Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-27
MAKE WAR ON CLUBS
THE RETAIL LIQUOR DEALERS
ENTER A PROTEST.
Hearing by Excise Board Requested
Claim That Certain Organizations
Should Not Be Licensed.

1t is understood that the Retail Liquor
Dealers Association of the District Is MAX
ing preparations for conducting determin-
ed opposition to the issuance by the District
authorities of licenses TO sell liquor to a
number OF organizations in the city which
operate under the title of clubs. Hugh F.
Harvey, president of the Federation of
Liquor Dealers of the District, has written to
the excise board protesting against the is
suance of permits for bars to organizations
which he claims are designated as clubs
In order to evade certain provisions of the
liquor laws OF the District. He also asks
that hearing on the protest be granted by
the excise board to representatives of the
liquor dealers association before any per-
mits are issued to the organizations of the
character mentioned.
Ex-senator John NJ Thurston, as attor-
ney for the Retail Liquor Dealers Associa-
ton OF the District has also communicated
with the excise board asking that date be
fixed for a hearing on the protest of the
liquor dealers, when he desires to offer
some suggestions on the subject.
Alleged Illegal Business.
Mr.. Harvey, in his letter to the board,
states that he speaks for nine-tenths Of the
liquor trade, who are members of the Re-
tail Liquor Dealers Association. He asks
that the board issue no more licenses to
alleged clubs which, he says, under the
card membership system doing an ex-
tensive indiscriminate and Illegal liquor
business. Any person.. the writer de-
clares. for nominal sum can purchase
admission tickets or cards, giving him
privileges of the bars in the clubs without
being an actual member. In case licenses
for bars are granted to these clubs he
asks that they be compelled to close their
bars between the hours of II o'clock mid
night ana O'Clock am, and on Sundays
Against the clubs v bich observe the spirit
OF the law-the legitimate clubs-Mr Har-
vey says the liquor dealers have no protest
to make
1t is learned that there are sixteen clubs
in the District which are licensed to sell
nqCor. With the exception of less than
one-third of this number, il is said the
MT mbership of the clubs is composed
chiefly of card" members rather than of
actual members. BY the payment of from
81 to 81 year, II is said "a person may re-
eeive a card emitting him to privileges of
the club bars, which operated after
midnight and on Sundays.
Maj. Sylvester Quoted.
Major Sylvester, in his annual report. I'm
speaking of these so-called clubs. said:
1T is unfortunate that several institu-
TONS incorporated as clubs. permit the en-
rollment of persons in their membership on
the payment of nominal fee. which ex-
tends to them the privilege of procuring
such drinks as they may desire on Sundays
and after hours. The department ventures
the opinion that this is not in line with
good conduct, and II does not subserve the
best interests of the community"
Last year a protest was entered to the
granting of licenses to the so-called clubs
but since a large number of permits had
been issued prior to the entering of the pro-
test no hearing was given on the subject.
The excise board is now engaged in hear