The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-01-18
The Foxy Club Nuisance.
Richmond, W..

Editor of Tho Times -Dispatci:
Sill have read with pleasure your edl-
torial on the social club infaniy. Also
MI MI; Semmsss letter on the same subject.
una consider this n subject which should
nave as much publicity MS the press can
give 1t, and the evils OF which hopo
through the Efforts OF the press and such
Gated.
Tho so-called socia1 clubs. which now
nave tho protection OF the laws of our
state. can never be dealt with as they
s 81 BE, 5e; until such legislation is enact
expose them In their Infamous career
They are organized for the sole purpose
OK evading the law by selling IL
duor and other intoxicants on Sun
DAY and any other time they choose
to- and to fleece the poor laboring men
and unsuspecting countrymen of their
nard-earned wages at the syRnlng table.
Ines. poor men are usually enticed into
these infamous dens by a man hired for
the purpose of watching for them. He
generally hangs around the club house
door or some nearby saloon until he sees
e eee one 70 whom ho he thinks win be sIs
tales OF gain; then the victim (who is
never lost sight of by these mem is CON
Quoted TO the social club. to invariably
leave with an empty pocket-book and a
severe headache as a result of this social
entertainment, by n set of card sharps and
blacltlegs.
Ihese are conditions that are not suppo-
sltions. but that have actually come under
my observation and are authentic in every
detail: conditions that exist on the main
thoroughfare BROAD Street) OF the capital
OF our State. 1t is burning shame that
our iaw-makers allow such laws to exist.
laws that tie the hands OF our officers and
prevent their interfering with these sum
day liquor shops. gambling dens and
places OF immortality that are now preva-
lent throughout every city where social
clubs are granted a license.
AS our editor has said am not a ia
natic on the liquor question. believe
license to sell liquor should be granted in
every locality where the majority of the
voters wish 1t, for there are thousands
OF people who will drink, no matter what
Is said against 1t, and 1t would mean u
saving or an enormous sum of money to
enese people that now goes to the express
companies. 1t has been my observation
mat the more you try to keep people from
drinking whlskey the more determined
they are to have 1t. and they will h;ive
y, III, as long as there is any made. Then
WY force them to pay an exorbitant ex-
press charge whenever they want drink,
which charge often amounts to nearly
mar as much as the whisley costs If the
man Is robbing his wife and children of
the necessities OF life by buying the whis
Key, the evil is cereu,nly not mitigated
by forcing him to continue the robbery
by paying high transportation charges.
But the social club problem is an entire
~ oiHerent issue; they are a nuisance and
menace to the morality OF our young
men and women, for very often young
girls are enticed into them by being told
that they. are private and that they can
drink In there and 1t will never De known.
When once they have entered it pener-
ally ends in their ruin by some uSscrli-
pulous scoundrel, who had this as his OBJ
Jeet when enticing them to enter
Now, let something be done to put a
stop to this evil forever. Our people know
where these clubs are and il thew are
doubtful about their character or object
their eyes. can be easily opened by a little
investigation. Then why should they be
Tolerated. unless we advocate licensing
open gambling houses, which would he
preferable to these private ones H. n.
louisville, Va.