Omaha daily bee., 1889-02-12
THE LAXITY OF THE LAW
1t Kills Every Business But the
Liquor Traffic,
PROHIBITIONS SORRY FAILURE.
Whisky and Beer Under Fictitious
Namcs--No Revenue From the
Sale--TaNes High and
Property Low.
A Glance at Manning, la.

This town boasts of n population of 1900
people something less than were numbered
within her limits three years ago There is
n dun and listlcss aspect hanging over the
entire place, wholly different from the
scenes of thrift and business to be met with
everywhere in towns OF similar dimensions
in the state of Nebraska. Why is this
Ono might say that it is all Imagination, if
proof to the contrary were not so plentiful.
1t is curious matter of speculation, any
way, why Iowa towns all appear so lean and
cadaverous, and Nebraskas so Jolly and
rubicund.
Manning is built upon hill of consider
able altitude, and commands q birds-c eye view
of the encompassng cornfelds--all the
scenery there is-and which just now
amidst dlsheartening drizzlc of sleet and
snow and ram, presents an extremely bleak
and dreary appearance.
IL has been quite II lively burg, and in one
sense, is still. 1t has planning mill on a
Liliputian basis, two good sized elevators.
and innumerable small shops and stores.
Still business, in all the well-dciiued chan
nels of commercial life, is at an exceeding
low ebb, and the merchants and tradesmen
sit IDLY about waiting aud watching for
spring.
''In Manning" remarked a well known
contractor to me last night, prohibition has
affected every branch of business but the
liquor traffic which flourishes Just as vigor-
ously as ever, while every other trade and
profession, seems in the last throcs of disso-
luton. The town as you can see for your
self is full of empty store rooms, and those
that are occupied are not dong anything like
the business they did before the law came
into effect. l have literally nothing to do,
but lay around and suck my thumbs, and
watch what little property have TO keep it
from melting away Before the law was
thn Il a.tNr rnI ,,,.,1
benefit from the saloons in the
way of revenue amounting To anywhere from
1900 to S4, 800 per annum. Now we don't get
a cent from this source, still there are Just as
many saloons, and they are doing even a
brisker business than ever. What makes the
burden doubly hard to bear is the fact that
this $4,000 is now made up Off of the taxpay-
ers. Why, | own a business room, which
now stands idle across the street there which
was valued at 800 only, and yet [ am COM
PEELED to pay S25 taxes OH it every year, al
most as much as it will rent for. What Go
you think of that-a tax Of . per cent in Il
town like this! Yes, sir, tell you we are
hoodooed from some cause or other.n
bore goodnaturedly with this plant for
some time longer, and then after supper,
having previously received the necessary
pointers, [ sailed forth to see the town.
The first placcI happened in was saloon
on the corner of Front and Woolman streets,
and presided over by big raw-boned, large
mOuthed muscular Dutch woman, known far
and wide as Molly Locke. On first stepping
into the place one might well think that he
had made u mistake, and instead of getting
into place of human occupancy had entered
the embrouchure of Chicago sewer, so sti-
fling is the aroma of Limberger cheese, gar
lic onions, stale beer and that multifarious
etfuvia that exudes from the customary habi-
tues of the place. On the left side of the
room stands an oldfashioned pigeon hole bill
lard table, with a few tipess cues in rack
at its head, and dozen or more of dirty,
hall
rent and riven surface. On the other side of
the room Is an equally dilapidated six-pocket
billiard table, good match for the antede-
luvaian relic just described, only one leg
is missing, and the dsmembered cor
ner rests upon a three legged stool. In the
rear of the apartment, shutting off a corner,
is n ragged calico screen, stretched upon
clothes horse, and which obscures from the
view of the delectabe crowd almost percn-
nially ranged along the bar or about the de-
crepit billiard tables, u dirty gasoline stove,
on which sits colossal pot, filed with
steaming and odorterous weiner- wurst.
The bar is an anomaly of antique architect
ure, big, square, box-like counter, painted
a muddy blue, and succeed over with
rosettes made from versi-colored tissue
paper, with n sardine can full of matches on
one end, and spreading platter of vinegar,
sliced onions, and potatoes ON the other.
This is the free lunch-the tempting appe-
tizer which Molly lavishly sets forth to
tickle the palates and excite the thirst of her
customers.
When l entered the place last two hercu-
lean Dutchmen were seated IN the sawdust
In the middle of the floor, with their ponder
Gus feet braced against each others, and
their horny hands tenaciously glued to an AK
handle. They were trying their strength
for the bcer-or "B. B', as beer is relg-
iously denominated in all the saloons in
Manning
The test of this trial OF skill ard muscle
was that the one pulling the other from
lttlpn tNh .nl
winner, and it devolved upon his opponent to
set up the lager. L was an interested spec
tator of this game until one doubletisted
German, who reminded me more of some of
the enormous quadrumana of Central Africa
than a human being, had outpulled his
antagonist no less than seven times, and had
swallowed as many tumblers of 'B. b." |
then ordered q mug OF the stuff myself and
as stood there apparently lingering over it
in the fullness of content, l inquired of
Molly il she wasn't afraid to sell beer in
such an open wayf
"Me," she exclaimed, opening with her lit
tie sleepy eyes, and wiping her fiabby mouth
with her apron, why doan sell ony peer
dots vas "B. b." und noting else. 1t vas
agin da law for to sell dot peer"
But you keep whisky here, too, don't you
MollyP' l continued.
'God i'm Heemal, naw--naw visky, dot vas
verse as peer-but god some goot bitters,
some barb-vire, some lemon shuse mid collc
medicine, as da poys call um, bud no visky.
Would you try hlmi" and she made motion
TO reach for bottle
"Yes, Molly, I'll so you one-give me some
barb-wire."
She poured out the stuff with greedy
alacrity, and of counsel found it just what
knew would,an execrably vile brand of rot
ten razzle dazzle
was anxious by this time TO get into the
fresh air, and bidding the sly old Dutchwo
man good night, went FORTH
Next in importance TO Molly's place is
basement further up street and on the oppo-
site side, appropriately called "the diyc.n
1t is tough joint run by IA young fellow
named Christ Weise. IL is "A dark, damp
cellar, q "dive" in the fullest and most ro-
bust sense of the expression, SURPRISING any
thing of the kind in Omaha or any other
large city, and is crying disgrace to the
village of Manning, and the great prohibit
ory state of Iowa. A ramshackle bar, reek-
ing in filth, couple of pool tables, and
half dozen deal tables used for card playing,
constitute the furniture of this hole. Here
the youth of the town congrogate and their
bachanalian carousals are the talk of the
town. Whisky and beer are dealt out here
ot all hours of the day and night and with
contempt for the law that is supreme. Ii is
not only a rendezvous for boys rlone. as there
are plenty OF adult soaks and loafers here
and they glory In "the divc.n
John Alberts, once the leading saloon
keeper here and man OF considerable re
puted wealth, still continues TO run u "lush-
ing KEN Notwithstanding the discouraging
ant NJ ta ftalA Aata IL ff.,a, Of