Los Angeles herald., 1908-09-18

M EMS club circles of Los Angeles
vi are in something akin to an up
49, roar over the courts decision
that liquor, If sold without license, is
sold Illegally, and City Prosecutor
Woolwine's statement that he will raid
the quarters of the various clubs IL
they persist In violating the law.
The California and Jonathan clubs
appear disposed to carry the case to
the higher courts for decision; the
University club Is in doubt. action
probably being taken today.
The Union League club yesterday an
nounced the closing of its buffet 1t is
also will elect to continue serving
liquors and brave the prosecutors
wrath.
The first club to take action yester-
day was the Union League. A meeting
of members of that organization was
called to order by Robert N. Bulla,
president, at noon yesterday, when the
question of whether the club should
continue to maintain its buffet without
a license or to close it and comply with
the ordinance governing the same.
When a motion was made to instruct
the directors of the club to close the
lar, Lee c. Gates addressed the meet
ing and made strong talk in favor
of the motion and declaring the club
should represent the best citizenship,
and that Immediate action should be
taken. The motion was carried.
The case against the Jonathan club,
which is set for trial October s before
Police Justice Chambers, will be prose-
cuted vigorously, unless in the mean
time the sale of liquor without a license
Is discontinued.
Await Prosecutors Action
1t Is not considered likely that other
clubs will follow the example of the
Union League by abolishing its buffet,
until Mr. Woolwine takes further ac-
tion in the matter.
The Los Angeles Athletic club, the
Jonathan and the California probably
will await the action of the city prose-
cutor before they decide upon the
course they will take in the matter
Il was told by prominent politician
that a crusade of this kind would not
benefit me to any great extent said
Mr. Woolwine, "but / do not take into
consideration how this fight will affect
my future. l believe | am doing my
sworn duty in forcing these clubs to
secure a liquor license for conducting
a buffet, and will wage this crusade
so long as l remain In this office, re-
gardless of the enmity l incur by my
action.
1.-THE principal purpose of making the
fight is that custom has been built
want to sell liquor and to run gam
bling and other places where the un-
wary may be fleeced. have simply
Incorporated as clubs under the state
laws, and use such Incorporation as a
cloak for all kinds of evil practices.
IL am reliably informed that there
are fifty to seventy,five of such places
i'm Los Angeles at the present time,
some having a membership of three or
four hundred persons
Terms Them Bad Example
"These so-called clubs pretend to go
through the same formalities as to re-
quirements for membership as the
respectable clubs, the initiation fee in
some instances being as low as 20
cents.
sI am constantly being informed by
anonymous letters of the fleecing OF
people in such upstairs saloons and
more. Under the ruling of Judge Ew,
ing 1t will be possible, with the fuil
cooperation of the police, to close such
places, but to do so 1t will be necessary
to force all clubs, whether of hlgh OF
low degree, to observe the law; put
trust and hope the respectable clups,
as we'll as the others, will now cease TO
break this law.
Upon the refusal of any club to do
so, evidence will be obtained against 1t,
just as soon as possible, and the Off
GERS arrested, search warrants issued
and raids made upon it without dis
elimination"
Joseph scott's Attitude
Joseph Scott. who represented the
committee from the clubs in the earlier
negotiations, said yesterday
Regarding the decision of Judge
Ewing, the case will be appealed to
the supreme court without delay in
the hope that it may be advanced on
the calendar for the October term OF
court, which will be held in this city.
This civil suit was not instituted by
Mr.. Woolwine, for he, in fact, declined
TO consider such means of reaching
solution of the controversy when the
committee from the clubs frankly sug-
gested it to him.
"A suit was, therefore brought In
behalf of James Gunner, a member OF
the California club. Anderson & An
derson, attorneys of recognized stand |
ing in this city, were employed to take
care of his interests so that no ques-
tion could be raised but that the suit, |
which was of a friendly nature, was
brought in good faith A committee |
representing the clubs has assumed the
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