The Van Buren press., 1904-09-10
Bishop Browns Views on the Subway
Saloon.
Editor Arkansas Democrat

Editor Arkansas Democrat
Your esteemed favor Of August
25th came duly to hand.
! have not seen any very full
account of the opening of the
Subway tavern, or club, by Bishop
Potter; and, as | do not know his
reasons for accepting the invita-
ton to take part in the exercises
of that occasion and have not a
full report of his speech before
me, my information is insufficient
to justify any criticism of his con
duet and utterances.
Observation has taught me, |
am sorry 10 say, that one might
take with grain Of salt the re.
presentations of many of our news.
papers aud pulpils respecting
public men Of such marked origin.
aIity and independence as Bishop
Potter; for their criticisms are
too often inspired 10y a love of
sensation that causes them to be
too careless about truth and jus.
tice, This being my conviction, |
generally let about two.thirds of
what read and hear in the way
of criticisms against people whom
| know to be good and wise 'pass
into one ear and out Of the other y
| am therefore very slow to join
in this "hue and cry" against u
man for whom ! have always
entertained a profound respect.
Moreover, though ! am practi.
cally "a total abstainer," | have
never been so situated as to come
much in contact with the people
whom the club is intended to bene.
fit, and 80 my answer TO your ques.
tons would be based upon theory
rather than experience and there.
fore would be comparatively
worthless.
But, while for these reasons, |
cannot comply with Your request
by answering the questions, |
should be glad If you would kind.
" allow me to say to you, and, if
you can give me the space, to the
readers of The Democrat, that, in
my humble opinion, every reform
movement in particular, and the
world IN general, stands in need
Of more men like the distinguished
bishop Of New York, who thinks
for himself and has "the courage
of his c0nvicton,p lie is indeed
IN some respects one of the most
remarkable and useful men Of our
day
If our country has an aristocra.
cy, Bishop Potter is among the
best representatives Of IL, lie is
highly endowed intellectually, and
has from childhood toa ripe and
vigorous manhood enjoyed every
advantage ofa prominent family
ana ota very exceptional soclnl
aud official position ut the head
quarters Of our American Civiliz.
alton,
But, though, by the force Of n
very unusual combination Of cir
cumslanccs, the bishop has been
long aud most closely idcntI fed
with the favored few IN our great
metropolis, he hNs not turned his
back upon the poor and neglected
them, Os many who have come up
FROM humber environments have
done, On the contrary, n large
part Of his thought, cnorts and
fortune have been directed to-
wards the umplIorat0n of the hard
lot Of the unfortunate ulusscs who
live IN the slums Of New York aud
other great cities. The people of
the Bowefy region, where the now
famous Subway club seems to be
located, are accustomed to turn to
him whenever they feel the need
Of u powerful friend to right some
wrong,
A Ili,lcuncodotc wentthc rounds
some years ago which illustrates
the confidence many poor people
In New York have Ia The bishops
Willingness and ability to have
their wrongs rghted. A city lamp.
lighter had been hObiiually neglect.
Ing hiu duty IN MI on,otway alley,
one moruiug The blshop received
n postal card, written IN u matter