New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-18
ATLANTIC CITY AGAIN.

That which was pretty generally expected has
occurred at Atlantic City I'm the reopening
OF drinking places and other resorts on Sunday.
in direct defiance of the law of the state. II is
understood that various local officers who
charged with the administration of the law
| are opposed 10 the enforcement of the excise
and Sunday laws, and instead OF enforcing them
give countenance and protection to the violation
of them The same attitude is maintained by
some politicians of reputed influence, and of
| course, the proprietors of some of the hotels
and Of many of the drinking places AMI other
establishments which seek popular patronage
are inclined TO favor breaking which adds
10 their gains. What the result Of n universal
plebiscitum on the subject would be u is i'm
possible 10 say with confidence but there can
be no doubt that large part OF the electorate
would vote for wide open" town for seven
days n week and that the idea widely prevails
that all but unbridled license is Indispensable
to the prosperity OF the place. And there are
those who would apply the same rule TO every
popular resort for health and pleasure.
From that idea. however, there is strong dis
sent in Atlantic City as(well as elsewhere. 1t
is indisputable that many of the most substan-
tal business men and property owners of
Atlantic City, including those who have done
most for the permanent upbuilding and pros
/ perity of the place, earnestly In favor OF
enforcement of the laws and they take that
attitude not alone on grounds Of morality and
order but also those of pecuniary profit.
Moreover, II Is to be observed that some of the
largest. finest, most popular and most profitable
of the hotels strictly observe the law and
quire its observance by their guests while
within their walls. Indeed. there are some
which do not serve Intoxicating liquors at all
on any day of the week. even permit their
/ to hriDo their oun
also many other resorts. as profitable and
popular If not quite so large as Atlantic City,
/ Mt which the excise and Sunday laws are hon.
| estly obeyed.
| These facts may not prescribe an immediate
and lnfallible solution OF the Atlantic City prob
lem. which is practically Identical with the
| excise and Sunday problem of many other popu-
lar resorts and indeed of many large cities.
| They do suggest the reflection that human
nature and its inclnations are pretty much the
same at all times and places and that just as
! I'm New York City most men are content to live
through Sunday without patronizing the corner
ginmill. so at Atlantic City and at other similar
resorts there are many, probably considerable
nfiiority who find existence not only tOler-
1 able but highly enjoyable without intoxicating
! liquors. That there are those, both here and
there, who really do wish TO be free TO pur-
chase drinks on Sunday, and TO whom denial OF
that freedom is a hardship is not to he dis
| puted, but we may doubt If they are as numer-
Gus important as they are sometimes made
10 appear by those who find supposed profit
either pecunary or political, in copnlvance at
some form of lawlessness. The drinking place
which sells liquor at forbidden times is as we
may easily understand. a source OF profit to its
protector" be he police officer party boss"
| such as il would not be if IL We're legally free
| 10 sell at all times. For that reason a large
/! part of the ostensible opposition TO the excise