The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-29
SCARED BY THE SALOON MEN
The Retaliatory Movement of the Liquor
League Causes Quiet Sunday.
General Suspension of the Usual Business
Constables Employed by the Spiteful Sa-
loOnists Ready to Make Forty Arrests.

The Sunday law was observed with strict
ness, yesterday, that saved the police a large
amount of trouble, but it caused the emissaries
of the Liquor League waste of shoe leather and
much worry lest somebody enjoyed privileges
their principals did not. Active in this effort to
have everybody obey the law was that brilliant
example of human aSipinity W. F. A. Bern
hamer, of recent tally sheet notoriety En-
gagged in this moral enterprise Mr.. Rhinehold,
of the constabulary, is also worthy of mention,
as ia Constable Morris, who had
in charge Ave other men in the employ of the
League These spoilers went throughout the
city noting the least violation of the statutes re-
gardiEg Sunday observance. They tried doors,
peered over blinds, and knocked their heels to-
gether in long waits to find victim. 1t was de-
cided not to make any arrests, but to take notes
of even suspicious circumstances, and then to-
day encircle the offenders with the superior
majesty of the law, as it is represented by an
average justice of the peace. Bernhamer, as
attorney for the League no doubt, understands
the limit of its resources of war, and is able to
say whether this keen watchfulness will last
over next Sunday. 1t is good
job for the emissares, but the
expense WILL after two or three such efforts be-
come burdensome to the profits on beer and
liquor, particularly when they are not supported
by Sunday and holiday proceeds. ''Blast the
Liquor League" said a aloon-keeper. ut is
going to destroy the Sunday business entirely.
Had its members not been SO bumptious / could
have sold enough on Sunday to make fair profit
1t has been my biggest day, and now can't sell
even glass of soda water without putting my
self in danger of arrest The League is only
singular. People not liquor dealers who
have been in the habit of supply
ing the conyeniences of the public on
Sunday have changed their former feeling
of liberalism to something akin to puritanism.
What the League did yesterday is looked upon
as an aggrayation. and many sufferers pro-
nounced in their views against traffic whose
supporters are playing a dog-in- the manger
policy
But none of the dealers druggists, cigar men,
confectioners, grocers and the like, who closed
look upon their doing so in any other character
than that of temporary expedient Each one
feels that the expense of making a test case is a
little more than he can bear. Therefore, the
League had those they were after at disad-
vantage This led every druggist in the city
to either close or to keep open doors
for the prescription demand. Cigar-sellers, ex-
cept those in the hotels, and Sergeant Frederick,
on Pennsylvania street. did no business. 1t
took smokers some time to learn of these places
of relief. A gentleman who came down town
about IL o'clock in the forenoon, said that with
in the distance of two miles, while the streets
were crowded. as usual. he saw but three smok
ers, and two OF those were cigarette winters.
But in the afternoon the street users of the weed
were numerous. The hotels and the Sergeant
supplied the demand of those who had not pur
chased their Sunday quantity the night before.
Druggists were extremely careful in putting out
their boxes at every call About 5 o'clock in
the afternoon a leading druggist was asked for
cigar. Il have not sold ons to-day" he replied.
Nothing is done here except the filling of pre-
scriptions" Fifteen minutes conversation,
though, brought the cigar, but it came as gift
Instances of this kind wore not infrequent, but
some disposed of this class of supplies quietly.
One druggist kept memoranda of the demand
for cigars and tobacco. By evening he had
footing of 500 loss by his refusal to sell. An
other favored permanent customers, but his
sales dropped so per cent. Sergeant Frederlcks
despair. through the want of a smoke, would
come in with, do you sell cigarsl3
Certainly. Why should not9 I have not
been notified by the police, State or county
authorities not to SELL A policeman came in a
while ago and | asked him if be had orders to
have me close. He did not, and this notification
comes only from the Liquor League If that is
higher authority than State, county or city am
ready to obey. Cigarss Yes. sir. You want a
stamp / can supply you. We can't stop the
mails for the Liquor League" Thus the trade
went on without interruption, although during
the afternoon Bernbamer strobe into the place
like pair Of vivified compasses. He was
companed by little man who bought cigars
and treated the head spotter and attorney of the
League. Restaurants supplied meals, but would
sell no after dinner cigars. In many the cigar
cases were covered with newspapers or muslin.
The scare was general, aud saloon-keepers not
members of the League, and who have scru-
plies about violating the law when they have
chance, kept their doors so tight that only a
crowbar could separate them. Il a day of
rest for bartenders While they regretted the
loss of Sunday profits they bore their enforced
deness good humoredly, except when they had
occasion to refer to the Liquor League. upon
which they are inclined to throw the whole re-
sponsibility, rather than on the police. They
think the LeaguerS have made the issue more
prominent than it would have otherwise been.
Several saloons had jocose announcements
pasted on their doors that This place of business
is closed for repairs" or IAN invoice is being
TAKEN" or 1.-THE proprietors and bartenders
out of town" Charley Stuckey, Of Sim Coy's
staff, hung draped brown jug on the door
latch of the East Washin eton street club house
patriot of the Twenty-ffth ward came along
and saw the jug last evening. "And phats the
naming of that insultT he wrathly exclaimed
Come off if that ye agonizing reminder of the
good you wonce were" OFF he pulled the
Jug and threw it into the street
with curses loud and furious on the ''spalpeen
that wad insoolt bis frind Stuckey." 1t was aft
erwards explained to him that the jug was hung
there by his friend, as reminder of the sadness
of the day. There were suspicious lights and
undrav1n curtains in two or three saloons whose
owners are known to be at the head and front of
the League, but proof positive of liquor selling
was not forthcoming.
The spoilers of the League met with many re-