Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-10
THIRD MOVE IN THE LIQUOR WAR.
ALI Southside Clubs Whose Members Pay
for Their Liquor by the Drink
Liable TO Be Raided.
THE ASSESSMENT PLAN THOUGHT SAFE.
Reins ofths Law Being Gradually Tghtsusd to Include
All Vendors.

his attention to the methods employed by
social clubs, the number of which is legion
on the Southside and in the lower or Wesi
End portion of the district.
The Black Eagle Club suit, by which the
president, secretary and steward were con-
victed in Judge Stoves Court Thursday,
was brought as test case. The clear con-
victions and rulings were such that Inspec-
tor McKelvy now says that every social
club, whether chartered or not whose men,
bers pay FOR their liquors by the drink,
either with cash or checks. is liable to be
raided, and that every member of the club
is Just as amenable to the law as are the
officers.
The Inspector has been studying up the
management of clubs, and the law govern
ing the same. for some time. He has de-
cided that clubs where drinks are obtained,
either on a cash or check basis, are run just
as much in violation of the law as speak
easies or any similar cases brought in the act
i've campaign started some time ago against
vIolators Of the Brooks law, and unless the
management of the clubs comes within the
provisions Of the statutes they are all liable
to be pulled
The First Move Against tho Clubs.
Though it has been known for some time
that some social clubs have been violating
the law, no definite move was made in the
matter until the Black Eagle Club arrests,
which is decided TO be a test case. This is
the first move in the third class of illegal
liquor violations.
The Inspector satisfied himself with
stating his stand on the club question as an
initial warning that lightning in the way of
a raid or lawful suppression is likely to
strike any of the clubs mentioned. As to
his plans further he would not state. The
law, according to the decision of the Court,
gives the power OF suppression In any Indi-
vidual case or in a wholesale war on the
present system of managing social clubs.
The question, on account of the immense
number of clubs and the social standing of
many, is a big one. The Inspector said he
did not expect to make war at once on the
clubs, but all are liable to prosecution un-
less the management is conformed to the
law. 1t is illegal liquor selling, and from
a legal standpoint the law should be obeyed,
the same as with common speak-easies and
by licensed retail and wholesale dealers.
A Move That Cannot Be Checked.
As the initial step the Inspector has made
clear his stand on the question, and a
change by the clubs and the discussion ex-
pected to follow will decide the next step.
The move is such wholesale one that the
present system may not be broken up with
out a change in the law.
The move is o natural one in the present
tepfency to enforce the liquor laws to the
fullest extent. The supremacy of the saloon
or bar in Allegheny county, as the render
vops of those who love TO partake of the
cheering cup" has been sadly shaken
since Judge Whites famous cut in the num-
Der of licenses. The limited number of
licenses gave rise to q wholesale violation of
the laws. Now, since the number of saloons
has been increased, and legaIized traffic
again placed on its feet, the lost ground is
being gradually regained by the grad
ual tightening of the reins of the
law. Speak-easies, the greatest out
and-out sources of unlawful liquor
selling, have gradually been squelched
by the police SO efectually that few exist
at the present time. The next move was
directed toward licensed retail and whole
sale violators, and now attention is directed
to the far more difficult question of seeing
that all clubs obey the law.
Talk With the Southside Inspector.
Inspector McKelvy was asked yesterday
if the law did not allow chartered clubs to
sell liquor to the members by the drink, ana
opportuned to further explain the status of
the case. He said: According to the law
and Judge Stoves opinion, chartered clubs
are just as liable to be pulled as any others,
if they sell to their members by the drink.
The only way a club can be carried on, and
come within the law, as understand it, is
on the assessment plan. An assessment is
,,l ,l,~ -.
a week. The liquor is bought and belongs
to all, and is drunk by all until it is gone.
Suppose you beloug-we will say to a
chartered club, if you like. When you
take drink, you pay for it, don't you?"
Yes, but the liquor is mine, as men,
Der of the club. having share in the funds
it was first bought with" was answered
''No, it is not. If the liquor belongs to
you, why do you have to pay for it when
you drink il? Is not the liquor bought by
a committee, we will say, on the company
plan, in which you are partner? Because
you own stock in the company, that does not
say you own the liquor, and you surely have
to pay for it, or you wouldn't get it. 1t is
selling without license, and just as much
violation as though it were sold by
dealer who could not claim the protection of
the law"
Rights of a Chartered Club.
"Then you saw that a climbs charter does
not give il the right to serve members with
liquor by the drink, unless on general
assessment plan?" was asked.
Certainly not. A charter does not give
anyone the right to violate an existing
law" With this clincher to his argument,
the Inspector hustled off to attend to other
business, first saying: go interview some
of the members of the clubs"
An attempt was made to obtain some in
terviews on the subject, but the members
were all very chary when any allusion was
made to the method Of paying Tor drinks.
Several members of the Lotus Club were
seen, and said that their organization did |
not come under the head of a law yiolator. |
The members buy books of tickets for differ |
ent amounts, and when they get ANYTHING
at the club, merely deposit their ticket. The |
liquor obtained has already been bought.
and they merely account for what they |
drink.
Several clubs visited have a system of |
buying a keg of beer, the members drinking |
it until gone. Others have check systems.
The members spoken to said they were not |
amenable to the law, but would not talk |
further.
Nearly all the male inhabitants of the !
Southside belong to some club, and |
many TO several. A number of the clubs |
have long list of members, while others |
have but seven or eight The same condi- |
tion of affairs is found in all parts of the |
two cities, so that the effect OF war on the |
present management OF social clubs can be |
clearly comprehended. That the question |
will come before the Legislature, in connec- |
tion with the proposed revision of the LIQUOR |
laws, is prophesied BY many.