New-York tribune., 1919-03-13
Social Workers and Others
Seek Substitute for Saloon
Even Prohbitionists Admit Cubke Features nf
Corner Cafe Should B Preserved; Some Would
Retain Old Brass Ra il and Serve Soft Stuff

What will take the place Of the sa-
loon when the poor mans club" van
ishes from this city on July l? Now
that demon rum is in his death throes,
even the prohibtionists are admitting
that the corner cafe has social quail
tiles which ought to be preserved
A canvass yesterday by The Tribune
showed wide difference of opinion on
what the substitute ought 70 be, or
whether there could be practical
substitute. AS for the frequenters Of
saloons themselves, they had no sug-
gestions to make Most of them did
not seriously believe prohibition would
ever become an actuality
Social workers, clergymen, labor
leaders-men and women who have
been considering prohibition as bring
ing forward a serious social problem
gave their views on the subject.
Two Concrete Suggestions
Only two concrete plans were put for
ward, however:
Ito retain the physical aspects
of the saloon intact, and sell, instead
OF alcoholic drinks. soft drinks or
whatever beverages are allowed by
the law.
TO change the saloon into a To-
cal club, whore nominal dues would
give any one the privilege Of friendly
meeting and social entertainment
The Rev. Dr. Robert Rogers, of the
Church of the Good Shepherd, in
Brooklyn, declared that he favored the
rctentions of barrooms, with the kick"
eliminated. Substitute Sparkling,
bright buttermik' for highballs, keep
the brass ran and the saloon cat, and
no one will know the difference, Dr..
Rogers argued.
DR.. Rogers thought the brewers
ought to run the soda saloons them
selves, turning their plants to the
manufacture of the Notwithstanding
drinks at the same time.
Must Not BE Religious
"The places have to have amuse-
ment and companionship, and must not
be particularly religious" said DR..
Rogers. "You can't substitute a club,
because n club means an organization
which chooses and limits its members.
The saloon takes in everybody who
passes its doors and cares to come in.
This feature must be retained.
"There arc large numbers of men
who have been accustomed to using
the saloon as a resting place after the
days work. There they have been in
the habit of meeting their friends and
comparing notes on the news of the
day. Right-mindcd people ought to
merely as social centres.
Il don't think it would be a good
thing to allow women in these places
after their conversion, but TO try to
maintain as much OF the same social
atmosphere, of the good kind, as be-
fore"
There will be no one institution to
take the place of the saloon, in the
opinion Of Mrs Henry Moskowitz, g
member Of the State Reconstruction
! Commission. Its absence will have
nothing but good effects, she declares
1t Will Be Absorbed
"The corner saloon will be absorbed
and It's frequenters will 60 in for other
forms of amusement" she said. "There
Will be great deal more of dancing
and entertainment generally of II for
NAL nature. Men Will spend more time
with their families.
mo local clubs or soda saloons will
be necessary to take the places Of the
corner cafes. The problem will take
care if its9f, as it has done else
where"
Actual experiments in the conversion
of the saloon have been carried on foi
the past four months by the LenoN
! Hill Settlement Miss Rosalic Mann
ing, of the settlement, declared last
night that the ventures were entirely
successful The two, social centres
which arc taking the place, hguratively
and actually. Of two defunct saloons
are at 404 East Sixty fourth Street anc