The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-08-23
The SUBWAY TAVERN.
Criticisms Of Bishop Potter's
Model New York Saloon.
DIVERSITY OF OPINIONS EXPRESSED

DIVERSITY OF OPINIONS EXPRESSED
Some Pastors Praise Fearless Inde-
pendence of the Movement the
Bishops Participation In Dedicat-
ing Model saloon Unnecessary. says
Robert Graham-view of q Woman
Temperance Worker.
By his recent participation in the pub
lie dedication of the Subway tavern. a
model saloon at Mulberry and Blocker
streets, in New York, the announced
object of which is to lessen the evils of
~intemperance, Bishop Henry C. Potter
OF New York has provoked a veritable
tempest of protests, d~enunciations and
criticism from clergymen and prohibit
tionists in all parts Of the country, says
the New York Herald.
Bishop Potter is a trustee Of the
Church Temperance society in New
York. Robert Graham, a leading tenn
perance worker and founder Of the So
ciety, who visited the Subway tavern,
said that, in his opinion, Bishop Potter
had laid himself open to severe criti-
cism in helping to add another to New
York's already large number of saloons.
Many ~clergymen also objected to
Bishop Potter's statement that the ef-
fort to abolish the saloon was zone Of
the most comic and tragic failures of
history" Scores Of letters and tele-
grams reached the bishop from men
and women eminent in the temperance
cause, pleading with him to reconsider
his course in helping to advertise a
saloon and soda water fount from
which beer was sold.
At the Subway tavern however, the
denunciations of clergymen and temper
ance advocates had the effect of caus-
ing a golden harvest to fill the cash
registers. Thirsty and curious throngs
began to fill the place during the early
morning hours, and the rush continued
until the tavern doors were closed for
the night. Taking advantage of the
fact that his establishment for the time
being occupied a prominent place in the
public eye, the manager of the tavern
placed a big blackboard beside the
front entrance on which the following
legend was scrawled in chalk:
Eyes, this is the saloon dedicated by
Bishop Potter. You are welcome,'
Joseph Johnson, the tavern manager,
expressed his satisfaction over the way
business was booming. "I1l tell you
one thing" said Johnson, II have been
here since the opening, and not a sin
gle intoxicated person has entered the
DOORS" "@@
In discussing his visit to the tavern
and Bishop Potter's attitude regarding
the novel institution Mr.. Robert Ora
ham, founder and manager Of the
Church Temperance society, said: 81
do not think that the bishop by lending
his presence to the dedication of the
tavern meant to antagonize the tenn
perance movement. He is, it is true, a
trustee of the Church Temperance So
ciety, but only nominally so, for he
never attends our meetings.
"But he has made himself liable to
severe criticism by making an address
at the opening of the saloon. 1t will be
said by many persons that Bishop Pot
ter could have occupied himself with
better employment. AS it is there are
far too many saloons in New York city,
and 1t seems rather unnecessary, to say
the least, for the bishop to aid in add
ing another to the list.
"The unwise feature of the saloon, in
my opinion, however, is the soda foun-
tain where beer is sold. A place where
women may enter and seat themselves
to drink soda, beer or stronger drinks Is
not likely to aid in lessening the evils
Of intemperance. There can be no two
opinions about the danger of a place Of
this sort which is sanctioned by high
authorities leading young men
into temptation. Personally / think it
a great mistake for them to sell
whisky. Those who are working for
the public good should not be liquor sa-
loon keepers.
Il am glad my hand is not in this
for l do not believe that a
organization has the right to
liquors. I have talked with
Earl Grey about moderate drinking in
England. He told me Of three small
places in Scotland where the saloons
were entirely controlled and directed
by the workingmen. In these places the
plan was successful, but Earl Grey has
not vet solved the liquor problem for
cities, which is the problem we
today. l do not believe in attack
Ing this tavern from all points. Its
promoters should have a fair oppor-
tunity to prove their claims, and I hope
will be equally fair about adj
their failure If they fail. Much
on the men in charge, and l
hope the directors have chosen wisely"
Many members Of the Woman's
Christian Temperance union did not
hesitate to express their disapproval of