Perth Amboy evening news., 1909-03-19
"UnjustifiabIe and Baneful
Action Of Exercise Board"
Says Communication.
MANY SIGNATURES
AFFIXED TO PAPER
Copy of Document to Be Sent
to CommissiOners--Action
Strongly Condemned.

A protest has been drawn up and
signed by a large number of leading
men of the city against the granting
of license to Joseph Gadek at 872
State street. This license was grant
ed on February II last.
A copy of the protest, which is
given in full below, together with
the nam es of those who have signed
1t, will be sent to the Excise Board.
1t is as follows:
The North-End Saloon.
We, the undersigned, actuated
only by our desire for the good of
the people of our city, feel constain-
ed to protest as strongly as in us
lies, against the wholly unjustifiable
and baneful action of the Excise
Board in the granting of new IL
quor license in the northern section
of our city at 872 State street.
I'VE recognize that we are now
under the license system; we had
hoped that the present board would
give the city good and progressive
Interpretation of this system; but its
recent action goes long distance in
the other direction and ~ a bitter
disappointment to the friends of
good order. The fair words of the
presidents report are plainly dis
credited by this action.
Here was an application for
license that had against 1t the most
formidable reasons, and had nothing
for 1t but the personal gain of in
dividuals, who were frank enough to
state publicly that they favored 1t
for such reasons. An excise board
that was determined to be fair and
consider the welfare of the citizens
could hardly regard such evidence
otherwise than as SO much argument
against the granting of the license.
1t would be hard for the imagina-
tion to construct a case which would
more definitely condemn the position
Of the Excise Board 1t is an atti-
tude with which no good citizen can
compromise, though he may be lib
eral In his views on the liquor ques-
ten; 1t ia a position against which
every good citizen must be at war,
Our argument is not fnotived by
total abstinence, nor prohibition, nor
by local option, but simply common
deceney with respect to the granting
of licenses. ~
According to the recent excise
report this city of 10000 inhabitants
has 157 licenses, or one to every 191
persons; of 191 persons 1t is fair to
estimate that there would be about
forty-f1ve bread winners.
Under the most liberal construc-
ton, the Excise Board ought to con-
slider 1t preposterous, absurd, for
anyone to apply for a new license.
Perth .Amboy is about the blackest
spot on the map of New Jersey in re-
spect to the : number of licenses
granted in proportion to the popula-
tion.. This is one. of the things that
gives our city bad odor In the opin-
ion of other people. The Excise
Commission appointed by Governor
Fort says that the number of Ii
censed places allowed should be
limited to not exceeding one for
every 500 people, but our Excise
Board, when the number more than
doubles that, is unfeeling enough to
grant another license under circum-
stances that make 1t greater cause
sf evil than most of the licenses that
already exist, and for which there is
far less excuse than for most
licenses.
'sThe spirit of the law-t that should
guide in the granting of licenses is
expressed In the ordinary petition of
the Court of Common Pleas, the pc
titioners are required to certify that
such license is necessary and will
couduce to the public good The
ordinary Interpretation of this under
the license system is that there shall |
be demand on the part of persons
living in the vicinity of the place
where the license is to be held; no
such demand exists. To the con-
trary, the plants that employ thou
sands of workmen protested against
1t, and a representative spoke |
against it at the public hearing be- |
fore the Excise Board.
"A saloon located in certain fav-
orable spots becomes serious |
to the well-being and pros ,
perity of the people.
''In its social aspects 1t appeals
strongly to certain types of men.
But this saloon has no social side.
There is no settled constituency
around 1t to support it, or to demand
1t. Hence there is no real call for
It's existence.
1.-THE only com munity about this
saloon is a manufacturing one, the
homes of the worknfen far removed.
These great factories, employing
of men, earnestly protest
ed against the licensing Of this sa-
loon as a menace to their vast bust
ness interests.
with these clear-headed business
men the opposition to this saloon
was not based upon sentiment. but
upon cold business principles. The
sa1oon units men for high grade
work upon all of the levels of indus
rial life. These manufacturers well
know this, all of them do. 1t is the
product of experience This saloon
o set in front of these great facto-
les with its yawning mouth wide
,pen. to catch the unwary workman,
ls, on pay day. he comes forth with
IFS hard-earned dollars. every one OF
which his family sorely needs.
''The planting of this saloon at
his strategic point where there are
10 homes, and no call for its exist
NEE. is not only utterly unnecessary
tut 1t lays grievous burden upon
hese manufacturers making 1t dif-
Lcult to hold sober and thrifty en- |
'loyea; and 1t makes 1t had for
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