The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-15
VETS OPEN BIG
CAMPAIGN FOR
KING ALCOHOL
Gather in Hotel Commodore
and Start Fund for Ma
tiOnwide Battle.
ONE $1,000 CHECK GIVEN
Mass Meetings to Be Held in
Every City and Town After
Wilson Returns.
ONE $1,000 CHECK GIVEN

Even the far spreading ballroom OF
the new Hotel Commodore &asn't quite
big enough to hold all the anti-prohibi-
tionists who gathered there yesterday
afternoon to protest against bone dry
ness. The meeting consisted chiefly of
hotel and restaurant men. all of whom
applauded fervently the oratorical ef-
forts of men from this city and else
where who appealed for aid in saving
the seemingly fast ebbing life of Old
King Alcohol.
Primarily the gathering was a meet
Ing of the Association Opposed to Ma
tional Prohibition. but one misht have
| mistaken It for a national convention
of hotel and restaurant men from the
| number of representatives OH hand from
| the Hotel Mems Association of New
| York city, the New York State Hotel
Mems Association. the Society of Res
taurateurs and the Hotel Supply and
| Equipment Assocaton--compos OF
dealers in crockery. glassware. fixtures
and other dealers who help equip hotels.
Also there was a large representation
OF the New York Retail Liquor Dealers
| Association and kindred Interests
present.
! All of the speakers dwelt upon the
| necessity for final and united effort
not only to induce President Wilson to
declare the army demobilized at the
| earliest possible date but also to make a
| court test OF the constitutionality Of the
Federal bone dry amendment And
| feeble as the pulse OF King Alcohol
may appear to be 70 the general public,
there seemed to be note of optimism
| sounding through the meeting.
, Mass Meetings to BE Held.
| James Woods OF the Bowman string
of hotels in the Pershing Square neigh
, boIhood presided at the meeting. From
Mr.. Woods and the various speakers he
introduced to his enthusiastic audienc
II was learned that anti-bone dry mas1
meetings are to be held in every city,
, town and hamlet in the country on
given day soon, or very shortly after
the arrival OF President Wilson In
America"
Also the intensive campaigners pur-
| pose to distribute cards. pamphlets ana
! other literature" by the wagon load. 10
send out spellbinders to big and little
public dinners, to work up enthusiasm
for the cause OF the vets among social
and fraternal organizatlons-in short. TO
la Dor day and night from now until the
final gong to avert the national dry
| season.
Thousands of dollars-just how many
thousands could not be learned last
n.ght-were pledged at the meeting to
carry on the anti-dry campaign among
the people and through the highest
courts Seated on the speakers plat
form was one small group of men VINO
already have underwritten the campaign
These men were either the directing
heads or representatives Of five large
hotel interests--the Bowman hotels the
McAlpin group. the Hotel Knickerbocker
the Astor and the Plaza
Speakers at Meeting.
Besides Chairman Woods the speakers
at the meeting were Frank A. K. Boland
a lawyer; Frank Hall Of Boston, who
is president OF the New England Hotel
Keepers Association: President Thomp'
son OF the Broadway Association. who
said that 100 per cent OF the Broadway
business men are backing the lgh,
against prohibition John McE. Bow
man, Thomas Healy. James b. Regan
President G. j. Reilly OF the Retail
LIQUOR Dealers Association, and others
All OF the speakers urged upon the
mon present to chip In and not put the
financial burden of the fight wholly or
the shoulders OF the Ave hotel companiei
who to date have been standing the ex'
penses OF the hotel and restaurant mems
fght. Immediately there was one cheei
for $1,000 passed TO the hands of q
speaker-the signature on the check wal
not apnounced-and before the Afternoon
was over checks and signed promises
10 contribute stated amounts we're nut
tering into the treasury like leaves II
October.
There are two contests before US,
said MIR. Boland In outlining the cam
paign. I'VE must endeavor to exert al
influence possible upon Washington Il
the end that there will be speedy de
mobilization OF the troops and, secondly
we must ask the President himself 4
use his influence upon the incoming Con
, eress to the end that the wartime pro
hibition bill is either repealed o
| amended"