Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-01-14
LID Tits HALFWAY OPEN
Omaha Ne LSngsr q Thirsty Sahara on
the Sabbath Day.
SALOONS OPEN BACK DOORS TO PUBLIC
Many Places Keep shut Tight and
Those that DO Run Keep
Very Orderly During
the Day.

"As far as l have observed everything
seems to be quiet and orderly" said Chief
of Police Donahue Sunday when asked
how the elusive saloonkeeper was behav-
ing himself after the publicity given to
the recent orders of Mayor Dahlman. Il
have nothing to say for publication re-
garding the alleged raising of the lid, ex-
cept that the saloons will not be mo1ested
on Sundays providing order is maintained;
otherwise, the saloonmen will have to
answer to the court"
Chief Donahue and the mayor had
heart-to-heart consultation Sunday morn
ing in the office of the chief, presumably
to feel the pulse of public opinion regard
ing the re-opening of the saloons on the
Sabbath after the recent drouth.
While the front doors of most of the
liquor emporiums were scrupulously closed
Sunday. the popularity in certain quarters
OF the orders issued Saturday by the mayor
and chief of police was amply attested by
the constant opening and closing of the
back doors to the places of refreshment to
thirsty mortals.
In fact, the lid" was knocked higher
than Gilderoy's kite, and the man clad
in the snowy white apron behind the highly
polished mahogany was one of the busiest
men in Omaha Sunday.
Some Take no Chances
After six weeks of Sunday closing. many
Of the saloonmen have gotten into the
habit of having one day of rest in the
week, and. although the bars were raised
Sunday, at least one-thrd of the saloons
in the city were as tightly closed even
the heart of Carrie Nation would have de-
sired. Most of the hotel bars were open
for business, with the exception of the
Murray hotel, where it said that no
chances would be taken, even If the Sun
day opening did have the tacit sanction
of Mayor Jim" The popular downtown
resorts all did a rushing business, and the
Sunday opening was as successful as the
periodical openings that delight the
heart of the feminine bargain hunter.
1t was noticeable that the drug stores
did not appear to be as popular resorts
as they have been for the last few Sun
days. Fewer sales of bug juice" for
medicinal purposes only" were recorded
at the ffty-seven drug stores of the city
where fifty-seven different varieties of con-
coctions of vinegar and red pepper had
heretofore been dispensed to a thirsty pub
lie.
"Whisky Brigade" Out of Commission.
On the mourners bench over the broad
Waters and Trobey, the faithful members
of Chief Donahues whisky brigade" who
had for weeks done such valiant duty in
seeing the horseback, front and side-of
saloons were kept closed during the re-
cent closed season" No more were they
allowed to pace the streets In search OF
saloons bidding for Sunday trade, but were
ordered back to patrol their respective
beats, as Mayor Jim" had said that they
were sadly needed to assist in the pro-
lection of the city instead of wasting their
strength on the desert air in an effort to
make the salo0nmen walk in the way they
should go according to the Slocumb law.
Few arrests were made Sunday for
drunkenness, and even those arrested were
not charged with carrying concealed
weapons In the guise of partially drained
whisky TASKS, as has been the case on re-
cent Sabbaths.