New-York tribune., 1905-01-03
DECRY PROHIBITION.
Wmters an Social Service" Speak of
Substitutes.

The various phases of the liquor problem are
treated at length In this months Issue of Social
Service" published by the American Institute of
Social Service. The several methods of restricting
the sale Of alcoholic liquors which have divided the
temperance camp and which havo their own fol-
lowers, are the Gothenburg system the English
public house trust the South Carolina dispensary
system local option prohibition and the method of
the Anti-Saloon League. In the several articles
dealing with the problem the consensus of opinion
appears to be that prohibition. especially in large
cities cannot be enforced and because of this sim
ply undermnes popular respect for the law.
Earl Grey. whose establishment OF the Central
Public House Trust Association four years ago was
brought into notice in this city to a considerable
extent by the establishment of the Subway Tavern
explains the work of this association. whose object
Is to apply the principle of disinterested manage
ment to public houses
Earl Grey says in part:
The houses under trust mana cement are conducted
as refreshment houses rather than as mere drinking
bars; food. as We'll as non-intoxicating drinks,
cludlng tea. coffee and cocoa, readily served
70 customers as beer or spirits; and the food and
The managers are paid a fixed salary. They have
no interest whatever in the profits arising from the
no inducement TO push this part of the trade.
Joseph Johnson, jr. president of the Subway Tav-
ern Company, has this to say:
But we do urge that it is an absurdity to build
nor go Even substitute for coffee must be drunk.
ana It must be in cup, and ii be like coffee
already teetotaler is substitute at all. It is
something else. 1t does not touch the drinking
man. however good thing it may be-
The much discussed Gothenburg system is de-
scribed by Arthur Sherwell. The chief points of
this system the abolishment of all undue In
huence on the customer TO purchase liquor and the
abolition Of sales to minors, gaming and the i'm
moral accessories Of most saloons, the complete
divorce of the liquor trade and politics. nunicpal
responsibility and supervision the traffic and the
securing for public purposes of the vast profits Of
the liquor traffic.
The much discussed and abused South Carolina
dispensary system finds a supporter in W. o. Tatum
the commissioner Of the State Dispensary. He says:
III South Carolina liquor can only be sold between
sunrise and sunset. This eliminates night drinkrno
1t only be sold in sealed packages of not less
than a half-pint nor more than four and seven
elghthS gallons, and cannot be drunk the prem
lshlng the treating system. which is generally
2arded as one of the very worst features of the
quor business in licensed States and is principally
responsible Tor over Indulgence in alcoholic bayer-
ages. There IS no credit. Cash must be paid for
the liquor Consequently the workingmen's wages
are not dissipated by credit drinking at a saloon
drunkards or minors.
Prohibition Kansas. with 10000 more population
as many negroes, had nearly six times as MANY re-
tail liquor dealers, more than times as many
wholesale liquor dealers. about times as many
fetal dealers IN malt liquors, and nearly eleven
times as many wholesale dealers in malt liquors.
Prohibition Maine, with about half the population
of South Carolina and practically no negroes had
about twice many retail liquor dealers. five times
as many wholesale LIQUOR dealers nearly ten times
as many retail dealers in malt liquors and nearly
liquors
ence Of various reform bodies tonight the Hotel
Chelsea.