New-York tribune., 1902-01-10
LYMAN ABBOTT ON EXCISE.
HE STANDS FOR THE RIGHT OF THE
PEOPLE TO DECIDE FOR
THEMSELVES.

Many prominent men were present last even
ing at the dinner Of the Reform Club. at which
THE State Law and Sunday Opening" was the
topic under discussion. John J. Agar, presided.
The Rev. DR.. Lyman Abbott, the first
speaker.
I'VE all want Sunday" he said
Some of for purpose; some Of us for
another. Some Of US go 20 church in the morn
ing and play golf in the afternoon; some Of US
read the papers in the morning and play golf in
the afternoon Have made my meaning clear?
II is not the object Of the law to restrain; 1t
is only the obpject Of the law 10 prevent what
Is injurious. We have to discuss whether the
saloon shall be opened or closed. and who shall
determine whether they be opened or closed
In my opinion il is more important who shall
determine whether they shall be opened or
closed Personally would rather they be closed
but / do not want interfere with the right
Of the people to say.
What 1 stand for tonight is the right of the
people of New-York to decide for themselves
whether the saloons shall be open on Sunday or
not. and the right of the individual to decide for
himself what is right. The proposition to open
the saloon will array against 1t practically the
whole of the clergy in the first place, and, sec
ond, the whole of the better women of the State;
but let us not forget that have theory Of
government to advance, and that is what we
must remember
District Attorney Jerome followed
1T is with very great reluctance disagree
with DR.. Abbott" said he, in opening his re-
marks My opinion is that a law prohibiting
the sale of liquor in the city of New-York can
not be enforced went Mr.. Jerome Moral
reformations must be effected by moral means
/ recognize that the opening Of the saloons
would bring serious evils: but it is a question
between two evils. 1t is question whether 1t
q
part of the Sunday. against having them
open all day Sunday against the law know
Of no man who has looked into the question
who says that law closing the saloons can be
enforced, and non-enforceab BILE law makes dis
honest men and officials.
'It seems TO there is only one way TO do
and that is to open the saloons on Sunday with
in restricted hours. Now they are open all day.
so that q measure for Sunday opening Is in
reality not a measure for Sunday opening at
all, but a measure for Sunday closing.
Now, think to-day that the majority of the
people of New-York would not vote TO have
sight of the question whether the law as 1t
stands is an enforceable law and whether the
new proposition is not a better one. If referred
TO the people IL could not be submitted in any
conceivable form Of words in a proper way,
and the real question of intimidation Of evil
would not be expressed in a proper way There
would be cries of interfering with the American
Sabbath and other misleading objections.
have not the slightest doubt the suggestion to
by 10000"
In concluding, Mr.. Jerome attacked the notion
OF local option and the law il is to-day. He
said that judges were violating their office every
day so not to enforce the arbitrary pro-
visions of the law. The only rational law. so
far as he could see after looking into the ques-
tion thoroughly, was that providing for the
opening of saloons Sunday between the
hours of and II p. m.
NJ n. Clement Deputy Excise Commissioner
defended the Ratnes law. He said that the
law was criticised for things that it did not
contain. and for things which it had not
changed.
DIR. Felix Adler took issue with Mr.. Clement
most Of the points of the latter's speech, and
agreed in the main with the District Attorney.
THE crux of the matter is,' he said, ''Is the
law as it stands the statute books to-day an
enforceable law? The last speaker has said that
the greater portion Of crime is due to intemper-
ance. 1t behooves us to be temperate in lam
guage as well in the of liquor. 1 take the
liberty of taking issue with the last speaker on
his facts. AS a member of the Committee of
Fifty I had every opportunity to learn the effect
of intemperance. and found on the best evil
dence that only ID per cent Of crime can be
traced TO intemperance, and less than one-third
of poverty is due TO it,