The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1886-08-11

DRINKING CLUBS.
How the Laws are Evaded i'm q Mas
sachusot&s City.

How the Laws are Evaded i'm a Mas
sachusot&s City.
The liquor clubs are an institution pecu-
liar to Springfield, Mass. They began in
1883, when one was started by man to
whom a license was refused, It is said that
lawyer, now a member of the city Govern
ment, drew up the first constitution, and
made it prosecution proof. They were
raided, and in the police court their pro-
prietors were found guilty of violating the
liquor laws and were sentenced. They ap-
pealed, and the Supreme Court acquitted
them, and established their right 10 keep
liquor under the club conditions.
The Law-proof Liquor Club has a con.
sttution and bylaws, President, Executive
Committee, and Steward. The steward Is
the principal feature. He purchases and
dispenses the liquors, and has an alleged
salary. Members are voted In and get
numbered cards or checks, which are
punched or taken up as the member drinks.
When ex-Mayor and Senator Phillips tried
to get law passed that would control the
clubs last winter In the Legislature other
members arose In surprise and said they
were not troubled with liquor clubs in their
towns, and defeated the project as being
too special kind of legislation.
The recent Wholesale refusal OF licences
has given the club industry boom. Nearly
every man shut out had q set of customers.
Now he has fitted up bis saloon as club
room, made himself steward, and enrolled
his customers as members. There arc now
in Springfield forty-six clubs for drinking
purposes only, and more to follow. They
have membership of from 80 to $50 men,
bers each. One club has voted In the city
directory, 80 that any one can drink. All
5orts Of names are given TO the clubs. There
are Waterman's, the Mikado," John
sons" " Twilight" and the Arion,n while
Maurice Conrad, who catered TO frst-elass
trade, calls his the Bankers and Mer-
chants' Club" There are the " Republi.
can" and Union clubs, named after the
two Springfield dailies, In honor OF their
efforts for restricted licenses.
The advantage of the club room over the
saloon is that 1t is open nights and Sundays,
the law not controlling 1t. By a recent
Massachusetts law the saloons must close at
IL P. N. nightly. The average drinker Is
going to patronize the place that will ac-
commodate him most, and the clubs, there
fore, have cut into the bar trade badly, and
the licensed saloon mon stand idly behind
their bars and regard with gloom the high
priced parchment which they thought them-
selves so fortunate in getting. The police
raid few clubs every few days, but the
liquors arc almost invariably ordered 10
turned by the Police Court. The pelice
keep on, apparently, only in the hope Of
catching the clubs making illegal sales to
outsiders, as they have caught several, and
of firing them cut by Police Court sum
monses. Bat the clubs don't propose be
have IL all on one side, and the stewards
held meeting the other evening to form
On association TO sue the city for Illegal
seizure Of club property. SO the city has
no end Of trouble in prospect. besides ths
loss of over SIS, 900 that these men vsns
willing TO pay for licences.