The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-21
JEROME TALKS METHODISTS
But FAILS TO CONVERT THEM TO
HIS EXCISE VIEWS.
Roosevelt Cited to Him as = Type OF the
Politician Who Didn't Wreck ITS
Popularity by Enforcing Unpopular
LAWs-DisturbeF EnliVens Things.

Politician Who Didn't Wreck ITS
Popularity by Enforcing Unpopular
LANs-Disturber EnliNens Things.
District Attorney Jerome addressed the
Methodist preachers yesterday on excise
matters and he seemed to surprise them.
MANY thanked him personally for the
fentmon's he expressed
They aren't ours" one minister said.
u don't believe as you do on this subject,
but am mighty glad heard you"
Il was lively session, but for this Mr.
Jerome was only In part responsible. II. L.
Huntingdon Prohibitionist from Yonkers,
got into the meeting and twice tried to
make himself heard When elected the
second time he was threatened with arrest
II ne disturbed the ministers again.
Mr. Jerome told the preachers that there
are two alternatives in dealing with the
excise question. One is the enforcement
Of existing laws the other the amendment
Of the same laws.
'Lasmuch as the present laws seem
impossible Of enforcement" he said, "let
US amend or change them for other laws
which can be enforced"
II law creates evils greater than those
& wa designed to cure then It is high time
that law was changed" he said There
ere probably in this city 225OOO persons
who favor some form Of Sunday opening.
With such sentiment which is probably
only part Of that which exists. and with
the vast amount OF corruption there is
among those in official and executive posi-
tons generally, complete enforcement Of
the present excise laws cannot be. There
Is a lack Of proper moral sentiment eyery-
where where that sentiment could best work
TO advantage in unfolding the laws.
IF graft could be weeded out from the
police force, and il all the other corrlpting
influences did not exist; il the gambling
and the social evils were not such a force
in the community, then perhaps we might
zee in active operation some Of the laws
TO which no attention is now paid, except
by those who call attention to their non
observance.
A partial Sunday opening has the favor
Of many. II the people Of this community
we're morally as strong as you clergymen,
then the present law would suffice. As
they are not, perhaps, Of the same moral !
type az you. then you must change your
law to make its enforcement possible.
The Rev. DR.. F, c. IglehaTt OF Peekskll |
assured Mr. Jerome that the Methodist |
preachers were with him in regard to the |
necessity Of enforcing the laws. He COM
plimented Mr.. jerome on his sincerity and |
ability, but said that the ministers must
absolutely disagree with him about legally
opening the saloons for any of the Sunday
hours.
IF everybody else in New York agreed
with you, Mr.. Jerome said DR.. Iglehart,
the Methodist preachers would maintain
the fight because Of their love for the sab
bath and their hatred for the saloon and all
Il stands for"
Turning to the ministers, he continued.
Mr., Jerome says the present law is not
enforced and must therefore be relaxed
IN order that IL may be enforced. l ask
him whether that was his opinion and his
method In regard TO the laws regarding
gambling. Finding that the gambling laws
were not enforced did he not 90 10 the
Legislature and have the law strengthened
90 that under il he can now reach every man
In Me community? II the saloons are now
open on Sunday in violation Of the present
law, what guarantee have we that they
would be closed for one-half Of Sunday
n the law permitted them to open the other
hair Would they close the prohibited
half day.
1T has been said that the politician who
would remain popular must not be too in
sistent on enforcing the laws. Some years
ago Mr.. Roosevelt told me that he had on
his desk fifty OF more letters and kilograms
telling him that he was in a way to ruin the
Republican paTty's chances in NewYork
by his closing OF the saloons on Sunday.
Mr. Roosevelt then said that he would en-
force the laws, so far as lay in his power.
regardless Of the effect o. the party. j ask
YOU 10 look at the popus' -ty Of that same !
Theodore Roosevelt to-da Did his honest !
course as Police Commission in New
York hurt him with the people the State
or the nation?
Look at Gov. Folk Of Missouri Is
there any indication that his insstence on
the enforcement Of the State laws made
hum unpopular? can see no better way
for the young politician TO make himself I
thoroughly popular with the people Of the
city, the state and the country than by !
standing firmly for the enforcement Of the
laws"
Az this juncture Prohbitionist Hunting
ton OF Honkers got in his fine work.
! want 10 say a word from the saloon
keepers point OF view" he began
Get out, you have no right in this meet
ing, said the Rev. Dr. Sanford the pre- I
siding officer. To the disturber's repeated I
declaration that he intended TO stay and {
argue the matter there we're shouts OF put I
him QUIT Eject him. from all over the
room. As he departed he shouted. shaking
DIS hst, You ministers are no better than {
! lot Of saloon keepers"
When Huntingdon was finally got out of
he building the District Attorney heard
more speeches against his Sunday opening {
plan. Several OF these were bitter. The Z
lpeakers included the Rev. Drs. w. c. Steele
J, Benson Hamilton and d. W. Couch. The
aSt said !
i was a farmer boy. When the COWS
ised 10 get In the corn on the farm through 9
hole In the fence, we used 20 drive them :
'ut and repair the fence. We never tore 1