New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-15
Wins Convicts by Calling
Prison Hotel" and
Cells "Your Rooms"
LACK OF GUARDS
SURPRISES HIM
why" He Says, They Have to
Have Police at the Metro
politan Opera House"
Iron /. star Correspondent, Of IN. rriSune.l


l,4oo eonvicts who heard him he scored
two knockouts. In his talk he referred
TO the prison as this hotel, and eells
he described as your rooms
- He was in finer form than at his re-
cent debut in Asbury Park, and his au-
.dience, while friendly. held many who
were expertly critical. All were with
him from the sound Of the gong, while
Aone young fellow through whose hair
be ran his fingers as he walked TO the
chapel platform was so proud after the
lecture that he barely spoke to COM
mon Welfare Leaguers.
81. Sullivan, accompanied by friend,
came to the prison early in the w after,
Thomas Mott Osborne he was received
by Assistant Warden Johnson. Sull-
van declined to visit the prison yard
or look at the cells, saying he could
find misery enough in the world with
out looking for it.
awe heard enough about those cells
without wanting to see them" he said.
81 want to sleep well tonight"
Talks Ball with Father Cashin.
So with Father Cashin, the prison
chaplain, and Tim O'Connor, the war
denis secretary, Sullivan sat on the
veranda of the warden's house and had
a tanning bee. The clergyman is a
baseball enthusiast, but he was no
match for Sullivan.
"Why," said Father Cashin, "he has
a most remarkable memory. He talks
like the oldest fan in captivity. He re-
members the names Of all Of them back
almost to the Civil War"
After the men had had their dinner
sullivan was led through the prison to
the chapel, where 100 Of the men were
assembled. AS the gray head appeared
mighty cheer went up-mightier than
any that had marked the ball game in
the afternoon. which, as usual. the
home team won
Where are the guards" he asked.
There are meme here" he was told.
well. III be blessed" said ne.
"Why, they have cops even al the Met
rOpolitan Opera House"
introduced by Mr. Johnson as "one
American OF thirty years ago that is
not forgotten. the eX-champlon got
right down TO work
my friends" he said, after the sp-
plause died down, "it gives me great
pleasure TO pay you a visit. But am
not going TO moralize.
"All Make Mistakes"
Each and every one of you knows
the difference between right and wrong.
There is no need of bringing up the
mast What we are interested IN to-day
is the future All that any OF US has to
do is our best to overcome all obstacles
and be fair TO ourselves. If we are
fair to ourselves we are fair to every
other man. Every individual among US
has at one time or another been sub
jected TO temptations and has made
mistakes that under different condi-
caused US to register IN a hotel of this
kind.
"You are here. and it is up to you to
think matters over calmly and plan the
future-forget the past-and when
you get out OF here forget the walls
and all that this place implies and say
TO yourselves: I'll fight the fight of
life to a finish Never think that you
are too old to make fight. think as
young and feel as good tonight as
did thirty years ago.
"A good many of US gentlemen have
fallen into trouble and wrongdoing
through one thing-the thing they call
booze. Booze is a curse to mankind.
II rots the stomach, RODS US Of our
strength and activity, makes you old
before your time and makes you do
things you never would do if you had
your senses. If, when you leave here,
YOU leave booze alone, you can be as
good men and as well thought of as
any one who has never been q guest in
this hotel.
you know, boys, better than l do,
that booze is the chief cause of all
those things that lead men into hotels
like this. 1t gives you false courage,
makes you stumble and fall. In drink
you lay bare your heart TO every man,
and if by any chance you do anything
wrong all men know of it and away
you go.
LAS | said, I do not want to moralize.
You can do that for yourselves. ! want
10 be among you as a friend and enter
tain you for a few minutes, so that
when you go TO your rooms you can
say, old John L. Sullivan is good
fellow, after all
John LIS Stories Please.
Sullivan then told a lot of stories,
among others Of an old friend in Ire
land who told him the Nationalists had
raised a well drilled army of 100000
men.
How long have they been drilling ?"
asked him.
Seven years" he said
"Why don't they start something
then?"
"Ah, John. dear. but thew are afraid
of the police"
Another was of an Irish sailor who
was ordered TO throw overheard a Ger
man who had died in stateroom SO.
The next morning the captain found
the body in the room and asked the
sailor about it.
"Thirty-three, sir?" said the sailor;
"sule and | misunderstood you and
threw overheard the one in twenty
thee"
an twenty-three," said the captain.
"Was he dead?"
"Well he said he wasn't. but then.
you know them Germans are such liars
you can't believe them"
Becoming serious again, Sullivan
said his purpose in the nationwide
tour he is soon TO begin is TO save the
younc men of the country.
IL want to teach the young men OF
the country never to start drinking
he said. "There is no other way that
the Young man can beat it except by
leaving il alone. Take leaf from the
book OF John L. Sullivan and learn that
booze has more ways OF hitting at you
than you have Of sidestepping, no mat
ter how shifty you may be. There isn't
a chance for an even break.
Moderation? No Such Thing"
Talk about handling it in modera-
on. There is no such thing. You
ant do il. have heard many man
.ay. Il can handle il all right but |
have. never yet seen the man who could
make good OIL his statement.
~ went against John Barleycorn
stronger than any man alive. have