The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-06-20

The railroads are happy because they
haul tho stuff two ways. and perhaps
that IL one reason why the own felici'
tates itself in all public advertising
matter on the fact that there are no less
than 1T trains a day entering and feav'
ing the Union Station. or course they
don't all como from Rhode Island and
New Hampshire. but a good many Of
them do and 80 Worcester really Is wet.
although technically it is dry.
POLICE oNrRoL or THE
The police down that way are mighty
slick about controlling this traffic. In
the first place they know all about 1t.
Whether there 10 some law about II
or whether 1t is by persuasion or main
strength, In some way they get complete
information as to every shipment OF any
kind Of liquor into town. The express
companies give. whether they are re
quired to do so or not. a full description
Of every package Of II they handle.
An entry 10 made in a big book. II
Bill Smith gets a case Of beer say every
two weeks. why. it's all right and no
body's especial business except Smiths.
II Bill Smith gets half a dozen cases
consigned to him in a week or so, why,
there's something doing on the part OF
the police. Smith is asked to do some
explaining.
The figures given at the beginning OF
this article came from the police books.
The complete system used makes the
police sure that blind tigers do not exist
in town. There's a no license squad
whose business 1t is to smell liquor at
long and short range.
The police records show some results
Of the new system. In the license year
Of 1907 Os there were 1.le7 commitments
10 various institutions, such as the Insane
Hospital. House OF Correction. reforma-
tory, State farm, and in the no license
year Of 10000 these commitments fell
to 100.
There we're fewer to each institution.
Even commitments to tho insane asylum
fell of from IS to 81. The number OF
arrests fell of from about 5000 to l 300.
OF course there are arrests for drunken
ness yet, but the jags are imported
from neighborinR towns. The number
OF arrests for wife beating stopped al
most entirely. Deaths from alcoholism
in public institutions fell of from some
thing like twenty-five to less than ten.
in p year.
No license made a difference OF about
$3.50. 900 in the city's venue Saloon
keepers used to paw $1,000 a veal for a
license. The annual budget Of the town
amounts to about 81, 900, 900 and the hole
made by the loss Of license fees had to be
made up.
Some OF that money went into street
improvements and some TO support the
schools, but nobody begrudges a slight
addition TO the tax rate to make up for it.
Increased valuation swallowed up the
item.
The tax rate Ia low anyhow. being only
about SIT to the thousand OF valuation.
Worcester prides itself on the fact that it
has the largest borrowing capacity OF n
city in Massachusetts, and then not borrow
ing upon it. One of its Mayors put 1t this
wav:
Let US relax not a particle our vigi-
lance in the prudent management Of
public expenditures. our aim being to
place this substantial city at the head
with a tax rate 80 low as to attract business
enterprise
The effect Of cleaning out the saloons
has been such that the business men,
especially grocers and retailers generally.
rejoice over IL. The workingmnn now
brings home practically all OF his wages
to his wife. Children are reared away
from the influences Of the liquor traffic.
Street immortality does not exist if the
place. and everybody who wishes 1t can
still get a drink. Hence all hands join
in clarifying Worcester as the model city
Of moderate size In which to live.
AN OPEN SHOP HOTEL.
orcester certainly is peculiar, Why.
they've got an omen shop hotel there
the newest hote! in town and regarded
bv son e people as in the first rank.
IL happened this way The man who
built it did not employ union labor. The
walking delegate and other agents got
busy as loon 40 TIE place was opened.
Union labor had no grudse aGains. the
nan who leased the property and ran
the hotel. The place was on the unfair
list. that was all.
VI is within easy walking distance
~ the Union Station and pickets were
sent out to meet all trains and warn in
Corners not TO stop at the hotel.
II wns tho hest advertisement the
hotel could have had.
Travellers came trooping in and al
most every man said that re wouldn't
have heard Of tie new hotel but for the
pickets. and anyway II the place was
boycotted by union labor that was Just
the place where he wanted to stop.
The pickets went out Of business soon
and the hotel rarely has a room vacant
at night.
Worcester folks say hat that repre-
sents Worcester spirit. They are proud
Of the open shop hotel, even il the no
license police squad did swoop down
on il the other day and find four pint
bottles Of champagne in the propristor's
private locker and two bottles OF beer
and a whiskey bottle nearly full labelled
with the name Of the brother Of an Alder
man. The boss said It was all private
goods and not intended for sale.
woRctsrEB's yIED INDUSTRIES.
What Worcester people unanimously
pride themselves upon il the Industrial
activity OF the place. They arc not
unanimous about license and union
labor and things Of that kind, hut they
all rejoice over the variety OF things the