New-York tribune., 1914-12-21
SHOWS WIDE OPEN
SALOONS ON SUNDAY
DIR. Chalmers Makes Tour
of Saloons in Parish to
Prove Violations.
COMPLAINTS FAIL AS
REMEDY, HE SAYS
Mayor Mitchell Receives Report
on ConditiOns-Pollce
Give No Help.

To demonstrate how useless have
been his protests made during the last
wear 70 the city authorities against the
liouor law violations in his parish, the
Rev. James Y. Chalmers, vicar OF the
C1urch of the Holy Trinity, IN Fast
Soth ST.. took reporter Tor Inc
Tribune Yesterday on a tour through
his district to point out speclhc m
stances Of what he described as viola
tiogs of practically every provision OF
the lduor laws. especially those nav
ing to do with sunday prohibitions.
Last Thursday Dr.. Chalmers had
conference with Mayor Mitchell on the
subject. presenting his compliant ana
receiving assurances that the Mayor
would do his best TO restrict illegal
liquor selling Yesterdays tour also
had in view the purpose OF seeing Wha'
effect these assurances would nave on
the situation yesterday.
Earlier in the afternoon Or. Cha!-
mers sent out leader IN his men
club TO make general reconnaissance
and this man brought back word TO
the vicarage. at 332 East soth St, thaI
"the parish Is as wide open as ever
The reporters tour with Dr.. Chalmers
followed.
The first place visited was on the
southeast corner of First av. and East
SSth st. Access was gained through a
door from the hallway to the dwellings,
overhead; IL gave entrance to the back
room Of the saloon, in which sat a
dozen men at tables, with beer and
Whiskey glasses containing approprl-
ate colored liquids.
rs Johnny James here?' DR.. Chal-
mers asked, by way of an excuse Tor
his being there. as he stepped INTO the
room. Every one looked up, but no
one answered There was no furtlve-
ness about the business going on there.
"You see, IL is wide open" Dr. Chal-
mers said as he reached the sidewalk.
"They have no fear or need Of con-
cealment. because they know they will
not be molested Yet this illustrates
two distinct violations. Section 80 OF
the liquor tax law, Prohibition q,
makes II unlawful to have opened or
unlocked any door or entrance from
the street alley. yard. hallway, room
or adjoining premises 90 the room or
rooms where any liquors are sold dur
ing the forbidden hours, except for
the going in and out Of the proprie-
tor, members Of his family or serv-
ants for purposes not forbidden. They
are forbidden 10 admit any other per-
sons during those hours.
"Prohibition a makes it unlawful
for any one, whether he has paid his
liquor tax or not. 10 sell, offer or cX-
pose for sale or give away any liquor
on Sunday or before o'clock in the
morning on Monday"
The next place where johnny
James was asked for was on the
northwest corner Of First av. and East
6Uh 81. johnny was not there, but
the back room was filed with men seat
"a about tables on which there were
glasses. Entrance here was not
through first entering a dwelling house
hallway; it was gained directly from
the street by the swinging door in the
little kiosk at the side Of the place.
Then came Comerford's place. at
Second av and East s6th 81. The
swinging door here inside the kiosk
Was brought up with a round turn by
a chain, but an obligng hand within
quickly cast of the chain. At that
hour, shortly after o'clock, practl-
cally every seat at the tables was oc-
cupied.
I'm one Of these places at a table
sat youngster with his father. The
youngster must have been about five
or six wears old. His presence there
was a violation of Prohibition
against allowing minors TO enter or
remain i'm "a barroom.
Other places where one or more OF
these violations were pointed out by
DR.. Chalmers were at the northwest
corner OF East SGth 81. and First av,
tho southwest corner of East seth st.
and First av., the northeast corner OF
East Goth st. and First av. and the
northeast corner Of East Goth st. and
Second av. They were not selected,
but taken one after the other as they
came. 30 closed places were found.
The proprietor of one place. he
said. ALREADY is under Indictment for
violations, and there are two others
short way from here under lndlct-
mcnt also, but who continue to keep
open every Sunday. They fear moth
ing"
demonstrated by the proximity OF the
places visited TO DR.. Chalmers S
church. They were all almost within
Tho sound of his voice from his pull
nit. but. although he had been pro-
testing against them for a year, they
scarcely ever close their doors s-"only
when they are sick or something else
Goes wrong. but never in fear Of the
law" he said. Block after block was
strolled through; all of them were
toeminp with saloons in full blast.
Here are some figures DR.. Chalmers
"Within eight blocks each way north
and south. three blocks east and three
blocks west of the church there are
more than 10 saloons, not one being
more than ten minutes walk from II.
They are all infringing the liquor
laws in many ways. Sunday is the big
day. The receipts will run from $50 TO
5000. say an average of $50. The 10
saloons take from the working people
of Yorkville from $1,000 TO 10000
every Sunday
'In my work here" he continued. 81
am between the devil and the deep
sea. The liquor traffic is the devil. The
administration is the deep sea. the
depth of whose logic in regard TO the
liquor tax laws | cannot plumb.
"Many saloonkeepers would Ike 70