The Washington herald., 1907-10-06
SALOONS FEEL SAFE
Local Liquor Dealers Don't
Fear Hostile Legislation.
EXPECT PROHIBITION BILL
that While Congress VIII
Tnke the subject Up, the Interest
perance People Declare Usual
Fight VIII he Waged on Licenses.

That there Is little danger of the enact
ment of a law making the sale of liquor
in the District of Columbia prOhibitoTy
is the attitude taken by the officials Of
the Retail Liquor Dealers Association
here, according to Hugh Harvey, presi-
dent of that organization. and an official
OF the National Liquor Dealers League.
1T is almost certain" said Mr.. Har-
vey yesterday. that there viii be intro
duced during the coming session a bill
similar 10 the Weber bill, but l do not
believe there is any chance of the sur
vival Of such a bin.
In the first place. Congressman are
beginning 10 realize that their eonstitu-
ents, in places far remote from Wash
ington. are not persons To pass upon the
needs and wants of the District, and they
are getting to the point that they are
willing 10 give the local citizens more Of
hearing than they have in the past.
Expect "a Bill.
we anticipate that the bin will be in
troduCed by either a representative from
Alabama or Georgia. where prohibition
lists have won a victory, but such a bill
would be so distasteful 10 the majority
Of the citizens in Washington thay it will
stand little show.
1T is a fact that A. PeTley Baker
superintendent Of the Ohio branch Of the
Temperance League. is IN Washington
and that he is at the head Of the tenn
perance fight here. but l, for one, 10 not
anticipate the fight will be at all siren
uous, for the simple reason tnat ii IS
an injustice 10 the people Of WASHINGTON
to believe that persons in the state Of
California should attempt, by intimidd-
ton Of their Congressman. 70 regulate
the laws governing this District"
Dennis Mullaney. probably one of the
best known men n the liquoE traffic in
the Capital. is of the opinion that the
only way a law could be passed making
prohibition possible in the District would
be 70 have il attached as rider 10 an
appropriation bin
Lots Of the members of Congress are
moral cOwards' said Niullaney. They
come here and vote against the dictates
of their own conscience because Of the
agitation Of disinterested persons. who
know nothing about the District Of Co
lumba. and who have never been ID
retirement in case they do not
other persons interested in the qucs-
tion cite Georgia and other prohibition
States as examples that prohibition does
not prohibit.
II is declared that i'm Georgia, a 500
license permits the sale of liquor in clubs
and that the school funds suffer because
Of the curtaIlment Of the revenues pro-
duced from the saloon business.
Mrs. Clifton Smith, president Of the
Woman's Christian Temperance Union Of
the District of Columbia, does not know
whether a plan Of campaign has been
mapped out for the prosecution Of the
night against the sale Of liquor in the
District
I 90 know" said Mrs. Smith. that
there are three or four Representatives
and Senator or two who will introduce
prohibition bills.
After these bills are introduced the
Temperance organizations viii see 10 It
that the members OF Congress do not for
get about them Washington is the ideal
place TO win such a fight. for it would
mean that within a few years the liquor
business would De ended IN practically
every part OF the country
Suggests Local Option.
Il is understood i'm some quarters that
Mr.. Baker VIII not SEX this year "a
blanket prohibition law, but win attempt
the passage OF a law providing for elect
I've local option, as Is practiced in many
of the dry" districts in Ohio, Kentucky.
and Indiana.
According to the report Of the Census
Bureau. there were $3.50 arrests made
during the year 1905, and Of these 5.9f5
were for drunkenness.
Although there arc twenty-three cities
in the country that have more saloons
than Washington. there were only ten
Of them had more arrests for drunken
ness.