The Jersey City news., 1906-02-03
LIQUOR DEALERS
URGE THEIR SIDE.
In a Lengthy Statement
They Reply to the Criti-
cism of Those Pressing
the Crusade Against Them
FAVOR ADOPTION or RULES

THE PEOPLE MOST CoMPE-
TENT TO REGULATE THE
TRADE AND RENDER IT RE-
SPECTACLE.
At a meeting Of the joint executive
committees of the Hudson County Liquor
Dealers Association. held yesterday af-
ternoon at Franklin Hall, Montgomery
and Warren streets, the members issued
a statement in which they explain their
attitude in regard to the present agita-
ton brought about by the clergy of the
State to have new excise law passed
that will raise the cost of licenses for
saloons to- such an amount as would
force many, probably one-half, of saloon
keepers out of business. The statement
is as follows
I'm view of the agitation brought
about by number of the reverend Ger
gy in the interest of proposed new ex-
else law, providing for many drastic
changes in the regulating of the liquor
traffic, the members of the Executive
Committee of the Hudson County Llduor
Dealers Association, as we'll as mem
bers of the Hoboken Inn Keepers AS
sociation. Bayonne Liquor Dealers AS
sociation, Union Hill Liquor Dealers
Association. West Hob9ken Liquor DEAR
ers' Association. and North Bergen
Liquor Dealers Association, speaking
for themselves ais individuals, and for
their organizations, deem it advisable at
this time to make public their attitude
in the matter at issue.
.'As regards the regulation of the
liquor trade, we respectfully submit that
no persons are better qualified to- o-regu-
late it than men who are engaged in It.
and who have time and again sought the
enactment of legislation partially limit
ing the number of saloons. and prevent
ing from engaging in the liquor business
men who permit Their establishments to
be conducted in Vicious and illegitimate
manner
at frequent intervals suggestions
have been submitted by the Hudson
County Liquor Dealers Association, as
we'll as kindred local associations
throughout the county and state. to not
only the State Leg Stature. but to the
various local licensing bod es as well,
relative to the adoption of rules which,
if enforced, would enable the respecta
BILE members of the trade to cooperate
with the licensing authorities in so gov
erning the liquor traffic as to take from
it the reproach brought to it by the ex-
istence of places conducted by men viii
are unfit to be engaged in the saloon
trade. These suggestions, we regret to
SAY, were not entertained by the State
and the local licensing bodies.
.sOn several occasions we have inn
pressed upon the State and local authori-
ties the good that would result from the
enactment of law permitting under GER
tain restrictions the sale of liquor on Sun
days. We suggested that the excise law
could be so amended as to provide for the
absolute closing of saloons during certain
hours, and during the remainder of the
day allowing them to do business behind
closed doors until specified hour for
closing 1nis suggestion was also re
jected
"While we do not impugn the motives
which have inn ed the reverend clergy
to adopt their present course, we respect
fully submit that they have not included
within the domain Of the crusade the
drug and grocery stores wherein beer,
wine and malt liquors are sold at RETAIL
such places being, we contend, more Of
menace to the cause of temperance and
the peace of the community than well
regulated saloon.
sit is a contention of the various or
CARNATIONS named above that one grocery
store wherein liquor is sold is more Of a
detriment to public morals and public
peace than fifty regularly licensed sa-
looms. We take the ground that the Ii
censed grocery and internal revenue Ii
censed drug store provide an easy method
whereby the habit of secret drinking may
be practiced in households. People who
would not nave liquor dealers wagon
stopSin front of the door can, through
the medium of the Licensed grocery, OBJ
tain unlimited supplies Of alcoholic stimu-
lants. One licensed grocery store sells
more liquor to private families than fifty
regular saloons. II is the licensed grocer
and druggist that are responsible for 50
much secret drinking among women.
| Licensed grocer stores, we further
t~l