Los Angeles herald., 1908-05-30
PROSECUTOR Off \
.CLUBDIRECTORATE.
Wo0LWlHE RESIGNS FROM
BOARD OF UNIVERSITY
ORGANIZATION WILL CONTINUE
SALE OF LIQUOR
Believing He Would Appear Inconsis.
tent, Official Decides to Cult Gov
erning Body-lndorsed
by Churches

Thomas L. Woolwine city prosecutor,
has resigned as director of the Uni
versity club because the organization
decided to continue the sale OF liquor
to members, which Mr.. Woolwine con-
siders violation of the law.
Believing he would appear as incon-
sistent If he held the office of director
of club which he intended to prose-
cute Mr.. Woolwine yesterday ten
dere his resignation to the club and
1t was accepted.
Within the next week Nj. Woolwine
intends to begin prosecution of all
clubs which continue the sale of liquor
without securing licenses@
Following is the city prosecutors
letter to the University club
ITO the Board of Directors, Uniyer-
sity Club;
TT is with sincere regret that l
hereby tender my resignation as di-
rector of the University club, to take
effect Immediately.
1T would seem to be unnecessary
for me to enter into any lengthy ex-
planation as to the motives which actu-
ate me in taking this step. 1t is my
opinion that the club is now engaged
in the unlawful sale of liquor at its
club rooms, and inasmuch as | Geem
1t my plain duty as prosecuting at
torney to take action against the club
for such alleged violation of the law
there is no other course that | can
take consistent with my official duty.
Il trust, that you will believe me
when l say that the action of the
club members in making me a director
is an honor that l appreciate more
than l can express. but circumstances
over which l have no control leave
no alternative to the course herein out
lined"
The University club yesterday an
nounced its intention to continue the
sale of liquor. Similar action has been
taken by the other clubs
The Church federation has passed
resolutions indorsing the stand taken
by Mr.. Woolwine regarding the clubs.
Club Stands Firm
Following is the stand taken by the
University club, as stated yesterday in
a letter to Joseph Scott, chairman of
the clubs committee:
I'VE have the pleasure to inform you
that at today's meeting of the board
or directors of the University club the
following report of its special legal
committee was unanimously adopted
Judge Conrey alone refraining from
voting by reason of his judicial posi-
tion:
That after a careful examination of
the very exhaustive and able opinion
prepared by Messrs. Gibson Trash,
Dunn and Crutcher of opinion
that the conclusions reached by those
gentlemen. /. e., that the weight of
authority sustans the clubs in their
contention that they not within the
provisions of the ordinance in question
is correct.
And for this reason and for the fur
ther reason that the substance Of the
ordinance has been in force for many
years, that this question has been ex-
amned from time to time by eminent
attorneys. who have Invariably reached
the same conclusion as that reached by
Messrs. Gibson, Trask, Dunn and
Crutcher; that the city attorneys Of
flee under other administra tions has
heretofore given the matter considera-
ton and reached the same conclusion;
and that the board of police commits
sions of Los Angeles city have from
time to time considered the question and
have never deemed that such ordi-
nances applied to clubs Of the character
of our club; we would advise that our
board should permit the matter to re-
main in statu quo.
We are further impelled to this con-
clusion and recommendation by the
fact that any action at present tending
to suspend the sale of liquors to mem
| bers of the club and their guests might
| be construed as an admission on our
| part that we were criminally careless
in the past in permitting such sales
| under the laws which have been in
| force at all times since club has
| sustained its buffet.
| The fact is thus made plain to You
| and your committee that the University
| club stands clearly and unequivocally
for the view and position to which the
other representative clubs of the city
| are already pledged. (Signed)
| FREDERICK STEVENSON,
| President.
| FIELDING STILSON.
| Representative.
Roy Bradley Wheeler was yesterda!
unanimously elected director of thu
University club to fill the vacancy ere
ated by the resignation of Thos. L
Woolwine. Mr.. Wheeler thus adds thl
additional dignity to his previous posi-
tion of honorable secretary and treas