The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-08-12
HIGGINS
EXPOSES A
SQUEEZE

Mayor Higgins Of Pawtucket has issued
a statement which throws a little light
on the inside workings OF a squeeze
play" in the liquor business and shows
how a prosperous dealer can be put TO
the bad by wire pulling methods
Following are some extracts:
ION the sth day Of March. 1905. the
board Of aldermen passed a resolution
calling for a police commission, a school
commission and a board OF registration.
On that occasion I had some comments
TO make Among them was the follow
ing: For a few years past there has
been a liquor concern on Broad street.
In this city. which has carried on the
retail business. AS saloons go. that is,
so far as they can be respectable, this
saloon, owned and conducted by Lynch
brothers, was one Of the most respectable
nature. Yet the license commissioners
this year, without the Advancement Of a
single argument peremptorily refused To
grant them a license.
The Lynch brothers. / am told. af~
still paying rent for the place, with the
hope OF ultimately getting a license. while
the minions OF Barney are publicly pa
rading on the streets OF Pawtucket the
through paying rent for an empty store
they (the minions) have a man ready TO
take the place. which. by the way. is a
most desirable one from a business stand
point.
THAT Is. II Is openly stated. and gen
orally admitted. that this desirable store
is being held, for a certain Providence
wholesale liquor dealer. who is working
the freeze out game on Lynch Bros.
II have no interest whatever in any OF
the parties concerned in this case. and
don't care a rapp whether or not any man
has license for that location. but | do
want the people OF Pawtucket 10 know
why this license Of Lynch Bros. is held
up. and I publicly demand that the com
missioners explain their action.
James Lavell, a Providence wholesaler.
is the man to whom / had reference on
March S and he has filed an application
TO be heard by the license commissioners
one week from tonight Aug. IS, 1895, at
s o'clock. Lavell. as is obvious. has been
given 10 understand that his license would
be granted otherwise. he would never
have filed his application. The Lynch
brothers, as l stated last March. could no.
secure n renewal OF their license in De-
cember. For n few years they had kept
this very place at No. IA Broad street.
Every man with a heart every citizen
with a particle OF sentiment I'm his soul,
must feel for the plight Of the Lynches.
Their predicament Is more than pathetic.
James Lynch. a respected and good man.
now past the physical prime Of life, ia
despoiled OF the result OF years OF labor
and cast upon the mercies OF the world.
dollarless. frendless and hopeless. In the
political career OF King Barney and his
gang there are many dull and smutted
spots but none more despicable or re
pulsive than the cold and vulture like un-
doing Of James and Joseph Lynch When
the curtain rings down at the city hall
on the night OF Aug is. 1905. the free
American people OF Rhode Island can look
10 the masthead on High street and won
der whether Il upholds the standard Of
equal rights or the black and tarnished
fag of Barber Shop Tyranny
CSigned) JAMES IL HIGGINS"