The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-03-30
JOHNNY CoNsIDfNE BEATEN.
Ihe spokane Council Passes an Orif-
nance to Close His Dive.
Spokane Chronicle.

SROAa0e lnEOnlCie-
At $50 O'Clock Tuesday afternoon after
three hours of heated discussion. the or
dinance which forbids the selling or Civ
ing away OF spirituous or malt liquor in
variety theaters passed the council by a
vote OF to g. the same exactly as was
indicated by the test vote before the dis
eussion. Mayor Belt will now have five
days In which 10 sign or To veto the or
dinance- If he concludes to sign Il II will
be in force ana take effect ten days from
the date OF its passage. or Friday.
April ).
Inc arguments both pro and con were
eloquent and forcible, but SO well ball
anced that not vote was changed after
two hours and half OF debate. DR.. +.
b. Cherington was the first speaker He
explained the position OF the Ministerial
Union in this fight and made vigorous at
tack on the present system OF running
variety theaters. How their signatures
had been obtained he explained, as well
as the number of business men who had
signed the remonstrance and those who
had refused 10 sign either, in the district
In which he himself had canvassed He
asserted that the opponents of the orlin-
ance had misrepresented the situation to
many OF the signers.
A. G. Lane manager OF the Peoples
theater. then came forward and made an
eloquent appeal for "the poor man, and
the only pleasure resort which Is furnish
ed 10 the poor rsn in the city OF Spo-
kane" He entreated the city council 10
pass no Connecticut blue laws" The
big crowd which stood In the rear evil
IDENTIFY was in sympathy with the speaker.
and IN spite of the gavel of the chairman
frequently interrupted him with bursts of
applause.
The Rev. W. A. Spalding. OF the United
Presbyterian church. followed in a forci-
BILE address I'm which he urged the council
10 protect the young men OF the city. TO
protect the strangers who were coming
here and above all protect his children
and other children who are growing up
here from 1.-THE terrible temptations OF
these dens of iniquity."
W. s. Norman said their horrors and
their glories had been shown bat he
thought there was a safer middle ground
which the business men desired to take
and which would '1et well enough alone"
and allow them TO bring about return
OF prosperity 10 this city.
The Rev. ". T. custer made an earn
est appeal for goodness, while the Rev.
W. II. Marvin said the mining men as
class were not anxious for this kind OF
entertainment and the variety shows only
served 10 keep many people from Spo-
kane.
T. C. Grih1tts closed the discussion as
concerned. He said Il was not so much
whether the theater was all sunshine and
loneliness or whether II was degrading
and iniquitous. but the real question was
whether the people desired II, and In
proof that they did he cited the theaters
petition which contained near 5000 names.
az against the one which the preachers
had been able TO obtain I'm almost six
weeks of hard work with only i,ieo names
UTson II.
Dr.. n. y. McInturff replied 10 the at
torney and said while they had few
names compared to those Of their oppo-
nents there were more voters on their
list than on the other.
After some remarks by the members
themselves and some little skiTTnishing
and n suggestion OF postpouement the
vote was finally taken and the friends OF
the ordinance, unable TO longer restrain
their feelings, burst into applause. The
vote stood 10 In favor or the ordi-
nance.