Evening star., 1902-03-13
TO CLOSE THE SALOONS
PRINCE GEORGES CITIZENS PETI-
TON GOV. SMITH.
Ask That the Tough Resorts at Chesa'
peake Junction Be Entire-
1y Abolished.

Special Dispatch to The E, ening Star.
ANNAPOLIS. Md, March 13-A delega-
ton of prominent citizens OF Prince
Georges county, Nd, came here today to
present a numerously signed petition pray
ing for the passage Of bill prohibiting
the sale of intoxicating liquors within two
miles Of Chesapeake Junction. They were
also armed with communication on this
subject from the District Commissioners to
the governor Of Maryland, and with evil
dence from the police department showing
the actual conditions existing at that re-
sort last summer and since.
The Star has repeatedly called attention
to the open defiance Of law and order oy
keepers Of saloons and dance halls at that
place, and the respectable element residing
and owning property III the vicinity mas
been aroused to the necessity & for 8, taxing KING
watchword, and, although the divekeepers
and their friends openly boast that they
have fixed" the state officials in their be-
half, the anti-junction men say the ngnt
will be carried on to q finish.
Following is the petition:
To his excelIency, John Walter Smith,
governor of Maryland:
AS citizens and taxpayers OF Prince
Georges county we are come to enlist the
aid of your excellency in securing legisla-
tive relief from an evil in our midst.
A petition has been signed by sixty resi-
dents and taxpayers OF the immediate VI
cinity Of Chesapeake Junction. Md, calling
on the legislature Of our state to pass, at
it's present session, bill to prohibit the
sale Of intoxicating liquors within two
miles of said Chesapeake Junction.
This has been done in the hope tnat
thereby the notoriously evil resorts at said
Chesapeake Junction may be suppressed
and the disorderly and law-breaking eie-
ment removed from our community. Mild
80 salt - hoy h<YaY
failed. The location seems to be unusually
favorable for such nefarious work, as the
saloons in Washington are closed on sun
day, and on that day the saloons at the
than at any other time. We believe that,
this being the case, the Sunday law Will
be violated as long as liquor Is allowed to
be sold there at all.
that we are not actuated by personal spite
or any u1terfor motive In this matter. Our
sole desire Is to secure good order and a
decent reputation for that part OF Mary
land In which we live. We deeply regret
that any ones business or material inter-
ests should be interfered with by the pro-
posed remedial measure, but the evn OF
which we complain has worked untold In
jury to our section, and we are acting only
in self-defense.
We cannot help believing that your ex-
cellency knows. of the evil reputation OF the
place above named, but we beg leave to
substantiated by evidence, which we leave
with you:
1. There are several saloons and dance
halls situated at the eastern corner Of the
District Of Columbia, just over the line In
Maryland, at place called Chesapeake
Junction, which for the past two summers
have been run on Sunday, and gambling
and disorderly conduct carried on therein,
In open defiance of the law.
z intoxicating liquors have been sold to
minors there. and women of evil repute
harbored at night in some Of the resorts.
3. In spite of repeated convictions and
fines for allowing gambling and Illegal sales
Of intoxicants on their premises, the pro-
prietors of most Of these saloons have kept
firmly convinced that their unlawful prac-
tices will be continued. to the great scan
dat and damage OF our neighbOrhood until
remedial measures are adopted. !.
4. Because of the bad reputation and the
dfsorderly conduct at Chesapeake Junction
1t is well-nigh impossible to induce people
to remove into or invest in said vicinity.
tul. possessing many natural attra ctions
FOR the home seeker. At times, during the
past summer, the electric cars, filled with
drunken habitues of these resorts have
been unfit for the accommodation Of ladies
and children. The disorderly characters
were, 1t is true. from the District of
Columbia. but the Maryland resorts at
tracted them there, and the state has had
to suffer for 1t.
therefore We earnestly petition your ex-
cellency to recommend, by special mes
sage or in any way you may see fit that
the legislature take action before adjourn
ing that will relieve our community from
nnanclal blight to us and disgrace to the
state of MARYLAND