The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-09-13
WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK
Dr.. Riley on the Sunday Saloon.
he Editor of The Journal.


To the Editor of The Journal.
In your last, Wednesdays Issue there
were five letters on the subject OF the
Sunday saloon which proved interesting,
and we think, helpful reading. The lucid
explanation and force of logic in Clement
c. Clark's article will appeal to thought
full men; while the pertinence of Stanley
B. Roberts remarks will be equally ap- |
parent to the same. It would seem to be
unnecessary to further argue the points
discussed by these gentlemen, for they
were clearly and competently covered A |
few things, however, concerning state |
ments made by William c. Edgar and E.
D. Jackson. Il
Mr.. Edgar complains that the first
class men who have held the mayors
office will all testify that during their
term of office they were necessarily har-
rassed nagged and worried by self
STYLED good people, half baked, IRA
tional, inexperienced theoretical and mar
row-minded reformers, etc., etc. Then
the testimony Of these officials does not
accord with that which they have made
in the presence of this writer; for we
have been told by at least two mayors
that if the good people came to their office
as often, and expressed themselves as
thoroly, as did the bad, they would the
more understand what the public wanted,
and be the more enheartened in attempt
ing to bring it about.
The ease with which Mr.. Edgar passes
sentence upon all the people who do not
agree with him does not make it perfectly
clear to all of his readers that wisdom
will die with him. The first time we ever
saw this city, more than nine years ago,
there was a public indignation meeting
being held In the Lyceum theater, ad-
dressed by men Of such ability as Father
Clearly Pleasant Hunter and Others. They
were there protesting against the def
mite, practical and, wise saloon policy
Mr.. Edgar now advocates; namely, to let
the saloon do as it will. by men who have
sworn to enforce the law. That protest
has never died: and never will until men
| who make prediction promises and take
the oath Of office keep both.
| Mr., Edgar calls the law-abiding and
! law-preferring men 'buzzing pinheads."
1t is just possible that they have point
also, and that he has felt its prick. This
| should be perfectly understood at least,
and this is a good time in which to have
| it expressed namely, that If the so-called
respectable class Of men who prefer an
open saloon on Sunday will not join those
of US who believe that this Ubiquitous In
stitution should be made to pay some at
| tention to the laws that regulate it, their
call to have us join them again at cleo
ton time will be in vain. That notice Is
Of man who can be elected mayor of Min
neapolis without any assistance from
preachers and churchmen, and that man
| is Of the Ames sort. Are we to under
| stand, therefore, that we must either ex-
| pect condition in which the saloon is
! to be immune against law or be put
where a division Of the so-called better
classes must occur? If so, we Will take
the latter, and thereby clear our own
skirts.
It is little less than amusing to listen to
| Mr.. Jackson's appeal for shutting of
drinkers before we close the saloons.
This is a brand new philosophy. 1t
means that the way to keep man from
becoming a cocaine fend is to surround
him with cocaine, even injecting 1t Into
his veins when we get a chance, but to
control his appetite against it; the way to
keep woman from morphine is to tempt
her at every point, seven days in the
| week, and yet to see to 1t that she has
no appetite for such drug. If this is a
practical philosophy why does not oul
brother Jackson work upon few PEG.
pie? He has as solemn responsibility
as the rest Of us. Let him produce some
specimens.
!, What is the demand of the Home Pro
tective League? What is the demand Of
the people who are asking for the closed
saloon? Only this that the worst insti'
tuition in our midst shall pay some atten.
ton to the few and inadequate laws thai
have been enacted for it's control. Are
we to be compelled to say eventually thai
this is not the policy of the present ad
minis tration? AS one who admires thu
present mayor, trust not. We rejoice II
r every good work he has done and believe
' hirn to be an improveme nt-and large
e one--over what we have had in othe
d years. But will somebody tell us why thu
e saloonist is to remain the solitary excep
It ton to law enforcement? Our grocers
0 association is closing the groceries OF
h Sunday. Who protests? Our BARRIERS ar
e closing the barber shops on Sunday. VIII
e protests? These crafts are honorable AM
y helpful, both of them; and there are
ii thousand reasons that can be given fo
h every saloon closed as against one 70
: the barber shop and grocery. Speaking
4 of Toronto, / was there In the day whe1
II no car was run, and no newspaper wa
q sold on the streets. I3expect to travel ex
d tensively before I find any city more de
e sirable or prosperous than was Toront
{. in that day. Study the character an
e e growth of Winnipeg, where the Sunda
n is now sacredly respected. What Amer
b ica1 city of it's size in the newer ives
n surpasses it? W. d. Riley.
= Within a Short distance