The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-05
MUST CLOSE TONIGHT
SALOONS GET NOTICE FROM CHIEF
GETCHELL TO CLOSE AT
MIDNIGHT
NO FUNNY BUSINESS" GOES
When the Clock Strikes II Tonight
the Liquor Dealers Must Lock
Their Front Doors and Keep
Them Locked Until s A. M.-New
Joke About 1t.

1t is all off with the all-night saloon
after tonight, according to Chief of Po-
lice GetcheI1, who announced yesterday
that the midnight closing law would
hereafter be rigidly enforced. The saloon
keepers will be notified today that their
places of business must be closed prompt
ly at IL o'clock tonight, and any one vio-
lating the order will be arrested. No
winking the other eye goes with this or
der. Chief Getchell says, and declares
that all saloonkeepers must close up.
and close up tight No '.side-door" re-
treat nor hallway" entrances will
be permitted. Chief Getchell says.
and officers will be instructed to be con-
stantly on the watch for any attempts Of
this kind to evade the order. Chief Get
chell declares positively there will be no
partially shown In the enforcement of
the order, and that saloonkeepers arrest
ed for its violation need expect no leni-
ency if they get into the municipal court.
The order must be obeyed. Chief Get
chen announces. or those violating it
must be prepared to take the conse-
quences. The order will be personally
sent to every saloonkeeper today. and
patrolmen on the night reliefs at the
different stations will be instructed to
see that 1t goes into effect tonight with
out fail
Dissatisfaction will find Judgment In the
heart of many saloonkeeper when Chief
Getchell's order is formally made known
today, particularly In the downtown dis
trict. The tsorest,' ones, however, If Chief
Getchell keeps his word about showing no
favoritism. will be some Of the few sa-
loonkeepers who have been allowed to
keep open all night In the past, even when
Mayor Kfefer's frequent reform spasms
came on. At least two dozen times dur
ing his incumbency Mayor Kiefer has
made a bluff at closing the saloons at
midnight. The saloonmeu knew the or
ders were not to be taken seriously, and
after one or two nights of fair business
with The binds down. opened up again
as usual. But each time the mayor made
his play to the galleries there were some
favored dispensers who only smiled and
went on doing business just as though
there wasn't any mayor. The police no
ticed these things. but the spelling of
the names over the doors Of the favored
saloons suggested the "Fatherland' and
they did not NEEDLE. Such dlscrimina-
ton is to cease, says Chief Getchelf,- and,
as he says the closing order emanates
directly from him, without any sugges-
ton from the mayor, he may be in earn
est, or at least try to enforce the law
until "called OFF, by the mayor.
Just what has led Chief Getcheu to at
tempt to close the saloons at midnight,
when they have been running wide open
without any interference for 50 long, Is
something of a mystery. The chief says
he will send out an order today wholly Oh
his own responsibility. If this is correct,
it Is about the first Independent move any
police official under Mayor Kiefer ever
made. But outside of police circles there
are several explanations of the move.
There are few who believe Chief -GetcfIsE
is not acting on Mayor Kiefer'se orders.
The mayor would not allow a contrast
to be drawn in favor of Chief Getchells
saloon policy and his own shilly-shally
methods Of dealing with the closing ques-
ton, 1t is claimed, by sanctioning a rad
zeal move that had not some Interior adj
vantage to the mayor. Then, again, it
is limited that the grand jury has been
delving into the question of favored sa-
loonkeepers. and that the mayor Is trying
to head off censure from this inquisitorial
body. 1t is generally conceded that Chief
Getchell will be held responsible for any
trouble growing out Of the attempt to en-
force the closing law, but it Is declared
that, If the saloons are to be closed, May
or Kiefer himself issued the order If
this is true, then those who say it is ar
que that the crusade which will begin to-
day is simply another of Mayor K;efer's
spasms Some of the saloonmen say they
are pretty we'll acquainted with the may
or's methods by this time, and only smiled
when told of the effort to be made to cl So
them up at midnight, remarking that they
would keep open for business just the
same.
ut Is all right to make bluff about
closing the saloons at this time,' said
prominent dispenser. when told Of Chief
Getchells order. ''but 1t amt on The
square. and the mayor doesn't expect US
to think that it Is. He has had these at
tacks before, and they seldom lasted more
than three days. One night we get the
order to close. and the next night, per-
haps. the police high guy comes around
for a drink and says to go ahead again.
That is the way it has been, and I guess
this will not amount to anything more
serious"
According to Chief Getcheii's statement
not only saloons but every other place
where liquor is sold will be compel ed to
close at midnight. He says restaurants
and hotels will come under the ban. and
that no more leniency will be extended
such places than to the saloons