New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-27
SAL0ONKEEPERS BOOST
SUNDAY OPENING BILL
Would Permit Sale of Liquor
from | O'clock Until Midnight
of Sabbath at All Bars.
LABORERS FAVOR IT-M'CUE
Opposing Ministers at Hearing
Told That Their Arguments
Against the Bill Are Not
Worth Considering.
lHx Telegrsrh 70 The Tribune

Albany. March 2e-'rhe Assembly Cham
her looked like the scene OF New York
City saloonkeepers' convention this al
ternoon The only thing that would disi-
fusion a spectator was little group OF
Noman's Christian Temperance Union
members in one corner and a coterie OF
clergymen and Anti-Saloon League repre-
sentatives in another The saloon men
had come TO Albany to boost the dill Of
Senator Duhamel to permit the opening OF
saloons on Sunday from ] p. m. until
midnight. Assemblyman Marty McCue
was their champion. ana he was cheered
vociferously as he gave some practical
reasons for Sunday liquor selling
His ire was aroused ny the statements
Of certain clerical opponents OF the meas
ure that the aboring men were against
il. and resented descriptions they gave
OF certain manufacturing establishments
on Monday mornings when. they said,
many OF the employees we're unable 10 be
present or do their work properly because
of their debauches on Sunday
Il take exception to the remarks Of
lUttt itNtItBu b'utt'Hith' 'di' -NNN~"N'
who try to give the impression that
every saloon is pigsty and every man
who comes out Of II is besotted with
drink II is an Insult. an outrage TO the
laboring men of the state 10 say that they
are rum-soaked every Monday morning
II any business man conducted his Dusi-
ness as one of the reverend gentlemen
said, he would soon so into bankruptcy
or an insane asylum. where ne belonged =
One of the arguments in favor OF the
bill was that IL would cut out police graft
In New York city.
Il am sick and tired OF all this talk
about graft" said McCue. Il was sa-
Ioonkeeper in New York for eight years.
and as | hope to 60 10 heaven | never
knew az one cent being paid for graft
and never knew of any one being asked
to pay graft.
This is not a mora question That
does not concern the Legisls AZURE. What
must be presented To- us is proof that the
majority of people want II. And say
that public opinion is with this bill. Every
avenue by which the pulse OF the people
can be felt has been tried out. and YOU
would be surprised to know the senti-
ment for it. The aboring men as whole
want IL"
William r. Hirsh. representing the New
York State Brewers Association. favored
the bill He opposed prohibition and
sumptuary laws. recalled the history Of
excise legislation and pointed out the
provisions OF the existing law, and called
attention to the millions in revenue de-
rived by New York State from the liquor
Interests.
Prohibition and local option legislation
is wrong economically. sociologically
fundamentally wrong" Mr.. Hrsh de-
ciared 1t is founded on false principles
It's advocates are striving through
theoretical effort at what is a practical
mpossibilty Sumptuary laws do not fur
nish the solution for the faults of our
social system. They may revolutionze
society and demolish property. but they
cannot make the public gain. nor the
world advance. nor inspire man with
promise or save him from despair. They
may interfere with the personal habits OF
man. but they cannot make the foolish
wise. nor the poor rich. nor the feeble
topper abstemious"
Ministers Oppose Bill.
The Rev. George G. Lexington. repre-
senting the Presbyterian ministers e. New