Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-09
WAR IN SHARPSBURG.
A Crusade Commenced Against the
Borough Speak-Easies
BY CITIZENS WHO WANT ORDER.
McClure's Methods Will Not Be Employed
by the Reformers,
AS THEY THINK THEM VERY OBNOXIOUS

A crusade against speak-easies has been
inaugurated in Sharpsburg. The borough
is honeycombed with speak-easies, and so
peace-loving citizens of the borough are up
in arms.
Saturday night the ministers, the Bur-
CESS and some of the prominent citizens Of
the town quietly met in the study of Rev.
I. M. Thompson, the Presbyterian
preacher, and adopted methods to wipe out
the illegal liquor selling Their plans are
not those employed by the Pittsburg Law
and Order Society, and Agent Mcclure can
get some valuable pointers if he keeps
track of the coming proceedings.
81 do not wish it understood" said Rev.
Mr.. Thompson yesterday, "that our organ
ization will be anything like the Pittsburg
Law and Order Society.
Doesn't Like McClure's Style.
'McClure's practices are obnoxious and
un-Christanlike. do not believe it is the
visit speak-easies and get drunk to detect
others. 1 do not see the propriety in stop
ping the sale of cigars, soda waters and
evils. 1t is the liquor business which
is the menace to SharpsburG. 1t is a
common thing to see crowds of
men. old and young, staggering along our
so obnoxious that we, who love the true
peace of Sunday, will not stand 1t. In
Sharpsburg alone we have at least 20 speak
easies. while the surrounding townships also
contribute to the law-breaking. To help it
along the borough has five licensed saloons.
Councils to Be Asked for Aid.
eve intend to work along this line. In
stead of employing detectives we will ask
the Borough Councils to give us aid. Sharps-
burg has good force Of policemen, and
they can do the work by gathering evidence
and handing it over to the constable. He
will report the cases to court. This plan,
however, is a last resort. We do not want
to be severe. The proprietors of the speak
easies are all known. Tney will be visited
quietly and told of the danger they are in.
Then, If they will not close up. We intend to
push them just as far as the law will let us;
"There was one man, Rev. Father Schwab,
who did not meet with us Saturday night,
but we expect to secure his aid. 1t was re
who last fall made charges from his pulpit
against some of his congregation who were
engaged in the speak-easy business. His re-
marks were SO severe that he drove a num-
Der of tho people out of the business. Their
places were soon taken by others, eager to
make money in this sinful way. Father
Schwab will be very valuable man to u.s."
Sunday Visitors From Out of Town.
Rev. Mr.. Thompson's remarks are voiced
by most of the prominent people of Sharps-
burg. Etna has been pretty thoroughly
cleaned of speak-easies and this adds to the
lawlessness of Sharpsburg. Each Sunday
crowds from Pittsburg and Etna come down
to Sharpsburg, joining the throngs of people
in that borough who patronize the
illegal dealers. They do not wait
for the darkness of night to aid
them in covering their actions, but walk
right into the shops and private houses,
where the stuff is sold in broad daylight.
SO bold have the proprietors become that
several of them have been doing business
with open doors on several occasions lately.
A number OF the speak. .easies are kept by
foreigners. They will be the hardest to
catch. II the illegal dealer is n Pole, Italian
or any other foreigner, he will not sell to
any person save those Of his own nation
adity. On this account 1t will be hard to got
witnesses against these men. All their
customers will refuse to give testimony.