The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-12-05
MEN VINO DRINK
DISCUSS SALOON.
SEEM TO BELIEVE THAT THERE'S
NO SUBSTITUTE.
A Majority Attending Unique Gather
ing at Union Mission Say That
Liquor Is the Chief Attraction Of the
Saloon Substitute Must Not Be a
Charity. S

One hundred and fifty drinking men
gathered at the Union City Mission last
night in response to an Invitation issued
by superintendent G. M. Stocking and
after free discussion decided that there
was no substitute for the saloon.
The audience was made up chiefly Of
transient laborers and show of hands
been in the city six months. Only four
had families living in Minneapolis. The
sense of the meeting was determined by
voting on certain pertinent questions
after they had been discussed. Judges
G. l.. Smith and E. F. Waite acted as
tellers.
The first question voted on was edo
men first go to the saloon to enjoy So
cial hour Or Or do they first go there to
take drink" The vote was: Drink
so, social hour IL. --s& ~.
Mr.. Stocking followed this with the
still more pertinent question, eff all sa-
looms in this city ceased to sell liquor,
but kept every other attraction they
have at present could they retain one
tenth of their customers. ," Only eight
men voted affirmatively to this PROPOSE
tion. =
The next question cut still closer to
the heart Of the matter. It was Glow
many Of the men here tonight 90 to the
there7' One hundred and FIVE hands
were raised. ~. ~
Couldn't Suggest Substitute. *
! With these preliminary questions out
| of the way, the question of a possible
substitute was taken up to start the dis
cussion the following question was put
"Can you suggest any substitute for tn
. saloon9' The vote stood: Yes, 80
no, so. The men who voted yes were
| then asked to describe their idea Of {
substitute.
The first speaker proved to be SO
ing into another channel by a denuncia
ton of the capitalistic class. He re
fused to sit down at the expiration O.
his time limit, but was finally induced
| to give way. to others who wished t.
speak on the subject at hand.
A clean, well-kept lodging house wit
good amusement rooms, where working
men could be accommmod ated at a rea
sonable price seemed to be the thin
most desired by the audience. On
man suggested that a bar where unadu]
terated liquors were sold at fair pric
would do much for the workingmar
The speaker said that he had been
drinking man all his life, and was gla
of it, but wanted the real goods, no
poison.
One young man asked: "Will an
one derive any profit from this subst
tute?''
Mr.. Stocking answered emo"
"Then there would be a sort of char
table faint connected with it, was th
reply. The majority went on record 9
opposed to anything savoring Of CHART
and said that they preferred to pay fe
what they got.
Discussing the amusements to be pr
vided in such place, one man sal
: "We don't want a gymnasium, the ma
l who works with shovel don It need an
) exercise Pool was looked on favo
. ably, but the vote on cards stood: Ye
10; no, 80.
l The Union City Mission orchestra fu
, nished the music for the occasion an
: was roundly applauded after each sele
Z. ton. After the meeting, light refres1
= ments were served.
Thomas Lally, the president of tt
; Minneapolis Retail Liquor Dealers ass
: citation, was present and observed tt
u proceedings with much interest.
t HThere is no substitute for the pro
erly conducted saloon,' he said aft
the meeting, "and the vote take
a substitute.