The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1909-03-13
LIBERAL SUNDAY
IS FAVORED BY
SOME MINISTERS
Newark Clergymen Who Are in
Accord With Their Brethren
in New York.
DIR. T. A. WASSON'S VIEWS
OF SABBATH DRINKING
Rabbi Solomon Foster Also Ex-
presses His Opinion of Nom
Enf0rcible Laws.

Opinions Of some Newark clergymen
were asked today of the action
Of New York clergymen who went
70 Albany and asked the leaders
Of the Legislature and Governor
Hughes for the enactment of an excise
law that would permit the opening of
saloons on Sunday between l and II
D.. M, under a special license fee for
the privilege. The Rev. John p. Peters,
% st. Michaels Episcopal Church, New
York city. headed the delegation of
~cfergymen. They left at Albany q bill
drawn by the Committee of Fourteen
tor the Suppression of Raines Law
Hotels after a study of existing con-
dltitns for four years. The verdict of
the committee is that the result of the
nresefit law has been in New York to
create a class of dlsorderly hotels and
to debauch and corrupt the police sys-
TEN"
The Rev. Edmund A. WATSON, PHI.
D., rector of st. Stephens Protestant
Episcopal Church, said that the delega-
ton Of New York clergynen were act
ing ON the idea OF the late Bishop Pot
ter. that no excise law can be enforced
ia large cities that is not based on
common sense and the recognition of
the fact that a very large number OF
people favor greater liberality in Sun
day excise legislation.
present excise laws in New Jersey
and elsewhere are an encouragement to
thote who want to violate them, and a
OBSCURE cement to those who have al
ways kept orderly saloons and taverns
on week days and sundays said DIR.
WATSON. Excise laws are not strict
~ enforced in any city as large as
Newark. for public opinion. it has been
demonstrated. does not approve of the
existing excise laws.
should Avoid Extremes.
I'm the framing of a reasonable ex-
vile law treating of selling on Sundays,
neither the extreme saloon element nor
the extreme prohibition element should
be considered oy legislators. There
ought TO be a midway position on
which all men of common sense could
stand in this important question, and
then by the enactment of prudent legis-
latiofl take the excise question out of
POLITICS, In case Sunday selling should
be permitted by law during certain pre-
scribfd hpurs, there should be, ~restric-
tons on the saloon and the hotel men
that could be and would be enforced,
ana the patrons should be required to
know and obey the strict letter of the
law, as they must do in European cities
and towns"
Treat Rich and Poor Alike
Rabbi Solomon Foster. of the WASH
ington Street Temple, said he favored
strict law guaranteeing the purity of
all Beers. also all stronger liquors. HI
would also like to see a law enacted
that would give the workingmen the
same privileges which the rich enjoy
In their homes and clubs, but existing
laws should be enforced. He said fur
thcr that it seemed to him that the
present excise laws in New Jersey are
TOO stringent. and imply that the ma
jority are unable to regulate their
drinking habits.
From what ] have observed in
foreign countries he said. ~ am of
the opinion that where people are given
restricted liberty on Sundays TO drink
In public places, as on other days,
under careful government supervision
the privilege Is not abused. I cannot
see why in this country people cannot
take as good care of themselves in this
matter"
The wife of a clergyman. who was
not at home said that the difficulty II
America, az she understood ii, was the
treating habit, men standing in front OF
a bar and drinking round after rotinf
of beer or whiskey, each man insisting
on all in the party drinking on hi.
treat. with the result that many be
come tipsy and noisy. In foreign cities
and towns, h said, she had seen mer
drop in at beer halls and parks OF
Sunday afternoons with their families
after church hours and dinner, an.
drink their beer slowly. She though
pecple here could be educated in THU
way in time.