Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-12
THE PARDON OF SCHLOSSER
A Protest Made by the Anti-Saloon
League.
President Esvin Fails to Find Any
ference With Operation of LAW.

| Some time last month James L. Ewin,
president of the Anti-Saloon League of the
| District of Columbia, addressed a letter to
! President Mckinley, by order of the league,
| stating that the action of the President IN
pardoning John B. Schlosser, convicted for
| the second time of violating the local liquor
laws. had been a cause for deep regret
among those working to suppress intemper-
ance The letter said IN part:
| "A second conviction under our liquor
| laws means usually the appropriate culmi-
nation of multitude of violations of rea-
| sonable provisions for the protection of
innocent babes and women, as well as our
| men and boys, against the greed of the
| rum seller. We are assured that Schlosser's
was no exception to the rule, and greatly
depiore your pardon of this drunkard-
maker"
The Attorney Generals Statement.
President Ewin has just received note
from the Executive Marson inclosing a
statement by the Attorney General of the
facts in the Schiosser case. The Attorney
General says:
HE was convicted of employing a female
| in a sa.oon in the District of Columbia, con-
trary to the regulations, and was sentenced
to pay fine of $50 which he paid. He had
once before, in 1897, been convicted of SELL
ing liquor on Sunday and paid the fine for
that. In extenuation of his last offense, 1t
was certified by some of the most reput able
people in Washington, and was asserted by
Mir. Schlosser, that he did not know that
| mere was any prohibition against allowing
liquor to be served by female: that the
service in this particular case was without
ms knowledge. and was merely incidental
not matter of habit or custom in his
pace. He is certified to have kept an or
derry, ilrst-class hotel and restaurant - I"
1T appears that the regulations Of the
District provide certain civil disability
against those who are twice convicted of
violating the liquor ordinance. In this case
1t operated to prevent Mr.. Schlossers
Incense from being renewed Being q man
OF good character, the civil disability was
removed by pardon. as is done in numer-
Gus cases where the offenses are not merely
violations of local ordinances, but crimes of
heinous nature
President Evvin's Rejoinder.
The Attorney Generals statement is re-
sarded as very unsatisfactory by President
Ewin, who has written to the President the
following rejoinder:
You will, L know, pardon me if 1 remark
in reply that it is not at all clear to me
how it could by any possibility be "certi-
red by some of the most reputable people
IN " ashlngton - that he (Schosser) did
not know that there was any prohibition
''SeiilSt alioWlhS Hquor to be served by
female: that the service in this particular
case was without his (Schlosser's) knowl-
edge, etc, and 1t is still more surprising
tbat the learned Attorney General of the
United States should refer to an act of
congress as the regulations of the Dis
trict Section 10 of the act of Congress
approved March 3, 1893, provides as fol-
lows:
Section -. That no licensee under a
par room license shall employ, or permit to
be employed, or allow any female
TO sell, give, furnish or distribute any intox-
1catinS drinks or any admixture thereof
ale, wine or beer, to any person or per-
sons etc.
And section 13 of the same act provides
as follows:
" Section 49, That any person, having
obtained license under this act who shall
violate any of its provisions, shall upon
conviction of such violation, be fined not
less than $50 nor more than $500
That after second conviction no license
snail thereafter be granted to said party.
etc. ~
Schlosser was convicted under these rea-
sonable provisions of an act of Congress
In full force and effect and l think it Is
due You and the country to say that l do
not find anything in the communicate
from the Attorney General except the state
ment on his own responsibility that Schlos-
ser was a man of good character that in
any way justifes interfering with the op-
Grafton of the law in this case by execu-
tive clemencY."