The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-26
More Persons Arrested on Charge of
Drunkenness than on Any Sunday
for n Long Time.
wINERO0MS AND GAMBLING
THESE EVILS SEEM TO BE MAKING
CONSIDERABLE PROGRESS.
Order to Close at II O'Clock and OH
Sundays Only Applies to the
Licensed BarrOom.

The Nicholson law was torn to pieces yes
terday at all of the dives and drinking re-
sorts in the city, and reckless disregard
of the Sabbath was made apparent by the
boisterous laughter of intoxicated men and
women and the merry jingle of the cash
register as Mr.. Barkeep" rang up for the
beers he sold. More ''drunks'' were arrest
ed yesterday than on any Sunday for
weeks. and in spite of the fact that orders
were given to saloon keepers to obey the
law in regard to keeping open Sunday
and after hours. it is generally understood
was issued for effect only and not for
the moral betterment of the city of In
dianapolis.
Saloon keepers say they were given to un-
derstanc that it would be but a week or
so until the town was wide open After
the first order was given to close up the
saloons. pressure was brought to bear on
the administration by the liquor dealers
with the result that they were told to close
the front doors of the saloons after IL
O'Clock. but if liquor sold in the back
rooms no objection would be made Not a
saloon in the city which has been in the
habit of keeping open on Sunday was
closed yesterday and more drunken men
and women were the streets than
have been seen at any time during the
last five years.
Wine rooms were allowed to run unmo-
Tested and no attempt was made to sup
press the evil although it is notoriously
known that il is in existence, even to a
greater extent than heretofore. One saloon
keeper said yesterday that ne was given TO
understand that as long as he drew back
the curtains and gave a full view of the
licensed barroom after closing hours he
could sell all the beer and liquor he wished
provided 1t was drunk I'm back room. 1t is
safe to say that all day yesterday not a
single saloon which has ever been in the
habit of violating the law was closed and
| beer was more plentiful apparently than
water. At one of the lowest dives in the
city on Indiana avenue yesterday no at
| tempt was made to conceal the fact that the
| saloon was wide open, and on Massachu-
setts avenue several barrel houses never
closed their doors. Gambling dives as well
as wine rooms are now run without fear OF
objection from the administration and poker
! games last night were running in every
gaming resort in the city. Craps and many
other games can be found now by any per.
son who desires to take the trouble to look
around little and the 'steerers'' are all
wearing happy smiles. One of the patrol
men. in his report to the superintendent
yesterday, said that some OF the saloons on
| his beat did, and did not obey the
| order to give clear view of the licensed
! barroom, but no arrests of vi0lators of the
law were made In spite OF the fact that the
violations were known.
Notable among the places that were doine
| business yesterday ia violation OF the la "
was Fred Heiers. Heller was ardent sup
porter OF Hoffman in the campaign lust
4 closed.