Los Angeles herald., 1905-10-18
ANT|-SALOON|STS
ARE VICTORIOUS
NIEMEYER MUST LEAVE CEN
TRIAL AVENUE
Police Commissioners Decide In Favor
of Sixth Ward Petitioners-No
New Licenses viii Be
Issued

Actively aided and abetted by Police
commissioner Gates, Rev. j. M, NeWell,
nastor Of the Bethesda presbyterian
church. and his women parishloners
Yesterday won their fight against the
iiouor business on Central avenue,
near Twelfth street, and A. Nlemeyer,
who has been conducting a business
of this nature for several years, was
ordered to move out by the first OF
tbe wear. From this action Commis-
sioner James believes Los Angeles Will
soon become a prohibition city.
"C,altfornia has a law recognizing
local option and am merely attempt
ing to put this law into execution IN lts
broader sense" said Commissioner
Gates yesterday, when Commissioner
James demonstrated against such sum-
mary action.
whv the members of any church IN
town cannot come before this commits
sion and demand that q liquor license
he revoked and in that way we will
soon have a prohibition city, when the
neonle have voted Overwhelmingly at
q recent election against any such
thing" said Commissioner James. =.
"In this particular case L consider 1t
local option with the mothers, wives
and sisters casting a vote, as they
of this kind" answered Mr.. Gates
White Ribboners Are Active
This action was the result of three
cornered fight that has been waged
before the police commission for the
last three weeks. The fight has been
between Rev. Mr.. Newell aided by the
women of the church; A. Nlemeyer'
who conducts a wholesale liquor house
on Central avenue. near Twelfth, and
J. H. Bestmann, who wanted to conduct
a. wholesale liquor house on Central
avenue, near Twelfth street.
For two weeks Rev. Mr.. Newell has
represented the minority and probably
no one was more surprised than he
when the commission yesterday ord
cred Mr.. Niemeyer TO close up his
business at that place and denied D.
H. Bestmann's application. Rev. Mr..
Newell had only asked that Bestmann
be not allowed to come into the neigh
torhood with a liquor store.
Three weeks ago, when Bestmann'
application was first made to the board,
Rev. Mr.. Newell and four or five wo-
men, with the white ribbons of the w.
c. T. U. and Christian Endeavor pins
fastened to their shirtwaists appeared
before the board and protested against
the granting of the license.
The case was laid over for week
at the suggestion of Commissioners
Gates. who believed that A. Niemeyer,
a wholesale liquor dealer of the vicin-
ity had been perniciously active in
furthering the protests.
Mr.. Newell Keeps Busy
Last week, Rev. Mr.. Newell agair
appeared with a larger following nj
women and more white ribbons and G
e. pins, and again protested against
the granting of a license to J. H. Best
mann and incidentally suggested thai
1t would be a good thing for the neigh
borhood if Niemeyer's business could
be removed. The case was again laid
over for a week and Niemeyer COM
manded to show cause why his license
should not be revoked.
Rev. Mr.. Newell was there again yes
terday morning and this time the COM
1nittee room was scarcely large enough
to accommodate all the women and
white ribbons and c. E. pins that fol-
lowed the pastor. They presented a
petition signed by 4S9 persons against
the further operation of any liquor
store in the neighborhood.
A. Niemeyer presented a petition
signed by 3S3 residents and property
owners, asking that he be allowed tC
continue in his business, and ]. H