New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-10
MICHEL EAY0RS
VOTE ON
LIQUOR PROBLEM
Scores Clergy and Thinks
Public Is Satisfied with
Present Rule.
WOULD CLOSE BARS
SUNDAYS UNTIL | p. M.
To Have Mayor Agree to Local
Option Is Concession, Says
Anti.SalOon Head.

Talking informally to friends at the
City Hall yesterday, Mayor Mitchell eN-
pressed his personal opinion that local
option was the only way ultimately to
solve New York's liquor problem. lie
defended his administration against its
critics among the clergy by saying;
THE excise law. | think, is being
better enforced, progressively, than
ever before. If these gentlemen kept
their temper and offered constructive
suggestions, instead of criticisms, they
might make themselves a useful force
Fanaticism is always carried to ex-
tremes. The people are pretty well
satisfied with the way things are being
run"
Among the critics who promptly an
swered the Mayor were William II. Ar q
dcrron. state superintendent OF the
Anti Saloon League, and the RCY
James V. Chalmers, rector Of ne
Church of the Holy Trinity.
Would Vote by Social Districts.
The Mayor said he was in favor OF a
law TO have the city divided into DIS
tricts. for the people in each TO vote
whether they will have the saloons
omen every day in the week, including
Sunday. have total prohibition or re-
tain nresent conditions. lie refused to
commit himself as to prohibition, but
said he would approve whatever the
people preferred He thought prohlbI-
ton would be undesirable. because a
large minority would be opposed 10
such a change. -,
The districts under such plan
would have TO be apportioned by Spe-
cial commission. he suggested. foIitl-
cal divisions would not answer, be,
cause the local option districts would
have TO be essentially social.
While the Mayor wou d be ready TO
abide by the decision OF the voters, II
would not please him to have the sa-
looms open all day Sunday. In the as
tricts voting for open sa loons, nc
would have them open only during
stated hours and after ! p. m.
Speaking of resol olution passed DS
the Baptist Minister'S Conference IA
md Police Commission for alleged
the Mayor said:
Has No Fear of Impeachment.
"These men with one idea can DC
more harm than good. The Police De
uartment has more to do than look
after one phase Of the liquor question:
We cant be disturbed bv this KIND OF
thing We've got TO go ahead cniorc-
inc the law with the kind Of human
machines we have TO operate.
When told that the ministers naG
suggested that, if Cardinal Earle ana
Pis6op Greer gave the word, the May
or would close all the saloons on Sun
dav. Mr.. Mitchell replied:
"Preiudice and spleen. Nothing else
could lead to any suggestion OF, direct
" Indirectly or even remotely, men
flaming them in connection with any
alleged laxity in enforcing the law.
"Uave YOU any fear OF being I'M
Ueached >" he was asked. -,
~ am not in the slightest bit as
turned" was the reply. go,
"Tbc optional local prohibition Dill
now pcnding at Albany. on Whlcn a
hearing will be held next Tuesday
would allow election districts or com
binations of adjoining districts wnlch
may be united in one petltlon' mus
covering homogeneous residence nclgn-
borhoods, TO vote" said William H.
Anderson, in statement from MS OF
flee. ,.
"On the Sunday question, however
We arc absolutely opposed 10 the May
or's proposition. We do not beleVe
in submitting the Ten Commandments
10 local option. We stand for closing
saloons. not opening them wider, MOST
Of the trouble that has come IN the eA-
else question has been due 10 the COM
promise years ago IN opening up IN tne
sale of LIQUOR in hotels on SUNDAY. ne
present Sunday law is class legislatioh'
Mayors Move a Concession.
1--WE believe the man who can afford
TO 90 10 a fine hotel or a gllt-edged
club should have no more rights than
the working man who has to rely on
the saloons. and that is why we intro
duced bill TO prohibit the sale OF
liauor in hotels and clubs on Sunday.
Suppementing his statement, Mr.
Anderson said it was concession for
4 Mayor Of New York TO advocate local
option, the very measure that the tenn
peiance workers had been fighting for.
The difference between our bill and
the Mayors idea" explained Mr.. An
dcrson, "is that we intend to make use
of the election districts. If he has in
mind some sort of social district. all
can say is that a plan similar TO that
was voted down some years ago.
Moreover, don't believe the excise
law is being enforced more progress
sively than ever before. And | know
that the people are not satisfied. The
mere fact that liquor interests are
lighting our proposed legislation shows
they fear the people would make a
change if they had chance. Ianhat-
tan would probably never go dry. but
We rnirht carry the other boroughs.'