The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-03-25
DOORS WIDE OPEN
Saloons Run in Topeka Under
Noses of Police.
No Attempt at Secrecy in the
Big Ones.
APPEAR TO BE AT EASE
Bars in Place and Patrons
Served Unfortunately.
Evidently Jointists Perfectly
Understand Situation.
Things Which Mr.. Wolf and
McCoIIum Might Explain.

Within the next few days, it is very
likely that Chief of Police McCollum,
under direction of Councilman c. v.
Wolf. will pull the three big joints of
the town-the Royal, the National and
George Klauer's. 1t may be that the
Fred Ross place, and the Copeland and
Throop barrooms will also be pulled, but
this is not certain.
Wolf feels that it is time to make a
play to set himself right with the people
of the Third ward, who might begin to
suspect something, and he has his hand
on the police throttle.
OF course someone will see to it that
due notice is given to the proprietors of
these saloons in case anything is done.
1t will not be necessary for them to re-
main closed to exceed 80 minutes, after
which they will be allowed to run with
out interruption.
1t seems that there are really only
three or four saloons in the city which
are allowed to run with wide open
| doors The precautions taken at the
copeland and Throop joints are rather
more strict than at the others. At the
copeland joint the door is locked most
OF the time, and negro, sitting outside,
sizes up the applicant for admission,
/ and If he appears to be all right I'M
locks the door and let's him in.
The Copeland barroom is in the rear
end of the billiard hall annex, and is
probably the finest barroom in town, az
present. The bar is a good one and the
assortment of liquors is first class. The
backbar, however, is missing, it's place
being taken simply by board, or broad
shelf, nailed to the wall. The room is
large and well lighted, and large pat
ronage IS enjoyed by the place It is
perhaps the SWEETEST public" joint in
town.
The Throop barroom is stuck wav
back in the rear part of the building.
ana 1t almost requires the services of a
guide to follow the long corridor to the
place where the drinks are dispensed.
The barroom itself is a very small.
dark room, and the equipment is not as
good as that of the Copeland. This com
par1Son is not made with any malicious
desire to inJure the business of the
Throop joint nor is the State Journal
getting rates for advertising the Cope
land Joint The statements are made
simply as matter of news to some of
Mr.. VOLTS constituents who think that
he is keeping the joints closed
And he is. No one should try to
make 1t appear that there are as many
joints running in Topeka as there
terially reduced. but the few Joints
which are still running are running
without molestation. When the LIQUOR
business of the whole town is concen-
AAelCu III Tie UIIQS OF q IeW select
places, they can afford to make it
worth while, even if a few nominal re-
strictions, we'll understood on both
sides, are imposed.
The Copeland and Throop joints are
the ones which are, apparently. not
getting quite as high priced an article
of protection as the big saloons in the
main business part of town.
Take, for instance, the Royal, at 10
Kansas avenue. As can be easily seen
I q ct h4
cigar store, behind which is a billiard
hall. Back of the billiard hall is a
partition of pine boards, which is
pierced by a doorway. The door is
made of common inch boards, and
stands wide open. No attempt is made
to keep anyone from going through the
door, unless there is something mani
festly suspicious in that persons looks,
or unless the person is known to be
bent on mischief.
The bar room back of the partition
is not elaborate at all, but you can get
anything you want in the drinking
line. There is no refrigerator; a tub
of ice serves instead. The bar is made
of pine boards. The back bar is mere
ly a wide shelf, on which there is a
fine display of glassware and bottles.
There are some large pictures ON the
wal, and at the rear of the room, there
! is a door opening into stairway
which leads to the gambling parlors
upstairs.
Next door to the Royal is the Ma
| tional, at 70S Kansas avenue. The
| two places are almost identical, even
/ to the open door leading through tha
partition into the bar room. The chief
/ difference is that the partition is dOu-
1 BILE, and is more substantially built.
| There are two doors, and they are pro-
vided with big iron bars and bolts.
Evidently they were built during the
/ Stahl regime, when it was necessary
/ to resist the officers hV force Now
they are useless, and ought to be in
the State Historical society instead of
/ hanging to the doorway of a duly
authorized" joint. They stand wide
open, and everybody except Carrie Ma
ton and her friends can make them
selves perfectly at home.
They have a very nice lot of fixtures
at the National-rather more substan-
ital than those at the Royal. At both
places you can get good free lunch
crackers. bologna, cheese, and a few
| other trimmings.
Geo. KIauer's joint is right across
the alley from the back door of VOLTS
hardware store. One man says that
Wolf has a we'll worn path between
/ the two back doors, but this is certain
| ly a mistake. because the alley is
| paved.
Klauer's joint is one which can be
/ depended upon. It has been operating
right along. and it is certainly remark
able the success which Mr.. Klauer has
/ had in his business Klauer is pro-
thing you want. There are two doors
/ opening into Klauer's place from thf
cigar store in front, but neither is
locked. The tired and thirsty stranger
needs no credentials to obtain adnis-
sion.
The Fred Ross place is hardly as ar
istocratie a. saloon as the others. 1t il
| regarded as rather tough" The gam