Omaha daily bee., 1908-08-31
n / L1LI ~ u / i UN i
Saloons and Cafes ira ! City Are
Closed AeS
NO LEAKS IN LID
Hotel Men Reluctantly 90 he
Advice Of the MaySs.
GOVERNOR GETS RI rs
Threat to Send Troops to City Has
Quick Effect.
ATTITUDE OF SALOON MEN
Their Spokesman Says an Appeal Will
ne Made 20 the Legislature
fer a LEGAL Option
Law.

ATLANTIC CITY. n. J.. Aug 3O.-A real
blue Sunday came to Atlantic City today.
Many persons familiar with the story Of
this far-1amed resort have been inclined to
doubt the possibility of such a thing. but
today every one Of the 20 saloons and
hotel bars were closed They were closed
alike 20 bona fide guests as we'll as to
strangers just arrived within the gates. 1t
Is said that this was the fourth time in
flfty-four years OF its existence that
drinkiess day had been experienced in AT
lantic City. A bulletin posted at police
headquarters this morning stated; Saloons
all closed. No troops in town"
Another bulletin. officially signed by the
chief OF police. consisted OF a card on which
was printed: In 1856 1t was hold the
fort. Today it is Fort holds you"
All obey the Law.
Governor Forts proclamation Of last
week containing his threat to send troops
to the seashore in the event Of a further
violation OF the Sunday closing law had
its effect. saloonkeepers and hotel men
reluctantly accepted the advice Of the
mayor and Of the more conservative mem
bers Of the saloon mems organization and
closed their places of business as tightly
as they knew how. Screens came tumb-
ling down Saturday at midnight and re-
mained down all day. Boardwalk cafes
that on Sundays past have been thronged
to their utmost, serving liquors and food.
today were all but deserted. visit dur
ing the height Of the afternoon crush on
the boardwalk to one Of the most widely
known cafes facing the seashore. disclosed
the fact that not a single person was in
the place. The proprietors declared that
the loss Of the drink privilege had carried
with It a nearly equal loss in the sale OF
foodstuffs.
There was no decrease in the visiting
throng today. though many persons came
from Philadelphia and New York out of
sheer curiosity. to see what Atlantic City.
the playground OF the cities. looked Ike
on a dry Sunday The weather was we'll
nigh ideal and ordinarily the inn keepers
declared. they would have had their facili-
!. fssg taxed ia hsnd1e the crowd. The clos
ing down OF the saloons undoubtedly kept
away many thousands OF regular Sunday
visitors from nearby places. The majority
OF the boardwalk multitude here, however,
seemed not TO mind the change OF condi-
tions and enjoyed themselves in other ways
during the morning and afternoon. The
CAV night scenes in the cafes, the music
and the singing. were perhaps missed more
than any other feature OF the resorts
changed life There was air Of Sabbath
ouietude all the way from the inlet to
Chelsea.
Liquor Men for Local Option.
A spokesman for the affected liquid in
tsrests and one Of the local political
leaders declared that the loss Of today s
closing would amount approximately to
$1,000 lie declared that the saloons
would close every Sunday hereafter until
some warrant Of law will permit Of their
remaining open.
I'VE viii appeal to the legislature when
&. meets in January and have hope of Sc
cring some sort OF relief" he said.
I'VE will work for the passage Of local
option law which will put the question
squarely up TO the people OF the city and
county. We have been keeping open in
the past as a result of a public sentiment
when we believed 20 he in our favor. If
we are wrong We are willing to abide by
the decision Of our own people. The per-
manent closing Of the saloons and hotel
bars unquesticnaby would hurt the resort
and none Of US want 10 see that"
The authorities of the city were much
pleased with the thorough manner in
which the law was today complied with.
Chief OF Police Woodruff stated that he
Lad expected there would be a number
OF arrests for excise violations. but up 10
late hour there had been none.
Whatever their attitude in the future,
the liquor men capitulated unanimously
today Many attempts In devious ways
were made by old patrons to secure con-
csssions of some sort today, but there
were no special favors to be had anywhere
along the line.
Up 10 the Aery hour OF midnight last
night the board walk cafes were crowded
10 their utmost The scenes were likened
10 New Years eve crush on the gay
streets OF the big cities with the exception
that at the hour when the latter ceie-
6gation really begins the lights here were
exinguished and the places cleared.