New-York tribune., 1919-03-13
BY BRIGGS

at East End Avenue and ghty-fourth
Street
Must Have Proper Supervision
at would be good idea to open
coffee houses in place of>every saloon
which closes" said Miss Manning. at
may not look like e good financial ven
ture, and there may be drawbacks to
these establishments. They may be
used for the distribution Of drugs. and
thus do more harm than good. But i
they were opened under proper super
vision and allowed as much as possible,
under the management Of the people
who frequent them, they would be as
effective as our two places"
Ernest Bohm, secretary Of the Cen
tral Federated Union, declared that al
though nothing could take the place Of
the saloon as social centre, the next
best thing would be to retain its fix
lures and accustomed environment
and serve whatever potions are allowed
by the statutes.
Mrs. Sarah A. Conboy, Of the State
Reconstruction Commission, said it
would be foolish to try to sell pink
tea, soda and candy to the men who are
frequent cafe visitors now.
Just Place to Get Drinks
"The saloon is no social centre, but
it's place where men go 10 get
drinks" she said "I believe IN the sell
ing of liquor under sane guidance
and am absolutely and unqualifiedly
opposed to prohibition.
"When the saloons go out Of bust
ness the same thing viii happen here
as elsewhere. Men Will buy near
beer and make their own 'moonshine.
They won't go TO any club for enter
tainment or social gathering
More time at home with wives and
families was the substitute for the
saloon recommended by the Rev
Dr. Frank NJ Goodchild
81 do think. however, that our Board
Of tducation might make our public
schools social centres whore both men
. and their families might congregate.' >
he said. Our churches, too. might Of
fer facilities for social fellowship.
Il do not regard the saloon as hav-
ing rendered any social service what
ever. | look on it as an unqual fed
curse. To call the saloon the poor
mans club. is 10 insult the poor mar
and give a false dignity to the saloon
Must Be No Philanthropy
This statement was made by Dr. Johr
Willis Slaughter director Of Com.
munity Councils Of National Defence.
The saloon is commercial institu.
ton for the exploitation of the leisure
time of men. The problem is TO Civ,
men q substitute for il that viii sat
isfy the same instincts and desires. i
is rallying centre of good cheer anC
company an informal club where mef
can come and 20, with the two grea
disabilities Of liquor and the abscnc,
Of women.
"After a hard days work every mar
has to utilize the time left over. and
as II rule his tastes in individua
amusement tend to revert to the primi
tive
at is in group forms Of amusement
that man rises. Consequently recrea
tion should take into account these TWO
tendencies and give chance 10 tha
which viii bring out the best in man
The community club offers this solu
/ tion for 1t provides q meeting place
where men can gather and talk and d.
all those things that they did habitual
! ~ in the saloon, with the difference
that there viii be no liquor served. A
/ the same time provision should be
made for group activities, such u:
dancing, singing or dramatic effort.
Can the old saloon be used as com
n.unity club? That is difficult ques
ton to answer, for it depends on loca
conditions. Perhaps larger quarters
might be necessary. or there might be
other objections. Whatever the loca
solution the club must be self-support
ing-there must be no philanthropy
The community must decide what il
wants and get it for itself. Nothing
given from above can succeed"
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