The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-05-13
ROBERTS SALOON CASE
MAY MAKE PARTY ISSUE
Attempt Made at Council
Meeting to Put Mayor Cul-
lum Into a Trap.
Council Acting on Evidence
Presented to Committee
Takes no Action.

Inc first party issue in the city
council was fought out last Monday
when it came to receiving the report
of the committee on Police and License
relative to the revocation of the sa-
loon license of Swanson & Roberts.
The committee after going into the
facts of the case recommended that
no action be taken as the Offense was
not regarded as sufficiently grievous
to warrant the revocation of the lie
ense which would mean a loss to the
saloon men Of over 500.
The report Of the committee, how
ever, will have it's effect. 1t is ex-
pected that saloon men will in the
future be more careful about permit
ting gambling in any form to be carr
>ried on in their saloons.
Mayor Cullum recommended the re-
vocation of the license on statements
made to him by the police department,
who reported that noted ''big mitt'
character was making his headquart-
ers about this saloon. 1t seems that
the police got this information from
source which they believed to be
reliable.
Mayors Orders Were Emphatic.
In any event they Immediately acted
on the Mayors standing order, Ito
give no harbor to grafters or big mitt
men, The saloon was pulled, but in
the trial 1t developed that the police
had been misinfor1ned about the char
acter of the supposed big mitt man.
He proved to be a steady working
man in one Of the flour sheds.
The Mayor stood pat" on his or
iginal recommendation, however, be-
cause he held that the saloon had vi
olated general order, which was to
the effect that gambling in no form
would be tolerated in any saloon dur
ing his administration.
The responsibility for revoking the
license was up to the council. The
Mayor had received his information
from the police, but the Council had
got the facts from both sides.
Investigation Brings Moderation.
In the investigation it developed that
it was not such a bad case after all.
A friendly game of cards was being
played to pass away dull day. The
players were not professional gamb-
lers, but workingmen-all single, with
no CHEEKY homes to claim them. This,
together with the fact that the saloon
had borne a good reputation previous
ly, prompted the council to- simply per-
NIT the matter to 60 by default for
this time.
A few members Of the council-all
q ffi1iofo1
ty than the Democratic party-wanted
to put the matter up to the Mayor,
for the purpose Of inducing HIM to
acknowledge that he had made a mis-
take in asking for the revocation of
the license. The ajority of the men,
bers Of the council, however took an
other view, and the matter will go to
the Mayor through the regular chan
mel, as provided by the City Charter.
The ostensible consideration man.
ifested for the wishes of the Mayor
by his political opponents recalls that
line from Shakespeare:-"We all espy
eye."
Effect Will Be Far-reaehing.
The recommendation of the Mayor
in the Swanson & Roberts case, and
the consideration given it by the coun-
Gil will have good effect on the IL
quor interests in the future. It means
that this administration will stand for
no gambling in saloons. 1t indicates
that the Mayor is DESTROYS Of having:
the saloon men confine themselves
strictly on the saloon business; that if
On lions ID ta1a tho chanco in kooninp
open Sunday afternoons, card playing
and dice throwing will not be permit
ted during those hours in the mildest
form. When the saloon men once I'M
derstand the Mayors well thought out
policy there will be more peaceful
condition of affairs, and complaints
against the management of saloons
will be diminished.
There is a sensible way and a foolish
way to handle the saloon question.
Some people believe that a mere charge
warrant his arrest and the revocation
Of his license, but saloon man has
rights just like any one else. 1t is
one thing to stand about and theorize,
but it is quite another to act with re-
sponsibility. When city council
uses common sense and reason in its
disposition Of this question, it strikes
us that it is doing it's duty to the COM
munity. We earnestly believe that the
city council will readily revoke any
license, whenever it is shown that the
place is not being conducted decently.
4 I Levin. amporter OF wines and L.