Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1906-01-25
CLOSING 4 WIDE OPEN CITY
How Frcr2ess Young Prohibition Ed
itor of indianapolis Won out.

uON - ftNo u S'OTiU'N.''i hsur
itor Of indianapolis Won out.
indianapolis, Ind.-How Edward w.
Clark. The young Prohibition editor Of
de lairioi IhalanX OF this city, reused
~o1iciais 90 honest law enforcement and
startled the political machines OF both
old parties which had for years o n
niyed TT saloon nwlcssncss ana gam
bling until public sentiment lost all
hope Of bette things has been one Of
thc striking items IN the recent annals
of this capital Of the lIooSicr state.
Facts Versus Bca.sny.
CLARK knew that Il fact was worth
Il thousand diSjointcd. nc3glons rlimors
and charges aud allegations. and he
went after the facts and got them at
first hand so certainly and so accurate
Iy that Immediately following their
publication The lid" went o., with a
slam and hasn't come far off yet. When
simply n plain Statement of facts with
out any additional inAucrcc has the
dynamic power 10 force the arrest of
nearly 100 saloon keepers and bring
about strict obedience TO the law by
700 liquor sellers who had long laughed
at the peoples will and deiied the stat
utes at pleasure. the power Of reform,
backed by the truth and the mere
strength of public sentiment, Is strik-
ingly demonstrated.
Mr.. Clark is also chairman of the Pro.
hibition city committee, md the party
has also stood squarely for law enforce
ment. so that the investigation was
right in line with its platform.
Clark'r investigation.
What Mr.. Clark and his loyal CO.
workers found out with sharp eyes
and tactful inquiry may be summed mp
briefly rs follows:
First.-Practically every saloon in
Indianapolis was openly dcfying the
II o'clock closing law. the Sunday clos
ing prohibition and all the o'ler restric-
tons.
Second.-Thcre was no fear at all of
police Interference except in n very few
cases where the saloon keepers were
opposed to the city administration.
Third.-Thc liquor dealers had no re
spect for the city administration. the
general conviction being that the Local
brewers absolutely controlled the poll
ties of lndiana's capital city.
Notwithstanding was going on in
colOcnS all ny,o,s tho Sifu in s1oGopon nj
law.
Declares Secretary Clark:
"Of course it was n physical impos.
sibility to visit all the saloons which
were open after hours and on Sunday
but 1t was n rare case where one was
not found open. All parts of the city
were covered, showing that the condi
ton of lawlessness is widespread. In
most cases the saloons we're found to
have provided n second bar. at which
business is done after IL o'clock and
on Sundays. These were in a back
room, with easy side door access. In
but n few Instances did there seem to
be any fear Of police disturbance,
Continued laybreaking had evidently
ul;tue tueui Dolu. AL beulS MdTlOU
Park hotel. near the Cerealine mills,
admission was gained by n round
about way into n small back room,
which was kept locked. The young
bartender explained his caution by
saying that they Were being harassed
by the police because the saloon keeper
and bartender had recently changed
their support from Hoffman to Book
walter.
Brewer Lieber Ii "Mayor."
ITO Offset this story of official per
eecution was an interesting statement
secured Mt Jimmie JONES' road house,
near Riverside park. on Thirtieth street
and the canal. Admission was gained
by walking through the dining room
where women We're drinking beer. Ii
the Sunday barroom four boys. evi
IDENTIFY minors, were drinking. When
asked II he was bothered by the police
Jones replied: Not now. You see, !
used to sell Hamilton beer. but since
changed to the indianapolis brewery
am all right. Albert Lieber is mayo
of this town. not Hoffman. Charlie
Polster is the "fiXer." He gets $4,000 6
year rs agent for the Lieber brewery
and IL you sell their beer he fixes /,
with the administration SO you will not
be molestcd.'"
The result Of this expose was the de
feat of the mayor for reelection anf
a large increase in the straight Prohi
bition party vote.