New-York tribune., 1909-04-15
DR.. PETERS HOPEFUL
NAY PISS BROUGH BILL.
Church Temperance Society Not I'm
favorable to Sunday Saloons.

The sentiment OF most Of those who attended the
conference the Brough bill yesterday Of the
Church Temperance Society unfavorable
to the provision allowing saloons be open on
Sunday between the hours Of l and II p m. The
Rev DR.. Frederick Courtney formerly Bishop of
Nova Scotia and rector Of St. James's. pre-
sided at the meeting Several of the clergymen
present spoke the bill after the Rev DIR. John
P. Peters. chairman Of the committee Of fourteen,
had explained its provisions.
The Rev. Dr. Henry Lubbock, record OF the Church
of Zion and St. Timothy, admitted that there was
disregard of the law In this city yet he thought
the general tendency toward curtament Of
further liberties in dealing with the saloons He
said appeared him that London would be clos
ing its saloons all day Sunday when this city
began allow them TO stay open OF the bill as
whole h spoke highly but said that he thought II
would be well to Try some way first or accomplish
ing its excellent features without allowing Sunday
opening
H. y. Miles p Presbyterian layman. who spoke
the Episcopalian meeting said that he thought
bill. with that exception. good. but
that allow the saloons to be open on sunday
was yielding the saloonkeepers and legalizins
crime.
In requesting DR.. Peters explain the bill fur
ther Bishop Courtney said that there doubt
in his mind whether the bill would prevent the
usual open side door or illegal communication with
other parts OF the same building.
The trouble one that must be recognized, said
John 4. Faure, who is enthusiastically in favor OK
great number OF men IN this city who want a drink
on Sunday. and VIII have 1t To prevent them from
getting II they consider an infringement OF their
liberty and they will break the Law every time.
TOO much emphasis had been placed on the
hours that the saloon shall be opened. Why not
hours II shall be closed? 1t is better
FOR those who insist drinking to allow them 20
do under the law than II is TO turn our backs
quiescently the fact do the debauched police
The entire public mind is being debauched
by ne omen violation OF law
DR.. Peters in further explaining the bill. told
Of the hearing at Albany Tuesday. where the
Senate Committee Taxation and Rctrenchment
opposed the bill. We made q strong showing
Albany" he said The arguments brought against
US ridiculous In fact, about the only arSu-
ment presented by opponents was We represent
SO many Baptist Methodist ministers. That
does not seem much OF argument, but II was
strong one. as results showed. But those Bap-
and Methodist ministers are just being played
with BY John Raines and his crowd. 1t would
seem that the Excise Department has TO jump at
the word of John Raines. 1t is disgraceful"
The fight for the life OF the bill IS to go on
with unabat ted vigor. DR.. Peters said last evening
that he thought it would be reported the floor
of the Assembly. and that it had good chance
OF passing that body. Additional civic bodies are
taking up the fight the bill. too. a poll OF the
members OF the City Club showed that out of $50
members 259 in favor of the Sunday opening
clause on second question 334 members said
they were in favor OF the bill whole and only
70 against il.
The Church Federation has out circular ct
ters to about a thousand clcrgymen. asking their
opinion on this and other legislation pending
So far a little more than one hundred and nifty
answers have been received. and the answers are
about equally divided.
DR. Peters VIII address the Mems Club of Holy
Trinity tonight the subject. and on Tuesday
night there will be similar discussion at the
West Side Republican Club. There will be CON
ference to-day the city Club. at which the sub
ject will be discussed. and another one on Satur-
day afternoon.