Evening journal., 1906-10-30
NO GUESTS WILL
BE RECEIVED
Milford Hotel PrOprietOTS An
Qered at Loss of Their
Licenses
Special 10 Tho Evening Journal

MILFORD. oct. SO.-For the first
time in half a century the Milford bars
were closed on Saturday night. and
never was a Saturday night quieter in
this town. although the streets were
filled with people. The hotels stood ST.
lent. lights out shades drawn. The
first skirmish had been Won by the
friends Of law and order Under the
street lamps where the crowds We're
wont to congregate could be seen little
groups Of "bums" and "soals" mourn
fully discussing the situation, and in
the homes the closing of the bars was
the general topic
Town io Ruined
Some said the town is ruined"
Others deplored a condition under
which there was no accommodation for
the travelling public. For Saturday
night the three hotels. acting in con-
cert. notified all guests to seek accom-
modations elsewhere. They were told
that a compact had been entered into
among the proprietors not to receive
guests until licenses are again grant
ed. There is a penalty provided for
violation of this compact. so Milford
has a little hotel trust to deal with.
If not a conspiracy.
The proprietors all pleaded guilty to
violation Of the screen law, as the bars
are In each instance located in the rear.
the negro bars requiring entrance, from
alleys back Of the buildings, and since
a verdict OF guilty of violation Of the
screen act carried with it a forfeiture
of the licenses, graver charges, sus-
tained by wealth of evidence. were
not pressed.
Probably no town of equal size in the
country suffered more from drunken
ness and kindred evils than Milford,
There were three bars IN the town
and through years the conduct of these
places had grown lax. Sunday was a
good business day. In certain in
stances minors Of good parentage
whose age We're generally known. were
frequenters Of these bars.
Thanking Up"
on Saturdays The young farmers
made a practice of 'tanking up" and
around the negro bars. day and night
might be seen a horde of ragged and
profane men and women spending theii
/ last penny, or oftentimes money not
their own. or waiting for some person
10 treat them.
Now the movement against these H.
censes was primarily an idea Of the
business men. They knew their facts
here was a small town with limited
resources, and across these bars was
going from $4,000 to 100000 every year
Besides this, labor was demoralized
The negroes In large numbers Twins
around the bars and refused TO work
| for good wages. In the winter theil
families depended on charity or theft
The town lock-up and the police were
required only because Of drunkenness
or disorder due to Il.
Owners Lived Out Of State
Two of the hotels were owned by
manufacturers of liquors residing il
Pennsylvania. They were charging an
immense rental owing to the value OF
their license. Besides this rental. these
hotels were the outlet for their liquors
Land the boys. the negroes and tho
soaks were paying tribute to these for.
eign owners. The conditions were sucf
that a man could buy a lot ana cree
a hotef at a cost of $4,000 and il n,
secured 4 license from the State his
property would Immediately be held 70
100000 or $4,000 The proprietors claim
a right 10 have this fictitious value
maintained, although they fagrantl
violate the provisions Of the licens
Granted by the courts, who represen
the people.
Now that the hotels are closed. Mil