The sun., 1891-07-10
A Prohibition Town.

A correspondent OF the Pittsburg Dis
patch has written the history of fierce. but
none the less amusing war that has waged
for the last five years between the saloon
keepers and the prohibitionists Of the town
of Alliance in northeastern Ohio. The IA
nous Dow liquor law gives the Municipal
Councils the power to regulate or prohibit
the liquor business as they may choose In
the summer OF 1886 an ordinance providing
that barrooms should be closed at p NJ,
was introduced into the Alliance Council. A
Democratic Councilman said that it would
be better to close the bars altogether than to
insist that they should close at soabsurdly
early an hour. The prohibition blood in the
Council took fire at this suggestion. ard a
prohibition ordinance was adopted. This
was submitted to the people, and adopted,
two to one, after a tremendous contest,
which was decided by the owners OF the big
manufacturing establishments.
Encouraged by the majority In their
favor. the prohbitionists called a special
meeting OF the Council, and gave the
saloon men ten days notice to quit the busi-
ness. Before this limit was reached. how
ever, 1t was discovered that the prohibition
ordinance wouldn't hold water. A new one
was passed providing for trials before the
Mayor without jury. and imposing fine
OF $50 for the first offence and 800 for SUBJ
sequent violations. The liquor dealers con-
tinued to do business at the old stands. The
Mayor held that he was to be n Judge not
q prosecutor, and would not convict without
sufficient evidence. The prohibitionists
formed q law and order league. and imported
detectives who appeared in the guise OF
thirsty sewing machine agents, and soon
made the acquaintance OF most OF the cour-
teous barkecpcrs." One tine day every
liquor dealer in the town was arrested, con-
victed. and fined. Appeal was taken to the
higher State courts and the United States
Circuit Court, but to no purpose.
The dealers paid their fines. and tried to
recoup by selling more rum. Another
swarm OF detectives settled on them. Fine
number two. To escape paying this they
had this happy thought The Alliance lock-
up will accommodate at the utmost half
dozen prisoners. With this fact In their
minds the saloon keepers declined to pay
their fines and indicated their preference for
imprisonment. This baked the Council for
day or two, but q contract was nIa.c with
the authorities at the Cleveland workhouse
to taile charge OF the ov' rllow At tho
Alliance lookup. The dealers decided
to pay Some OF them went out OF busi-
ness but more of them stayed in. They
thought there was money enough In the
business. in which competition had been
lessened by the withdrawal of the weaker
knced men, TO Justify them in paying an oc-
casional Enc. They had only the United
S.atos license to pay for.
Some places kept open. Some dealers setup
beer gardens jus. beyond the town limits and
ran line OF free carriages o them. Then tho
Drys converted the suburbs to the prohibition
faith, and the beer pumps worked no longer;
and the free drives, the dustiness Of which
had been q great provocative OF thirst. had
to be given up. The business men OF tho
Alliance grew weary Of prohibition, and in
duced the Council to submit the question to
tho people ouce more. The Drys fought
with their usual feroclty, street professions
of women were formed. and the Drys won,
but by smaller majority than before.
To show their contempt for the result OF
the second election. the liquor men gave
away boer by the keg on the night
after the election. They kept on selling,
but cautiously and only TO persons known
10 thein OF W'ucH'u ioT ny soine CUSTOMER.
STILL the detectives would turn up every
now and then, and convictions and fines
would follow Finally the law and order
people overreaced thems elves in tryin, to
make the fine too high. Tho Dry leaders
persuaded the Council to pass an ordinance
making the fine for each violation $500. The
first time that conviction was had under
this ordinance. and the increased fine Inn
posed. the dealers appealed On the ground