The Detroit times., 1913-04-15
Statement That Saloon Interests
Control City Government
Brings Hot Reply
DEFENDS WORK OF THE
LIQUOR COMMITTEE
Declares Aldermen Are Just as
Competent rs Ministers-Pat
O'Brien Speaks, Too

this question. "emphatically declared
Aid. w. y. Kingsley in the meeting OF
the Pastors union in the T. NJ G. 4
auditorium Monday morning, az the
close OF the address OF j. +. Burke.
superintendent or the Anti-Saloon
league, who gave spirited talk on
The liquor traffic and It's relation 20
morals in public life. Tho president
of the union asked il IL were the
pleasure TO continue the meeting, and
the clergymen expressed a Willingness
to hear Aid. Kingsley, who with a
dozer other aldermen attended the
meeting
Il will not detain you long," said
Kingsley, for il shouldn't require
much time TO answer what has been
said But some pretty broad state
ments have been made by the speaker
in regard 10 the liquor committee OF
the common council. and | want 10
deal with them. | am a member OF
that committee: | have stood with the
chairman, Aid. Dingeman. for square
deal between man and man, and in
tend TO stick to the last II Is true
that the man who introduced the
Lodge ordinance admitted that IL was
too rabid. l want to say something
about that: we don't intend 10 go
away from here like a lot of whipped
dogs. No. sir, not for all the temper
ance orators In the land,
In the first place. | want TO ask
you men not to look on the other fell
low as q dog | am sure that we, as
members OF the committee, have as
much brains as any five clergymen
n,,t nj 70 hot /
yet saw q minister or churchman
come into the council gallery but to
pettifug; he never comes to stand BY
his alderman, simply comes 10 tell
what ought TO be done.
But In regard to that ordinance
the mover Of 1t, as sal cbefore. said
that II was too radical He added. how
ever. that he would have to stand
by II, because 1t was drafted in legSI
form We get our advice from the cor
poration counsels ONCE. and those
lawyers are just as good as any you
will find anywhere. Those lawyers
told us there were just two things for
us to do, namely. cut the number or
license down To 93l or leave the total
at 1.533. Now the committee has had
its knife out: II will stay out till we
are through, and We plan TO go ahead
as We see ft-right. Now"
What about the law" asked one
OF the clergymea.
What Is the law" asked Aid.
Dingeman
Order order" yelled number OF
pastors.
The other fellow wasn't interrupted.
said Aid Eddie" Barnett
That's right" said the Rev Joseph
A. Vance, pastor OF the First Presby
terrain church, Let us have order"
Continuing his remarks. Aid Kings
ley said:
This committee has done things
which the police never thought of do
ing. We have investigated cases
which the police paid no attention 10.
And II would be better II you people
were to get out TO the polls and better
safeguard your interests. But in re-
gard to the saloon licenses-what are
we to do about IL? One lawyer says
It's wrong for us to maintain the
1888. But wouldn't it be wrong for
us to throw 500 out OF business"
No. no." shouted number OF the
pastors.
''Ill provide employment for every
one you throw out. even the 500" said
Br. Vance
Il don't think you could DC It," said
Aid. Kingsley The ministers don't
seem to be able TO get jobs now for
Ntbeir communicates.
Mr.. Kingsley next mentioned plans
which had been suggested for the
elimination OF licenses
1t has been suggested that we put
the names OF the holders OF licenses
in a hat and draw out $751;" said Aid.
Kingsley. Now | ask you. would
that be right? Would it be right 10
put the Pontchartrain Ia With the
rest?'
Yes. put the Pontchartrain in with
the rest" said DR. Vance.
We'll, ! don't know Just what We
shall do, but we intend TO give every
man square deal" Aid Kingsley
continued. IF We fail TO satisfy YOU,
then get different committee next
year But | want 10 remind you that
you are not going TO accomplish much
by trying TO bring about reforms
through your pulpit preaching. or
work In your vestry: you've got TO get
out and mix on the election boards
and In politics You've got 20 see
that candidates get a square deal in
the elections"
The pastors warmly approved the
last statement of AID Kingsley and
accorded II much applause.
Aid. Patrick O'Brien followed Aid
Kingsley. He said that he was a sa-
loonkeeper and was proud of Il. He
had been In the saloon business for
rs years and had clear conscience.
He believed his soul was white. He
thought IL the pastors would do more
preaching OF the gospel and less de.
nouncing OF their neighbors there
would be fewer churches for safe.
y Methodists, he said. had called him
up during the campaign, advising him
that they approved OF his candidacy
and were going to support him j"
In his talk, Mr. Burke "panned'
Mayor Marx and other civic authori.
ties for exercising their influence TO
prevent the bill TO submit prohibit
ton constitutional amendment from
passing In the Legislature. He de-
cIAred that the saloon and liquor in
terests were dominating the political
life Of Detroit and the entire state.
II was the duty OF the church 10 fight
the LIQUOR interests as an organiza-
ton, for the liquor men were always
on hand with well-organized plan
Of aggression when anything in the
1ine Of reform, inimical to their inter
Tho loon usa