Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 6.djvu/307

 THE SALOON IN CHICAGO 293

ward of the working people shows some of the attractions offered by these saloons:

Number of saloons - - 163

Number offering free lunches - 1 1 1

" " business lunches - 24

" supplied with tables - 147

" " " papers - 139

" " " music - 8

" " " billiard tables - - 44

" stalls 56

" " " dance halls - 6

" allowing gambling 3

In the statement, now current among those who have studied the saloon " at first hand," that it is the workingman's club, lies the secret of its hold upon the vast working and voting populace of Chicago. That same instinct in man which leads those of the more resourceful classes to form such clubs as the Union League Club, or the Marquette Club ; which leads the college man into the fraternity, leads the laboring men into the clubs furnished them by the saloonkeeper, not from philanthropic motives, but because of shrewd business foresight. The term "club" applies ; for, though unorganized, each saloon has about the same constitu- ency night after night. Its character is determined by the character of the men who, having something in common, make the saloon their rendezvous. Their common ground may be their nationality, as the name " Italian Headquarters " implies ; or it may be their occupation, as indicated by the names "Mechanics' Exchange," "Milkman's Exchange," etc.; or, if their political affiliations are their common ground, there are the " Democratic Headquarters of the Eighteenth Ward," etc. As shown above, the " club-room " is furnished with tables, usually polished and cleaned, with from two to six chairs at each table. As you step in, you find a few men standing at the bar, a few drinking, and farther back men are seated about the tables, reading, playing cards, eating, and discussing, over a glass of beer, subjects varying from the political and sociological problems of the day to the sporting news and the lighter chat of the immediate neighborhood. Untrammeled by rules and