The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1907-04-19

The saloon and restaurant conduct
ed by Meady Dwiggins at Ais and AIT
Fourth avenue North, were raided by
the police last Monday night and 101
men and 81 women were arrested and
sent to the police station. Most of
them were released on bond and
deposit Tuesday the prisoners were
fined 81 each for lettering about a
saloon 1t is said that at the trial one
of the policemen who assisted in the
raid stated that he did not think the
proprietor Of the place was wholly to
blame for what happened as the
crowd was too large. for him to han
die, or words to that effect.
The defendants were not allowed to
testify in court but were fined on the
testimony of one policeman. He re-
lated his stereotyped tale, and no
argument on the part of the lawyers
employed (and they we're all white
with one exception, and that was At
torney Rhines, who was defending a
blind bow could not convince His
Honor that they were not all guilty
and he was, of course, compelled to
fine every one of them 50, but the
blind boy and his attendant The
blind boy was exonerated but the boy
that leads him from place to place
was fined S5-two for himself and two
for the blind boy. and one for not
being blind also. This is about as
much law as was used in the whole
proceedings. One hundred and thirty
two fined 81 each and one SIS, makes
total of $3.50 contributed by Negroes
to the support of the dear, beloved
police and other city officials, while
MANY of the poor fools paying the
fines are in need themselves of the
usual supply of bread and meat to
keep hunger away.
One of the white lawyers in his ar.
gument stated to the court that it was
the custom of nine Of ten of all men
who attend theatres to stop in sa-
loon on their way home and get
drink. "And." said he with empha-
sis, "the women. Negro women, do
the same thing" Continuing, he
said "They had right to do it as
any American citizens, and are as
much American citizens as we are, in
4 sense Of the word"
But" said the Judge, 81 do not see
it as you do. About all niger
wants to do is to keep up a big noise
and have frolic." If he dismissed
the cases it meant that the city would
not get the 1869 and all familiar with
affairs of this nature guessed what
course would be pursued.
The occurrence evidenced a lack on
the part Of parents. The majority of
the defendants were in their minority
and are subject to the dictates of their
parents. and should have been at
home at the hour they were at the
dance hall and saloon, and It seems
that parents have failed to exercise
due vigilance in regard to their duty
toward their children. There is a
strong sentiment against the dance
hall as conducted, and also against
the young people attending the the
atre. The opinion runs that the dance
hall should be conducted under more
strict rules. and that the hours for
closing should be not later than eight
o'clock at night, and not kept open
until ten and eleven o'clock. The
people are not as a whole opposed to
dancing. and expect their children to
have desires for pleasure, but they are
demanding that these places of In
structon be properly conducted and
during reasonable hours They also
/ condemn the MANAGEMENT of the sa-
loon for allowing their children to
= loiter around his place.
Continued on Second Page.)