Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-07-07

Of Interfering With Anyone Ex-.
cept Those Women Who Make q
Business Of Lettering in Saloons,
and Saloon-Keepers Who Permit
Such Frequenters Of Their Premi-
ses-The Law is Probably Uncon-
stitutional, However.
Yesterday there was some anxiety
among a large number Of saloon keep
ers and a good many entirely reputable
citizens as to the effects of the ordin-
ance passed by Council Tuesday night.
making it unlawful for any female to
lolter or lounge in any coffee house
or in any room used as a part thereof
or in connection herewith
Some OF the saloon keepers, who have
never permitted anything approaching
Immortality upon their premises, but
who frequently entertain respectable
citizens and their wives, families or
sweethearts, were fearful lest the law,
if enforced, would interfere with this
class OF custom, while others, who
maintain restaurants of the highest re-
spectability in connection with their
saloon business, although really apart
from 1t, were anxious to know whether
or not they must hereafter refuse
female trade on the ground that the
restaurant apartments were I'm connec-
ton" with the saloon, in the sense that
it was under the same roof, or COM
municateG Herewith.
One saloon keeper, who probably has
never violated the law, either in letter
or in spirit, during the many years
he has been in business, said yester-
DAY:
saloon, many gentlemen Of standing
and responsibility often bring their
entire families here Of an evening for
a quiet glass of beer. l also have
first class restaurant, and the very best
and most prominent citizens OF the
town are frequently here with their
wives or daughters, for meal, and
very often beer or light wine is served
to such guests. Are such guests to be
construed as lounging or lettering In
my place, and do I run the risk OF
having trouble II I cater to the wishes
of such people? The law makes no
exceptions or distinctions, as far as
can see. All saloon keepers are put
in the same class, and SO are all wo-
men who may enter saloon or any
portion Of the building connected there
with. II that is the idea, 1t is a great
mistake. The best people in Wheel
ing, both male and female, drink beer,
and even go to a saloon to get It, l
can prove what l say. Within week
Mr.. and his wife, Mr.. - and
his wife, and Mr.. and his whole
family were here" and the saloonist
mentioned three names than whom
none stand higher in the city. THAT
frequently occurs" he continued, and
l would like to know what l am to 40
about it. My business may be seri--
ously injured through fear on the part
of my customers that they may get me
into trouble"
One or two other saloon keepers said
substantially the same thing, and q
Register reporter concluded to inter-
view some of the city officials. Mayor
Butts was first seen, and when the
trouble was explained to him, he
said:-
There is no intention to interfere
with any respectable salOon-keeper or
with any of his customers. The law
was not gotten up for that purpose.
Saloonists who run restaurants may
rest their souls in peace. They may
even sell drinks to women, II they
choose. and the women want them, and
no one will interfere. Al woman may
enter a saloon or restaurant, order
glass of beer drink 1t and leave, and
no one will modest her or the saloon
keeper either. She may do exactly as
she pleases in that regard. The object
of the law is to get at women OF bad
CHI -racter who make a business OF loaf
ing and lounging in saloons or In rooms
connected herewith, for improper pur-
poses. That sort Of thing is to be
broken up. But If saloon-keeper was
brought before me for selling drink
or selling a meal to woman, simply
because she was woman, l would dis
charge him forthwith, and the officer
would be reprimanded. You can rest
assured that nothing Of that sort will
be tolerated But you can also rest
assured that saloons which make a
speciality of encouraging the trade OF
women ct bad repute will feel the eff
fects of the law. The conditions in that
regard have become very bad, and this
is the remedy which is to be applied"
City Solicitor Nesbitt was seen, and
he said:-
mo woman entering a saloon or
apartments connected Herewith will
be molested, neither will the saloon
keeper be subjected to the penalties of
the law because a woman enters his
house. That is not the object sought.
There is a difference between entering
saloon and asking for a meal or a
drink, receiving it, and leaving, and
lettering or lounging there. The pur-
pose Of the law is to correct a we'll
known evil common to many saloons,
and is not to put all saloons under the
ban, or to brand as immoral all women
who enter such places. 1 have a grave
doubt in my mind as to the constitu-
tionality of the law-if tested, ii might
not stand the test-but there was d de-
mand for it, and it has been passed. Z
is probably true that woman has just
exactly the same rights as man, il tie
question was brought up, under this
law. in the proper manner. But be that
as it may, there is no intention to use
the law to the injury of those conduct
ing a legitimate business in a proper
manner. and fears to that effect are