The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-11-23
"DRY MANHATTAN"
VISION THAT STIRS
HOTEL MEN TO ACT


the possibility Of New York becoming
a dry state were not ignored when the
New York State Hotel association met
yesterday afternoon at the Grand Cen
trail Palace.
Before the convention convened
there was an informal session Of the
executive committee on the niezzanine
floor behind portable partitions. The
argument developed SO many calories
that exhibitors of combustion devices
on the main floor wondered why their
demonstrations seemed unsuccessful.
From the spaces above the partition
could be heard calls for opposition to
further inroads of Prohibitionists on
New York's hotel rights. The name
of one William Jennings Bryan was
frequently mentioned in phrases Of
warmth, if not friendliness. This was
| all unofficial and will remain so unless
some member elects to introduce the
subject today.
Village Hotel Men Join.
At the formal convention, however,
significant preparedness move was
the admission of the New York Viii
lage Hotel Keepers association, num-
bership.
f. E. Zonne, president of the North
western Hotel association, which en-
braces six states, warned that state
| legislation in the next year was likely
to be devoted to hotel matters.
"There has been more legislation"
he said, Gin the last eight years direct
ed against hotel industries, the fourth
u ;x SIo Irit fofn
than in so years previous.
''The inclusion of the small village
hotel proprietors will be beneficial.
Members of the legislature pay little
attention to the representations of the
millions invested in the hotel indus
tries Of big cities. But they will pay
heed to the insistence of the small
hotel keeper who represents and is
able to express the feelings of his
community
After the convention had adjourned
"Bfg'' John McGlynn, proprietor Of
the Rensselaer, of Troy, told a reporter
that the inclusion of the village hotel
keepers means that the New York as
ISOLATION now has a membership Of
1900, the largest in the country.
'*The prohibition movement against
US has gone far enough he said.
1.-THE Anti-Saloon League and other
bodies shrek with joy when they
carry a state dry. but they don't let
the people know when dry section
goes wet again, as it frequently has in
the South.
Thirst Has Cost $4,000, 900.
Their efforts this year cost the state
of New York 100000. The increase
Of excise licenses by rs per cent. drove
so many out of business that there is
that much decrease in state revenue.
I think the people Of the state will
not stand any further nonsense Of this
Sort
A reporter was able, however, to find
one Southern proprietor who does not
believe prohibition is bad thing. He
is M. w Partridge, owner Of the Par
fridge Inn, of Augusta, Ca, dry
state since May 1.
ct don't know how prohibition is go
ing to affect me because run a win
ter hotel,' said Mr.. Partridge. II am
a Western New Yorker, but in the last
Is years in the South I have seen so
many murders committed by drunken
whites and blacks that I don't feel SO
badly about prohibition. Last year
there were murders among my own
employees, and one Of these men is
serving a life sentence in the same
Jail where Leo Frank awaited his
doom.
do you realize that in North Car
DINA last year there were more muir
ders than in the whole of italy, and
that Georgia Is not bad second. The
negro with drink in him is bad, and
Southerners are so sensitive that it's
word and shot. With drink it is
TALLY a shot without word
II am not Prohibitionist and it
doesn't seem exactly fair that reason
able minded visitors shouldn't obtain
some stimulant if they desire it,
Crowds Of hotel men from all over
the country crowded the exposition
yesterday. Last night they were the
guests of J. Nee. Bowman at the Bilt-
more. There was a buffet supper on
! the nineteenth floor in the grand ball
room, dancing and various other kinds
of hospitable entertainment