The Savannah morning news., 1904-08-07
THE BISHOP CRITIsED.


action of Bishop Potter of New York
in assisting in the dedication of the
Subway Tavern" in New York city
last week. The Bishop of Milwaukee.
DR.. Nicholson, is quoted as saying: Il
am deeply Inundated over Bishop Pot
ter's action. and, in my opinion. his
whole connection with this affair has
been disgraceful. For my part, I am
ashamed of him." DR.. Swallow, the
prohibition candidate for President. is
quoted as saying: THE Potter tavern
is, according to all descriptions, simply
an up-to-date saloon, called by a mild
er name, and consecrated with pious
imprecations. mingled with impious Ii
bations. plus a free lunch counter as
a bride to total abstainers to become
drunkards."
The foregoing are samples of the
criticisms showered upon Bishop Pot
ter and the Subway Tavern that is
doing a fourishing business with his
approval.
No doubt Bishop Potter expected to
be eensured, and it is probable that he
will have something to say in answer
to his critics. There is no doubt that
his action was taken with the best
motives. AS to whether or not he
made a mistake can be determined
only by time. If the Subway Tavern
tends to lessen drunkenness in the
the neighborhood in which it is To-
Gated, if the influence Of it is to ele-
vate the moral standard in its imme-
date vicinity, it will have to be adj
mitted that the bishops judgment was
better than that of his critics. If, on
the other hand, its influence is to lead
to drink men who wouldn't otherwise
enter a place where alcoholic liquors
are sold. and who are not drinking
men in their own homes, then the crit
icisms to which he is being subjected
is Just.
No doubt the drinking habits of the
people of the locality in which the tav-
ern is situated have been care
fully observed and the condition of the
people year hence. so far as the drink
habit is concerned, will be investigated,
and from the conclusion drawn Bishop
Potter and the Subway Tavern win be
judged. If there is a'dlstinct improve
ment in the material condition and
moral tone Of the people no doubt
some at least of those who are now
censuring Bishop Potter. and insist
ing that the Subway Tavern is more
dangerous than the ordinary saloon,
will have to admit they were mistaken.
But If the new and attractive drinking
place has helped to make drunkards
and to fasten the chains of the drink
habit upon those who were only mod
crate drinkers, then 1t will be admitted
by the most devoted of the bishops
friends that the sooner the Subway
Tavern is abolished the better.
Nobody Of course questions the bish-
ops motives. They are the best. II
he has made a mistake it is OF the
head not of the heart. His aim was
to lift up humanity. not to push it
deeper in the mire Of degradation and
despair. He saw that the poor man,
the toiler for day wages. had no place.
in the crowded tenement district of
great city. in which to meet friends
and have a chat with them. except the
saloon--the saloon that was conducted
on a purely commercial basis, and
which sold liquors that were a long
way from the best. He saw that the
influence Of the saloon was bad. and
that for young men 1t was a station
on the road to ruin of body and soul
Assuming that some would have
strong drink in some shape or other.
and that II was far better that
they would drink whisky, wine and
beer that were pure, he gave his APP
prevail to a movement to supply the
people with pure wines and liquors.
believing that he was doing something
that would be helpful to them men
tally morally and physically. because
the subway Tavern Is a place for social
intercourse where drinking OF strong
liquors is discouraged rather than en-
couraged. The aim Of the promoters Of
the undertaking is not to make money
but TO contribute 10 the comfort and
happiness OF its patrons.
The new kind Of q saloon may be
mistake. II IL should prove 10 be then
10 should be abolished II IL rcaIv .c