Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-12-05
Mr.. MORTON'S GIN-MlLL.
fSEAL.l

Mr.. MORTON'S GIN-MlLL.
A Facsimile of His License-The Docu-
ment That Has Caused So Much Fuss
The Serious Trouble 1t Has Made in Re-
publican Ranks.
Herewith we reproduce facsimile of
the license granted for a bar-room in the
Shoreham, Vicc-President Morton's hotel
at Washington. The license was
granted, according to the affidavit at
tached, ''by the Commissioners of the
District to Vice-Presiden. Morton's
hotel, the Shoreham, in the name of
James r. keenan,, his manager" We
present this copy because of the contro-
versies and contentious which have
arisen and the frantic denials of the fact
On the part of the Vice Presidents party
friends, and the prominence gwen the
saloon in the convention of the Woman's
Christian Temperance Union held in
Chicago. The Vice-President's buffet
bar has become National issue.
The first information of the granting
of the license was forwarded by special
correspondents with the announcement
that the license was granted to Mr.. Nor
ton, proprietor of the Shoreham. A day
after came the explanation that Mr.. Nor
ton was not to run the hotel himself,
but that his request for the granting of
a license to the lessee of the hotel was
necessary in order to comply with the
law requiring the consent of the major
ity of the property owners in the block
where the building was located. In the
meantime the Vice-President was round
ly denounced for engaging in the liquor
business, because his great wealth made
it unnecessary for him to take money
from the traffic. Immediately CORE
spondents of Republican organs began
making explanations to the effect
that Mr.. Morton had no interest in
the saloon, that the license was not
granted to him in person, and that the
saloon was in fact mere storage-room
for the convenience of occupants of the
hotel, no liquors being sold over the
bar. This form of denial was put in
even stronger terms by one said to be
the Vice-Presidents private secretary,
in response to inquiries made by Repub-
licans interested in quieting the dis
turbance which had been occasioned.
The question had come before the
meeting of the Woman's Christian Tenn
perance Union, which, through express
sions from its chairman, put it's seal of
condemnation on the act. Miss Willard
received from prohibition sources in
Washington confirmation of the fact
that not only had the license been
granted, but also that there was positive
proof of the sale of champagne oyer
the counter to persons not occupants of
the house. Then the claim was set up
by the adherents of the Republican
party that while the license was granted
it was in the name of the manager of
the Shoreham, Mr.. James Il. keenan,,
and not in the name of DIR. Morton, who
had leased his hotel ard did not get any
profit out of it EXCEPT the rental. In
contradiction of this it was shown that
Mr.. keenan, was siToply the manager Of
the house, which is owned and conducted
by Mr.. Morton, who built it.
Democrats persisted in the original
assertions that the Vice-President was
granted the license; that the bar
''buffet" is the Washingtonian name
was in complete running order for retail
business, and that the owner of the
building actually received the profits
accruing therefrom. For three days
these reports, denials, evasions and
Misrepresentation of the real facts in
the case occupied the attention of the
w. c. T. U. convention Mrs. Foster,
of Iowa, as the leader of the so-called
comparison branch of the body, vigor-
ously criticised the majority for, as she
said, unjustly censuring a man who had
done great financial service for the pro-
hibition cause. simultaneously with
this demonstration in the convention
the Republican press of the city COM
mented with severity upon the position
of the w. C. T. q. IS unfair and dis
honest.
For the moment the Morton side was
uppermost, and Miss Willard. reading
personal message from Washington in
confirmation of the facts she had pre-
viously stated, said she had no desire
and did not intend to do the Vice-Presi-
dent injustice. HE could not help do
ing what he did without rebuking his
party, which is in favor Of high license
and against prohibition" said Miss Pugh,
the treasurer, and on her motion the
subject was dismissed.
But the issue would not down. 1t
came up again IN the committee on reso-
buttons, which obtained positive infor-
nation of tbs granting Of the license