Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-05-27
CLUBS TO FIGHT
ANTI-LIQUOR RULE
PROSECUTORS ORDER WILL
BE IGNORED
BIG SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS IN
DEFIANT MOOD
Joseph Scott Announces Decision
Which Was Confided to
Him by Conn.,
mittee

It is to be war between the clubs
of Los Angeles and the prosecuting
attorneys office over the sale OF
liquors In the rooms of the social or
ganizations.
Joseph Scott, who has been carrying
about with him the secret regarding
the decision of the committee of at
torneys retained by the clubs, which
decision was given in substance by The
Herald last week, yesterday announced
the details of their opinion.
The attorneys simply told the clubs
they are not violating the law by SELL
ing liquor. Prosecuting Attorney
Woolwine says they are, and there the
subject stands at present.
1t Is probable the University club, or
which Mr. Woolwine is a director ana
member, may stop the sale of liquor.
The Jonathan, California, Athletic and
other organizations are expected to
continue their present custom.
Attorneys Say go Ahead"
The purport of the opinion rendered
by the legal firm of Gibson TrasK,
Dunn G. Crutcher in regard to the sale
of liquor by social clubs is given by
Mr.. Scott as follows: :.
"On learning the intention of Mr..
Woolwine to prosecute the strictly
bona-f ide social clubs for what he con-
strues to be a violation of the law,
committee representing the California,
Jonathan, Union League, University
and Los Angeles Athletic clubs met
and decided that the best course they
could pursue was to find out whether
they were acting under the law or not,
and for that purpose employed the
firm of Gibson, Trask, Dunn & Crutcher
for the sole purpose of learning what
the law was upon the question.
1.-THE opinion written by that hrm
advises us that in dispensing liquors
as we do we are within the law and a
distinction is drawn between bona
fide social clubs and the so-called
blind pigs in that we are not engaged
in the business of selling liquor. where
as the blind pigs have the business
of selling liquor as their primary and
sole object whatever may be the SUP
terfuge under which they work. Much
as we may respect the sincerity and
conscientiousness of the prosecuting
attorney, we cannot. with this weighty
legal advice, submit to his judgment
of the law as to our liability nor as to
his deductions of the similarity of our
case with that of the blind pigs.
ut may be of interest to know, IKE
twelve years ago. when this matter
was under discussion. appointed two
Of it's members to investigate this
question, one a very prominent lawyer
still living and the other the late
Judge w. H. Clark, one of the most
learned and conscientious judges that
ever graced the superior bench. Both
of these eminent legal scholars advised
the club members that they were not
violating the law. 1t should not ap-
pear strange, therefore, or unreason-
able If, in the discharge of what we
believe to be our duty to the clubs, we
differ from what appears to the prose-
cutting attorney to be his duty.
LAS to the respect with which the
members of these clubs regard the law.
we can only point to the distinguished
Judges, publicists and men of affairs
who compose its membership, as the
best comment upon our attitude to-
ward the enforcement of the law.
Speaking for the California club. we
shall always uphold the law, but we
shall decline to conform in this case
to the legal opinion OF Mr.. Woolwine
as to what is the law. Mr.. Spruance,
representing the Jonathan club, and F.
A. Garbutt, representing the Los An
geles Athletic club, will do likewise.
R. N. Bulla, representing the Union
League club, has been out of the city
and Fielding j. StllSon, representing
the University club. is not In q posi-
ton to announce as yet the decision of
his club"
University Delays Action
What action the University club will
take probably will not be known until
Friday. On that day the sub-commit-
tee, composed of four attorneys-all
members, of the club-will give their
opinion of Gibson, Trask, Dunn 81
Crutcher's decision. Prosecuting At
torney Woolwine is anxiously awaiting
this decision, for on 1t hinges his future
membership in the club. If the sale
of liquor is continued he will resign.
What Mr.. Woolwine cannot under
stand is that a club composed Of
wealthy and influential men should
continue a practice which, in a meas
ure, authorizes by it's example the es-
Establishment of clubs whose sole pur-
pose is the sale of intoxicants. If
liquor privileges are so necessary in
social organization why do not the
clubs take out retail licenses the price
of which-$100 month-would harly be
found oppressive? That a. crop Of
pseudo clubs will soon spring up and
''blind pigs scatter all over the city
is the belief of the prosecuting attor-