Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-16
THE SUBWAY TAVERN
cLERGYMEN AND TEMPERANCE
SOCIETIES CONDEMN IT.
Expressions of Reformers Made to a
Star Reporter = The Liquor
Dealers Standpoint.

Tavern The act of the bishop has been
denounced by the religious and temperance
press, by clergymen and temperance re-
formers, who declare that his action was
i'll advised and pernicious.
Strong objection Is made to Bishop Pot
ter's statement in his address at the open
ing Of 1.-The model saloon that the effort
to abolish the saloon was lone of the most
comic and tragic failures of history. Pro-
tests were made Sunday from several pull
pits in this city. while temperance organiza-
lions have adopted resolutions of censure
and otherwise manifested their disapproval
of the actions and utterances of the aged
and distinguished churchman at the ded1-
cation.
AS illustrative of the feeling in Washing
ton, reporters of The Star interviewed
churchmen, heads of prohibition and tenn
perance bodies. and those who represent
the LIQUOR interests They were shown
newspapers clippings giving report of the
dedica ton of Joe Johnson's Subway Tavern
with prayer, the singing of "Old Hundred"
and addresses.
President Ewin's Views.
Mr.. James L. Ewin, president of the Dis
trict of Columbia Anti-Saloon League, SAID
he shared in the opinion of Superintendent
p. A. Baker of the National Anti-Saloon
League, who declared that there is no diff
ference between a place run like the So
called Subway Tavern or Model Saloon and
the other saloons of the country, except
that it may be more orderly than some OF
them. The element of evil Is there as much
as in the other saloons, If Intoxicating
drinks are sold. 1t is just as harmful upon
its patroniZing public as the others. ana
only differs from the average saloon IN
the attempt made to obey the laws ana
keep order.
II have been exceedingly Interested" said
President Ewin. ''in the brief comments IN
The Evening Star. which were on the right
side, as The Star usually is. l have been
following the reports in the hope OF seeing
something in favor of the action of Bishop
Potter but have found nothing. only that
he Is very old man.
"At the outset. before he became a bishop
when he was a rectOr-he was quite out
spoken as a temperance advocate. ana ap-
plauded President Roosevelt Wheh ne, as d
police commissioner of New York. endeav-
ored to enforce the excise laws of that city
He was one of Commissioner Roosevelts
eloquent advocates.
Bishop Potter criticised the work Of tenn,
perance reformers generally in quite intem-
perate language, which was replied to in
like manner. Since then he has been iden-
tilted with the defenders Of the liquor
traffic. and reached an extreme depth re-
Gently. in which he justified occasional
drunkenness on the part OF workingmen.
This was so objectionable to his own de-
ply was published in the Churchman, a
leading organ OF the Protestant, Episcopal
Church. 'I'- $50" :
His latest action In pretending to dedi-
cate liquor saloon using the name of the
Holy Trinity, has shocked the entire Chris
tian world. There is no difference of
opinion among earnest Christians SO far as
l know, In regard to the saloon. A few
may consider 1t an evil that cannot be
wholly abated. but it Is universally con-
sidered an evil to be dealt with as Chris
tians are supposed to deal with other evils
Personally. do not feel as much alarm
over the bishops action as some do. It has
already led to discussions of the subject in
the secular press which must be convincing
to many Of the general public who do not
read the publications Of the churches and
temperance societies, but who are infu-
eneed in their opinions and actions by the
editorials In our great newspapers"
In conclusion Mr.. Ewin said the reason;
this matter was not taken up in the cur.
rent number Of the local anti-saloon pub
LEGATION was because space would not per-
NIT proper discussion OF the subject
And" he added. II preferred to await
developments before taking up a reproach
against one who in former years has been,
and still should be, promoter Of the tenn
perance reform.
From the Liquor Dealers Standpoint.
The matter from the liquor dealers stand
point was stated by Mr.. Hugh Harvey,
president Of the Washington Federation Of
Liquor Dealers. better known as the Retail
Liquor Dealers Association. Referring to
the Moral Saloon" as dedicated in New
York with the assistance Of Bishop Potter,
President Harvey said
THE idea and movement are certainly
excellent ones. Their success remains to
be seen. The criticism Bishop Potter is re-
ceiving is naturally to be expected You
will find that the people who are criticising
not only criticise saloons but everything
else. My knowledge Of the saloon as 1t is
conducted In Washington is that no man
need be afraid to enter one at any time.
Any lady may safely go In and remain as
long as she pleases and rarely hear or
see anything that would offend the ears or
mo one deplores drunkenness or the
abuse Of the privileges and benefits the
saloon affords more than the saloon keepers
We feel that man seen drunk on the street
the eyes of sensible people than all the
fanatical organizations combined. The
men engaged in the saloon business, most
OF them. have families. sons and daughters
raised up practically In and about the
liquor business. and become later In life
the leaders in the various trades or profess
sions. And rarely. indeed. is 1t that the son
OF a salOonkeeper Is pointed out as drunk
ard. while on the other hand men who
were raised In constrained manner and
kept entirely ignorant Of the good and
OF saloon keeper is pointed out as drunk
ards and outcasts from very good families
This. think. has been the experience and
observation of most liquor dealers through
out the country. showing that moderate
knowledge of the uses and effects of alco-
holic stimulants is essential for the success
of the average man.
Certainly II people would look at the
matter today in the same broad manner in
which the learned Bishop Potter does they
would at least refrain from condemning a
well-intended experiment until its success
or failure is proven.
1.-THE liquor men of this city, and, be-
lieye. in all other cities. stand ready and
willing at any and all times to aid and as
sist. morally and financially. any movement
that is intended to elevate and uplift man
kind
I'm reference to statements made by
some sentimental speakers from the pulpit
as to what becomes of the wife and chill
dren or cubs. as one of them expressed
it. while the husband is Off In Bishop Pot
ter's saloon. l will answer that every sa-
loon man. and in fact every broad-minded
man. knows the wife and children who
have husband and father who is in the
habit of spending an hour or two after his
days work with other gentlemen over a
social glass In a respectable saloon is In
deed fortunate family. because during
the time he spends in this recreation he is
safe and impervious to crime and VIOLA
tions of the laws of the land which are ram
filling he Tails