The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-31
REAL BLUE SUNDAY
SALOONS IN ATLANTIC CITY CLOSET,
 TIGHT.
Thex Were Cxtsed Alike Bona Ef6e Guests An Well As to strangers Jusf Arrived Wifhln
 TAeix Gates.

Atlantic City. N 1., Aug. so---A real blue Sunday came 60 Atlantic City to- day. Many persons familiar with the history of this far.famed resort have hsen inclined 10 doubt the possibility of such thing. but today every one of the 2zo saloons and hotel bars were elnAad.
 They were closed alike to bona fide guests aa well as to strangers just ar- rived within the gates. IL fs said that this wan the fourth time in the fifty four years pf it's existence that a drink less day had been experienced in AtIan- tic City A bulletin pasted at police headquarters this afternoon stated:
 ASaioons all closed. No troops In town.s
 Another bulletin of1icialIy signed by the Chief of Police consisted of a card on which was printed:
 Tn 1881 it was. Hold the Fort To- day it is Fort holds you
 Governor Forts proclamation of last week containing his threat te send troops to tho seashore ln the event Of . law had it's effect Saloon Keepers and hotel men reluctantly accepted the ad- vice of the Mayor and of the more con- servative members of the saloon mems organization and closed their places as tightly as they knew how. Screens came tumbiins down Saturday at mid night and remained down all dsy. Board waik cafes thas on Sundays pusi have been thronged to their utmost en- pacity. serving liquors and food. today N.are all bat dexerted. White anronnd walters stood Idly by the vacant chaire surrounding the little cpzy tables and thought reagretfuliy of the Sundays that were gone.
 During the beighth of the afternoon tsco o,sI vrrnl L. n- UfEft ffs rf4A of the most widely-known cafes in the famous seaside thoroughfare disclosed the fact that not a single patron was in the place. The proprietors declared that the loss of the drink privilege had carried with 1t a nearly equal loss in the sale of food stuffs. There was decided decrease in the size of the vis- iting throng today. though many per- sons came from Philadelphia and New York out of sheer curiosity to see what Atlantic City. the play ground of the cities. looked like on dry Sunday" The weather was well-nigh ideal and originally the inn-keepers declared. they would have had their facilities taxed to handle the crowds. The ma jority of the board walk multitude. however, seemed not to mind the change of conditions and enjoyed them selves in other ways during the morn Ing and afternoon. The gay night in the cafes. tho music and the singing were perhaps missed more than any other feature of the resorts changed Sunday life.
 spokesman for the affected liquor interests and one of the local politi- cal leaders. declared that the loss Of today's trade would amount to approx imateiy s160.000. He declared that the saloons would close every Sunday here- after until some warrant of law will permit of their remaining open.
 We will appeal to the Legisla- ture when it meets in January, and have high hopes of securing some re- lief" he said. we 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 the result of a public sentiment which we believed to be in our favor. If we arc wrong we are willing to abide by the decision of our own peo- pie. The permanent closing of the saloons and hotel bars unquestionably would hurt the resort and none of us want to see that"
 The authorities of the city were much pleased with the thorough man. ner in which the law today was com piled with Chief of Police Woodruff stated that he expected there would be a number of arrests for violation of the law, but up to late hour tonight there had been none. Whatever may be their attitude in the future. the liquor men capitulated unanimously to- day. Many attempts in devious ways were made by old patrons to secure concessions of some sort today, but there were no special favoFs to be had anywhere along the line.
 At midnight tonight several of the board walk cafes lifted the lid" and with the first minute of Vthe new day begin their regular service Word had gone abroad that as soon as Sunday vas over drinks could be obtained with out stint, and large crowds gathered to await the appointed time Tn two or three of the places where late hours are the rule. the orchestras and sing CTS who had been absent all Sunday evening were called on. and there was quite a celebration.
 Saloons in the business district threw open their doors on the stroke of mid night also. and the dry Sunday was a thing of the past.