Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1904-08-12
THE SUBWAY TAVERN.
Criticisms of Bishop Potter's
Model New York Saloon.
DIVERSITYoF OPINIONS EXPRESSED

some Pastors Praise Fearless Inde.
pendence of the Movement The
bishops Participation In Dedicst-
Ing Model saloon Unnecessary, says
Robert Graham-View of n woman
Temperance Worker.
BY his recent participation I'm the pub.
lie dedication of the Subway tavern. a
model saloon at Mulberry and Bleecker
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, denuneiations and
criticism from clergymen and prohibi-
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, leading tenn
perance worker and founder of the So
ciety, who visited the Subway tavern,
'"it thut, III opiiiOlf, blSuOp
had laid himself open to severe criti-
cism in helping to add another to New
iork'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 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 big blackboard beside the
front entrance on which the following
legend was scrawled in chalk:
Yes, 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. "I'll tell you
one thing" said Johnson, 81 have been
here since the opening, and not 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 Gra-
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
StNCTe CIltlClSu ny hldhAh6 AuNSA S>S'cA
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 NewaYork city,
and it seems rather unnecessary, ,toAsay
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
church authorities leading young men
into temptation. Personally think 1t
is a great mistake for them to sell
whisky. Those who are working Tor
the public good should not be liquor sa-
loon keepers. ~
81 am glad my hand is not In this
movement, for l do not believe that
church organization has the right 10
provide liquors. have talked WIN
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 yet solved the liquor problem for
large cities, which is the problem we
face today. do not believe in attack
ing this tavern from all points. It's
promoters should have fair oppor-
tunity TO prove their claims, and Ihope
they will be equally fair about ad-
hitting their failure If they fall. MUCH
depends on the men in charge, ana
hone the directors have chosen Wisely.
Many members of the Womans
Christian Temperance union did MOI
hesitate to express their disapprovai OF
the bishops course. Mrs. Relie de nj
vera, vice president of the New ork
City Federation of Womens Clubs' sa'o
that whatever might be the personal
opinion and motive of Bishop Potter, ne
was supporting scheme that was deIl
cidedly wrong. -,
ut is great pity" said Mrs. de III
vera. ''that the bishop of New 1ork
should take the stand he has FOR any
saloon. however it may be conducted.
No matter whether it is better drink.
ing place than others, the results Oh
drinking are bad in the great majority
of cases, and no clergyman should give
his sanction to intoxicants."
A woman with Woman's Christian
Temperance union badge came up
Rlaonl,nr street early in the morning,