The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-31
SEES GOOD
 IN DRINKING WINE The Rev. Alexis W. Stein, Takes an Unusual Position SPEAKS OUT FOR SANE USE Declares That Such, In His Opinion, Is the Only Cures for the Evils of
 Saloons Which Menace
 the Country.
SPEAKS OUT FOR SANE USE

l Fitchburg, Mass.-The Rev. Alexis W. Stein, rector of Christ Episcopal church, l had no idea when he made public his views on the license question, through letter published in a local paper a day or two preceding election, that anything approaching a sensation would be caused l thereby.
 l The rector believes in facing conditions as they exist. This prompted him to give l expression to the views he entertains on the subject of saloons and drinking. l The communication which was the means of bringing to the rector the public | notice he does not crave, was written at l the request of those who were interested in obtaining a mo" vote election. In sub l stance 1t was:
 | ''I am one of those who believe in the 1 use of wine and beer The surest cure | for the misuse of them Is the proper use | of them.
 "The man who drinks his beer in his | home with his family and children about 1 him, habitually. will get no harm himself nor do any harm to any one else because 1 he drinks.
 | "The man who spends an hour with a l group of friends. Among whom are women l he respects. over one or two glasses of | beer or light wine, as do some European people, will get no harm from 1t. l 'On the contrary, in congenial and | healthy companship and intercourse his l life will be enriched and enlarged. "The beer gardens of Germany are pos- | itive forces for good in the social life of l that nation.
 Only Possible Solution. 1 The only possible solution of the liquor | question that I can see Is the sane, nor | mai and accepted use of intoxicating l drinks. Gladstone said of liberty: The l cure for freedom Is more freedom It Is true in this matter.
 l 'I am entirely opposed to the American saloon. Not comradeship. but drink, is the raison d' etre of the saloon. For one, l will cast my vote and any influence | l possess against the saloons always and | everywhere.
 He who is on the side of things which l build men up. which help toward the mak- ing of better men, of better social con- ditions, of better homes and cities, must | vote against the saloon
 q am a firm believer in the anti-saloon league movement. I am a member of 1t and a worker in the cause which 1t es- pouses. Since l came to Fitchburg have | preached against the saloon on the lines defined by the antisaloon league and have had collections taken up to aid in it's work"
 Asked to explain what he meant by the proper use of wine and beer the rector said:
 "I don't believe the attempt to prohibit | the sale of liquor can conduce to temper ance in this country today. For the pres ent, liquor must be sold.
 "Conditions are different now from what they ever were before. and they will continue to change. The heterogeneous nature of the population is responsible for this state of affairs.
 'The puritans of our forefathers days have been succeeded by a cosmopolitan population. and these changed conditions must of necessity be differently dealt with than they were in those earlier times
 "One way. and probably the only way, to fight the saloon evil as 1t exists to- day would be for respectable, Christian men to engage in the business he said.
 "Open saloons under the proprietorship of such men alongside of the others and drive them out O. business.
 Dance Hall Rested.
 That is the way in which the cheap, evil spreading dance halls of the east side in New York were oblterated When I was engaged in east side work in New York 1t was discovered that the attend ance at our Saturday night meetings was | regularly lessened to a material extent by these cheap. objectionable dance halls.
 'It was determined to have dances of | our own. What was the result? In less than five years after the plan of conduct | ing our dances was adopted the whole , neighborhood was changed
 "The cheap dance halls, which were usually found over some saloon. with a bar attachment, had to go out of business. Our boys and girls wouldn't t attend dances 1 unless they were of a certain character. I "Why shouldn't similar results be ob- | tained through the opening of saloons by respectable Christian men, in opposition to those which flourish in our midst?'
 Don't you think drinking at home, as you suggest In your communication. would l be likely to exert an evil influence on the children of the parents?' was asked.
 "I do not think so," replied MT. Stein. | "l do not believe father should ao any thing he does not want his children see him do. If he does not wish them to see l him drink. then he should not drink at | all Of course he should be temperate .in the use of his beer or wines, and in- | fuence their habits and lives accord ingly."
 Mir. Stein referred to the government | control of saloons in Sweden, which he i says has improved conditions there. but l he does not believe such a policy should
 
 1 plfying his idea of respectable saloons to compete with the objectionable gin mills" he spoke of the saloons which Lord Lounsbury has been responsible for | establishing throughout England | Explaining his reasons for opposing pro- | hibtion, he said:
 | "Prohibition does not prohibit. That has been demonstrated. Edo not believe | in the enactment of laws prohibiting the l sale of liquor which amount to nothing | It is much better. 1 believe, to permit | the sale of liquor under proper restric- tions than to have violations of the law winged at by the authorities. which all ! ways results in irresponsible parties gazing in the business. Before coming to Fitchburg, the Rev. Mir Stein was assistant to the Rev. Dr. Rainsford at St. Georges church, New York City. He was previously rector of Christ Church. Cincinnati.