Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-07
COMBINE AGAINST CLUBS
LEAGUE AND RETAIL
ERs ON COMMON GROUND.
Opposition to Issuance of Liquor LIZ
cense to OrganizatiOns-Al-
legged Discrimination.

A fight is to be made against the issu-
ance of retail liquor licenses to clubs. and
the fight is to be made by the Anti-Saloon
League and the Retail Liquor Dealers As
ISOLATION. Briefs are soon to be filed by
each organization, and hearing will prob
ably be given them by the excise board
There are fourteen licensed clubs in the city
and the people who are making the fight
contend that a majority Of them are con-
Quoted solely for money making purposes.
While general protest has already been
entered against the clubs by the Anti-Sa-
loon League, the fight is to be made par
ticularly on the clubs that were organized.
it is claimed. merely for the purpose of
conducting the liquor business. On part of
the temperance organization it is contended
that these places have a more demorallZing
effect upon the patrons than an ordinary
bar room. In the clubs there are COM
Portable lounsing places and games, which
induce people to remain hours at a time,
during which the bar is largely patrOniZed.
Then. too, the clubs are not restricted as
to hours, and Sunday selling is also per-
mitted. Many complaints, it is stated, have
been made by wives of these so-called club
men. because the latter spend their Sun
days about the clubs, instead of at their
homes.
On the side of the Retail Liquor Dealers
Association the fight is to be made because
reason that the saloonkeepers have to bear
the burden of the evils of the clubs The
men who conduct licensed saloons and are
required to close their places at midnight
and remain closed Sundays complain that
it is unjust for clubs to open about the CITY
and ne permitted to sell liquor al any time.
The cense fee is the same, but restrictions
are placed on the saloon, while the club
enjoys the benefit of not being hampered
Opposed to Sunday Sales.
1t is not cohtended by the retail dealers
that Sunday selling should be permitted by
their members. They are opposed to it. as
Sunday is their only day of rest, which they
need, because of long hours of business
during the six days. At a recent meeting
of the executive committee of the associa-
ton it Was decided to enter a written pro-
test and the brief will be filed as soon as
arrangements are made for a hearing. 1t
is not the intention of the association to at
tack the bona tide clubs.
Mr.. Albert +. Shoemaker attorney for
the AntiSaloon League, said to a Star re-
porter that it is his intention to file with
the excise board a brief against the issu-
ance of liquor licenses to other than bona
fde clubs. 1t is also the intention of the
league to ask that the hours during which
sales may be made be limited. Fully two
thirds of the clubs now licensed he said,
are apparently making the business Of SELL
ing liquor a specially.
Recently, while discussing the question
with members OF the excise board, Mr. Shoe
maker made the statement that one of the
Objectionable clubs will do more harm than
ten saloons, and he said to a reporter that
he is still of the same opinion. These clubs
he said. are resorts where men can congre-
gate Sundays and at night after the bar
rooms are closed. and get what they want
to drink. Such clubs, he commended are es-
tabllshed In order to do a business at
time when legitimate saloons are required
to be closed. AT present, he said, there is
not a club where the hours for selling are
restricted.
Provisions of the Law.
The law Mr.. Shoemaker added, says that
the excise board may designate the hours
during which sales may be made, but at
present none of the clubs is restricted. An
other complaint he makes Is that the clubs
are not required to get the signatures of
residents in support of their applications
for license, and he contends that the law in
this respect applies to them as well as to
IL Individuals. Clubs, he said are licensed ir-
respective of their location. no matter
whether within four hundred feet of a
church or school, and this, Mr.. Shoemaker
thinks, IS against the spirit and meaning
of the law
When the hearing is given it is expected
that representatives of some of the clubs
Will appear and state their side of the case.