New-York tribune., 1908-08-31
LID ON ATLANTIC CITY
FORT ROUTS CAFE MEN.
Police Post Humorous Orders
Dealers Say Loss Is $50, 900.
TBv Telegraph to The Tribune.


pletely routed the defiant saloonkeepers to-
day. and his demand that the excise laws be
oheyed was carried out to the letter There was
not saloon cafe CT hotel in this city in which
liouor could be purchased. The anti-screen
ton Of the law was also obeyed. and no cur
tains were drawn to shield the barroom from
public view. Some cafes were open. but they
served only soda water, ginger ale. sarsaparilla-
tea coffee and cocoa with meals. There was
attempt made at subteyfuge
Many persons familiar with the history of
this far famed resort have wondered whether
the city could be as destitute OF open saloons as
it was to-day, when every one of the two hun
dred and twenty saloons and hotel bars were
closed They were closed alike to bona fide
guests as well TO strangers just arrived
within its gates. IT is said that this was the
fourth time in the f1fty-four years of its exist
ence that drinkless day had been experienced
in Atlantic City A bulletin posted at Police
Headquarters stated:
Saloons all closed No troops in town.
Another bulletin. officially signed by the chief
of police. consisted of a card which was
printed:
IN 1861 it was Hold the fort To-day it's
Fort holds you'''
Governor Forts proclamation OF last week
containing his threat send troops to the
shore in the event of a further violation of the
Sunday closing law had its effect
Saloonkeepers and hotel men reluctantly
cepted the advice Of the Mayor and of the more
conservative members Of the saloon mems or
sanzation, and closed their places of business
as tightly they knew how. Screens came
tumbling down Saturday midnight and re-
mafned down all day. Boardwalk cafes that on
Sundays past have been thronged to their
utmost capacity serving liquors and food. to-
day all but deserted White aproned
walters stood idly by the vacant chairs
rounding the cosey little tables and
thought regretfully of the gala Sundays that
gone.
A visit during the height Of the afternoon
crush the boardwalk to OF the most
widely known cafes facing the famous seaside
thoroushfare disclosed the fact that not single
patron was in the place.
CURIOSITY SEEKERS FLOCK TO SHORE.
There a decided decrease in the size of
the visiting throng to-day, though many persons
came from Philadelphia and New York out of
sheer curiosity to what Atlantic City. the
playground of the cities looked like a dry
Sunday. The weather wellnigh ideal, and
ordinarily. the innkeepers declared, they would
have had their facilities taxed to handle the
crowds The closing down of the saloons
doubtedly kept away many thousands of regular
Sunday visitors from nearby places. The ma
jority of the boardwalk multitude here. how
ever seemed not TO mind the change of condi-
fions, and enjoyed the Ives in other ways
during The morning and afternoon. The gay
night scenes in the cafes the music and the
singing were perhaps missed more than any
other feature of the resorts changed Sunday
life. There was. Indeed. air of Sabbath
quietude all the way from the Inlet to Chelsea
SALOON MEN LOSE NEARLY S15oOoO
AS spokesman for the affected liquor interests
and one Of the local political leaders. declared
that the loss of to-day's closing would amount
approximately to S150,o10. He said that .he
saloons would close every Sunday hereafter un-
til some warrant Of law will permit Of their re-
naming open.
I'VE will appeal to the Legislature when it
meets in January, and have high hopes Of secur-
ing some sort of relief he said. I'VE will work
for the passage of a local option law which will
put the question squarely up 10 the people Of the
city and county We have been keeping open in
the past as the result of public sentiment
which we believed to be in our favor If are
wrong we are willing TO abide by the decision of
our own people, The permanent closing OF the
saloons and hotel bars unquestionably would
hurt the resort, and of wants to see
that"
The authorities of the city much pleased
with the thorough manner in which the law was
complied with to-day Chief of Police Woodruff
said that he had expected there would be q
number of arrests for excise violations but up to
a late hour only six men had been locked up for
drunkenness, four of whom were negroes.
Whatever may be their attitude in the future
the liquor men captulated unanimously to-day.
Many attempts in devious ways were made by
old patrons obtain concessions of some sort
to-day but there special favors to be
had anywhere along the line.
GOVERNORS REPRESENTATIVE THERE.
CAPTAIN Nelson B. Gaskill, Assistant Attorney
General was here the representative of the
Governor. He said that promptly at midnight
the lid went down with a bang, and stayed
down
In the saloons owned by Commodore Louie
Kuehnle. the boss" of the county, and Bob"
Delaney, the patrons Of the place at first looked
,ypou the Sunday closing order as joke, but as
tne clock struck H. the barrooms were cleared
and prospective customers told they must wait
until II O'Clock tonight if they wanted to pur-
chase any liquor.
At IL O'Clock tonight the saloons opened
,pain. and continued business until O'Clock.
:be hour fixed for closing by the city ordinance
Drinks were served at nearly all Of the hotels,
however. but they had TO be paid for last night
MANY OF the larger hctelkeepers expressed
themselves freely on the excise question to-day.
II was their opinion that while the law
tte hooks il should be enforced. but added that
an effort would be made to obtain more liberal
legislation.
a. far as the general public concerned.
sh.y could see change There have been times
when tn, reform element has compelled saloon
"a "a