The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-10-22
WHAT IN PLACE OF
SUNDAY SALOON?
SUBSTITUTE NEEDED SAY STU
DENTS OF SOCIAL CONDITIONS.

Many Men Would Be Deprived Of
Needed Social Con-
structive Reform Is N eeded.
Should the people of Minnesota de-
mand that the Sunday saloon be abso-
lutely abolished, what has the COM
munity to offer the patrons of the sa
loon as a substitute for the club. priv
ileges and social comforts that the sa-
loon has afforded9 ,r.l ~.
II the Sunday saloon goes, there
will be created spirit of unrest
among former patrons, and few men
who have studied the conditions are IN
curing as to the substitute. Men who
have been interested in the study OF
social conditions and who have had
excellent opportunity to see the re-
suits of the Sunday saloon are appeal
ing to the people to offer to the sa.
loon lounger something better; some
thing that will give the comfort with
out bad results. Among these men are
DR.. Frank L. McVey, professor Of eco
Monies at the university, and Judge
court.
DR.. McVey was for some time presi,
dent of the Associated Charities, and
Judge Waite, aside from dispensing
Justice to the unfortunates who get
too much warmth out of the Sunday
saloon, wrestled with the question
when he was chief of police, three
years ago.. Both are firm in the belief
that substitute must be onered in
order to solve the question, but they
leave it to the community to decide
what the substitute shall be.
A Substitute Imperative.
Professor McVey says Of the substi-
tute:
Minneapolis is quite limited in her re-
sources for giving a substitute for the sa-
loon and in order to solve the saloot,
| problem in the long run substitute must
be established In this connection the
question arises as to what Minneapolis
has done or what she could do to provide
such substitute.
Three or four Minneapolis churches
have established settlements. Some OF
! these are conducted on the broad settle
ment principle and others on the religious
basis, but they touch distinct neighbour
hoods and localities and do not come di-
rectly in contact with the large number
! of men and boys.
| The trade unions offer some substitute
but usually meetings are held either in
| halls owned by liquor interests or in halls
| over saloons.
The various fraternal organizations
| offer some entertainment for their men,
| bers, but comparatively few have club
rooms or well-developed social features.
The parks, tho beautiful and extensive,
| have no real Fairgrounds and when 1t
comes to inexpensive, but first class,
| theatrical performances and musical con-
certs, coffee houses and clubs for the peo-
| pie, we find Minneapolis deficient. This
| list suggests what might be done to en-
| large the opportunities for men and wo-
| men unable to take advantage of the
more expensive theaters, lectures and
concerts.
Sooner or later 1t must become a ques-
| ton whether the city Is not decidedly de-
| fcient in its duty when it does not have
municipal ~theaters and municipal concert
halls. The city Is likewise deficient in the
| ownership of public baths.
l. Most of the churches offer nothing that
| really meets the difficulty, and the re-
| suit Is that the men or women not as.
| ISOLATED directly in some church have tt
| look elsewhere for their amusement. II
some measure the cheap theaters recently
established in the city offer an offset, bu
| hardly of the kind that leaves nothing
| more to be desired. The saloon will
therefore, continue to have the hold tina
! IL uOSS 81 lOI5 DIS tllS community 1dlS u
meet the problem of offering some rea
substitute.
AS a suggestion along two lines tive
things might be done. 1t might be pos
sible to give in the Auditorium goot
musical concerts at prices ranging from
10, Is and 35 cents AS a second sugges
; ton it might be possible to organize
company which would establish mum
Der of so-called coffee houses. Whethe
it would be wise to have such places con
) Quoted under the corporation, church o
philanthropic organization would have t.
: be decided after careful study. Gen
orally speaking it might be said that tn
man who patronizes such places does no
, want to feel that he Is coming in contac
with a charity.
Judge Waite's idea.
Judge Waite, speaking of the situa
ton from his experience in the admin
istration and judicial city departments
says:
am glad that The Journal
taking up this question. Whatever tn
evils of the saloon, on Sunday or week
day, no observant person can fail to Sc
that it depends for it's existence upon
variety Of human impulses and need
some Of which are wholly innocent. TT
social instinct is in itself sound and goo
and to this the saloon responds as doe
: no other institution which is convenient
available to the masses Of men.
To many men in a city like this, WI
} do not care to go to church services an
who cannot gather in clubs or home
the saloon offers the only attractive plae
where they can get together with the
fellows for the social Intercourse, whic
: is one Of the most valued privileges of tt
l common-rest day. A large proportion
the patrons Of the Sunday saloon al
men from lodging houses and cheap hi
, tells. If they do not have a congeni:
meeting place, the day will be tedior
4 and lonely. 1t is not for others to pre-
. scribe regulations for their conduct
/. long as the law is not violated. The
cannot be compelled to go to church an
Q they ought not be forced to choose be
] tween attending religious gatherings an
spending the day wholly without fellow
| ship and good cheer. If their present RI