 10 the saloonkeepers. i informed that the
men also went to the fire insurance agent who
insured his property and who signed the list
William p. kaufman-and cancelled his insur-
ance policies Kaufman had to cancel many
thousand dollars worth Of insurance. 1t was
said that the list was posted in the salons
where il could be consulted and where it would
excite public sentiment Yesterday. however, 1
understand the petition was removed from all
the saloons
The saloon men went to employers of men
VINO signed the petition and demanded their dis
charge. They made threats that they would
spoil the business of the men who signed the
petition. 1t is said they went to Republican
party leaders and asked that Mr.. Kaufman,
who is the County School Commissioner, be
turned out next fall when his term expires
know that in every employers stood by
their men, on the ground that the men had
done only what decent men should do. One OF
the signers was in the employ of the Prudential
Life Insurance Company. An effort made
10 find who insured with him. that his
insurance business could be turned away from
him The superintendent Of the company in
dignantly repUlsed the inquiry the ground
that nothing had been done but what was right.
Among the signers of the petition were hank
ers. physicians, dentists, the principal of the
High School and others of prominence locally
in professions and trades. Business taken
by saloonkeepers from one Of the national banks.
LIQUOR dealers have declared that they would
drive out of the town the Rev. T. II. Mac
henzie. pastor Of the Reformed Church who
is president Of the local league. We can now
that the liquor dealers realizing that they
have overreached themselves This is not
blue law town. eW only want 10 have the laws
enforced here, as they should be throughout the
State"
Several men identified with the liquor traffic
here denied tonight that the list of signers TO
the petition was posted in their saloons.