Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-08-28
Threatens TO Call Troops
To Enforce The Law.
viii Call Special Session Of
The Legislature
IL Excise Laws Are Not Observed at
Atlantic City Sunday.

SD. vi! |, ~ j., aug -I-iH ii Stdf u
ling puoiic proclamation issued today
from the summer capital. Governor
Fort declares that unless the excise
law is observed in Atlantic Citr which
he calls 4 "Saturnalia of vice, next
Sunday and all saloons and cafes clos
ed tightly, he will call in an eXtraor-
binary session Of the Legislature and
may send the state troops to the ia
lncj:s resort, declaring the city to be
under martial law.
This is the most drastic action which
has been taken to enforce a general
law ever taken in New Jersey.
Gov. Fort riIicules the fasco Of 10
Days ago when = grand jury at Mays
Landing, the county seat. refused to
find indictments and says that the ac-
ton was burlesque, that three mem
bers of the grand jury were owners
of saloons in Atlantic City and that
the others were IN sympathy With the
Violaers Of the law. The grand jury
now in session is not likely to find in
dictments. the governor declares, and
his proclamation he declares mat he
has alfidavits from James &. Stselman
and William Reeves Winters stating
that they purchased liquors last Sun
day in saloons operated by three mem
bers Of the grand jury.
The governor says he can sCG but
one or two things to do. FIRST call
ont the militia and police Of Atlantic
City and declare the resort to be I'M
der martial law. This would require
an appropriation by the Legislature.
Second he will ask a special session
hf. I la 10, 10
legislation authorizing him to appoin,
Il disintcrested commission to take
charge OF the affairs of Atlantic City
He also wants Il law authorizing hin
to remove officers after a hearing fol
failure IL perform or who WilIfuiv re.
fuse to do their duty.
In his proclamation the governor in
corporate an affidavit made by WI
liam Stce!nlan and William r. Winter
in which they declare that they pur-
chased liquors on Sunday in the sa
looms of three grand jurors Harry S
SraT. AnthcnyS w. Fulfil and w $
Stafford,
The sheriff has made no effort to en-
force the laws relative to selling ii
au"rs on Sunday, the proclamation
II reads: "'rhe chief OF police will make
no effort to enforce those laws or tn,
laws against gambling and imnora
houses and LEVIED women unless so or
dered by the mayor and the the mayo
I, refuses to 90 50 order Therefore. l. a.
governor of the state, propose to SCI
that the laws ar enforced and to tina
end will ask the Legislature for pow
er to remove delinquent officers ant
to do otherwise enforce the laws.
Trenton. y. j., Aug. 2l.-The prop
ositiun OF Governor Fort to call 2 spc
ciol session of the Legislature for the
better enforcement OF the liquor law,
OF Atlantic City is unique in the his
tory OF The state.
Tho governor will probably plead fol
a law for the creation OF a state b0art
with power to revoke licenses. but sue!
plea twice made by him in me ssage!
to the same Legislature was ignored.
The governors other alternative
would be to seek the Impeachment o
the offending officials. Except for The
passage of a local option law by tn,
Republicans some 20 years ago. which
was repealed by the Democrats tn
following year, there was no Seriou:
attcmpt to exercise legislation unit
the passage of the bishops law in 1905
This law was passed as a result Of al
uprising in which the Catholic ant
Protestant clergy joined. 1t was Tho
{. activity Of Bishops O'Conncll and Nc
Faul. Catholics. and Bishops Line
AMI Scarborough. E.piscopalans. tina
gave the measure its title. The bill hat
two essential features. one abolishine
x,tlack rooms ard prohibiting the sail
of drinks except in the main bar room
ard the other requiring the interior o.
bars to be exposed to public view OF
Sundays. The latter feature met Will
mucl, opposition in the larger cities
Last fall in the gubcrnatorial cam
paign the Democratic state platform
was silent on the liquor question ant
Frank Katsenhach. Jr.. the Democrat
iC gubernatorial candidate. insisted
4 that it was rot an issue Governor For
made civic Righteousness and the Ell
forcement of the Bishops law his plat
form. When elected Governor For
made Il number of recommendations +
the Legislature for more stringent
laws In the excise question.