Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-31
No Sunday Beer Surges Across
the Bar.
RESORTS HAVE LID ON
Bishops Law Rigidly Enforced in
Capital of Fun.
ONLY FOAM IS ON THE SEA
Fort Has His Way Without Calling
Militia-Saloons Close, But Sea-
son Near End Anyway.

ATLANTIC CITY. August 3l.-The
Bishops law was enforced. Theoretically.
to the letter yesterday. Ii was accom-
plished without disorder. and Gov. Fort
did not have to carry out his threat TO
call ont the militia. station a Jerseymau
armed with a musket at the door Of every
saloon and sound the charge if Atlantic
City rose up to fight his order.
Commodore Louis Kuehnle. who is
called Mayor Stoy's boss and is leader OF
the opposition to Sunday closing will not
concede that Gov. Fort won n victory or
that Atlantic City showed the white nag.
but the fact is that, for the first time
since she won her reputation of being the
most refreshingly wet summer resort in
this country, Atlantic Cty's lid was bet
tened down all day Sunday and not raised
until 12:01 am. today.
Under old conditions yesterday would
have been one of the most prosperous
days of the year for the liquor men. There
were more than 10000 visitors here, who
would have spent for drinks. IL is estf-
mated. 100000 Chief of Police Woodruff
had ninety of his 100 men on duty. Up
to o'clock last night they had not made
a single arrest.
This record did not signify Gov Forts
scouts say, that violations were winked
at. There were no violations which the
police could detect. They were instructed
to work on the level and make arrests
without fear where the facts warranted
Saloon Men Claim Credit.
Commodore Kuehnle and his followers
say that the weight of the Royal Arch
Liquor Dealers Association was used in
the closing movement. It's members are
40 Of the go licensed liquor sellers OF
Atlantic City. They pride themselves on
their power, and apparently demonstrated
1t when the 40 licensed dealers not in the
fold obeyed the mandate to close.
The liquor men and their allies in other
trades plan to fight to the last ditch
against permanent Sunday closing. They
say that without open bars Sunday At
lantic City would be about as desirable a
business place as Hohokus. Sunday is
the one day of the week when the cash
register bells peal a continuous chime
here. Peter Dunno, saloonkeeper on
Illinois avenue, summed up the situation
in a sign displayed over his locked door.
1t reads: NO liquor sold here on Sun
day and ID little on Monday"
When the blow fell, IL did not plunge
Atlantic City in gloom. The liquor men
ragged in private. but the rank and file
were cOmplacent.
Provision had been made for the
drought in many quarters Nearly all OF
the big hotels on the Boardwalk notified
their guests Saturday to order drinks
for Sunday. One of the hotels patron
lied by rich New Workers. had the fol-
lowing notice printed on the dinner cards
Saturday night:
Patrons desiring drinks Sunday will
kindly order and sign card today"
These future" cards were displayed
conspicuously at the desks. bars and cigar
stands I'm many of the leading hotels. All
one had to do was TO sign as many as
might be required, and when the palate
began to tickle Sunday fill in the name of
the desired drink, which was served As
fast as the bell hops could respond.
Law Not Evaded.
But even hotels bulwarked by political
protection refrained from evasions. Pa
irons arriving after midnight Saturday
got no cards and went thirsty Sunday un-
less a friend could be found who possess
ed futures.
Promenaders on the Boardwalk saw the
handiwork of sand artists" who fashion,
ed ramparts in the shape of beer kegs
and over them raised a placard:
Hold the fort!'
The thirsty were loud in their prophe-
cies of what would happen To the political
aspirations OF New Jerseys governor
HE couldn't get the nomination for dog
catcher" Boardwalk Spellbinder said.
Spoilers Active.
Besides the uniformed men sent out by
Chief Woodruff, twenty plafn-clothes men
kept watch on the go places where liquor
is sold. Spoilers, credited with acting
under orders from Gov Fort, bought plain
soda, and when IL was served said with
wink they would pay for it generously il
the clerk would give" a leavener 'on the
side" None Of the clerks fell into the
trap. 80
The fight against Sunday closing will
be renewed today with undated vigor.
A call has been issued for mass meet
ing in Odd Fellows Hail. Using the day
peaceful closing as ammunition. the meet
ing will take issue with Gov. Forts state
ment that a reign OF lawlessness exists
in Atlantic City. Friends OF Mayor Stoy
are back OF the movement. Among those
who have signed the call for the meeting
are c. j. Adams. president OF the board
of education: Charles Roesch, Jr.. former
president Of the City Business League; J.
B. Thompson. one of the owners OF the
Hotel Chelsea: Lewis T. Inlay. member
of the county board OF freeholders; sam
uel Ellis. proprietor of the Hotel MaJes-
tic. and a score OF other business men.