The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-05
INEBRIATES TAKE ALARM
ENGLISH LICENSE LAW is BEING
ENFORCED TO THE LETTER.
Strict Compliance PrOmised-Dealers
and Club Stewards Accept Terms
and Will Observe Conditions.

ST. LOUIS, Jan. 3.-The Globe-Demo-
Gratis London correspondent has an in
teresting letter on the new license law.
He says:
THE greatest feature of the new year
Is the licensing act which went into opera
ton on Jan. 1. The newspapers yesterday
and to-day printed columns as TO how the
new law. which carries terror to the hearts
OF habitual drunkards. was applied. The
law keeps the proprietors of saloons, from
the opening to the closing hour, in a con-
dition OF nervous apprehension. 1t invests
the police with power that even Carrie
Nation might envy. and promises to over
whelm the police magistrates with new
class OF work
THE principal malcontent now perhaps,
Is the habltual drunkard. Formerly the
police could not touch a man or woman. no
matter how drunk they might be, unless
they were also disorderly Now under the
new law. any one found drunk in any pub
lie place may be arrested, prosecuted and
punished. Three convictions within twelve
months constitute 'habitual drunkard.
Already from all parts of England reports
are coming Of habitqal drunkards being
blsckhs.ed d1T ehrsT CONNEXIONS spn tne law
cal example of the application of the new
law:
said Stafford magistrate 10 man ar
raigned for drunkenness yesterday, you
wiz be placed on the blacklist. and while
ia prison you will be photographed. A
ers in Stafford and the surrounding district.
Any publican serving you with drink In
the next three years is liable to heavy
fine
"A London magistrate, in sentencing a
woman habitual drunkard to-day. said: If
you attempt 10 get served you will be fined.
If any one treats you he or she will be
fined. II you get liquor in the next three
years IL Will be at your peril
From these expressions CT two different
magistrates In the cases of a man and a
woman the fate of any one who may be
convicted OF drunkenness three times in a
year will be understood. The act also pro-
tects children. Any one found drunk in
charge of a child is liable to a fine of f2
or months Imprisonment Several wom-
en- In London and the provinces have al
ready been punished under this clause.
THE act Is causing dismay in the night
clubs which abound in Soho and the East
End. They are bogus clubs and are run
merely for the purpose OF evading the Ii
censing law. Heretofore the punishment
OF the violation of the old law only
amounted to fine, which was cheerfuliy
paid Now that Imprisonment is provided.
many of them have already closed in de-
epair and scores OF others will be closed
within week. The act applies equally TO
the social Vest End clubs, and there are
stringent regulations In regard TO register
ing club and depositinS a copy OF its
rules. for permission 10 sell intoxicants
Frequent cases OF drunkenness on the
premises have created such apprehension
that every club I'm London and the PROV
inces is overhauling its house rules and
subc 3mmittees have been comforting with
the solicitors OF the clubs In view OF this
for the past few weeks. Clubs OF this kind
however. are not aimed at but anyone
may get information TO what goes on iu
n club Anyone. on payment OF fee OF q
Hing. may inspect the rules OF club