New-York tribune., 1902-05-29
IMMIGRANT AND SENATORIAL DRINKS

The progress through the Senate of the Immi-
grafton bill just passed by the House Will be
worth watching. Two prohibitory amendments
have been incorporated in it. One fOrbids the
sale or alcoholic liquors in any immigrant sta
ton, and the other fOrbidS the sale of alcoholic
liquors in the Capitol. One amendment would
entirely deprive the poor immigrants of their
accustomed drinks while detained at Ellis ISL
and; the other would cut off the cocktails and
champagne of the legislators who patronize the
Senate restaurant The Congressman il they
really get thirsty, can step out and ''see man"
across the park, and when they get back to
their hotels and clubs can make up for their
devotion TO temperance principles. The immi-
grants, however, have no such resource They
are, moreover foreigners whose habit has been
for long ages 10 drink wine and beer with their
meals while the lawmakers. as true Ameri-
cans, are doubtless to a man proud of the ice
water habit. The Italians drink cheap light
wine as a matter of course. and so seldom is
the habit carried TO excess that "as abstemious
as an italian" has been a European proverb
since the Middle Ages. The part that beer
plays in the domestic economy of the German
is too well known for comment
The wisdom of making the what is at best un-
pleasant detention on Ellis Island O time for
compulsory abstinence teaching is doubtful 1t
would seem as If these people were fairly en-
titled to eat and drink in their own fashion
That is the view of the Immigration Commits
sioner at this port. AS soon they get on
shore they will find wine and beer in plenty
and the refusal TO them of their accustomed
drinks at the few meals they take on Ellis ISL
and looks like a piece of pharisaical imperti-
nence. II does rot promote temperance. 1t
simply annoys and inconvenience some worthy
people. 1t is not the business of the United
States to discipline the immigrants or TO use
them as a vehicle for parading its superior
virtue fiattering its own self-satisfied sense
of holiness Its business is TO make the immi-
grants comfortable while running hotel which
ii compels them TO patronize. If they were COM
ing into prohibition country there might be
some reason to enforce abstinence at the front
door. But 1t is difficult to what is accom-
plished by putting the immigrants through a
streak of prohibition at Ellis Island, on their
way to wide open saloons, however much balm
it may be to the souls of reformers who would
count this prohibition as one more victory over
the demon rum. Probably more good would be
accomplished by strict regulation to the end
that the wines and beers be of good quality. and
that good tea. coffee and milk be provided, thus
giving each immigrant chance to live accord
ing to his settled habits without in any
way forcing him 10 the use of alcohol, as il is
said some immigrant station restaurants have
done
III the Senate shuts off its own drinks at the
same time that il shuts off the immigrants
drinks. the act may be accounted to 1t for
righteousness, whether 1t is wise or not IL
will be interesting to observe. however, how
the Senator'S will act about that. There are