Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-25
LAUREL IS INDIGNANT
Resents Being CIassed as a
Horrible Example.
C0NTRADICTS C. w. DARR
Denies That "Speakeasies" Arc
Flourishing There.
SAYS LAW IS BEING ENFORCED
Calls for the Production of Evidence
That Prohibition Is Not Being
Made Effective.
C0NTRADICTS C. w. DARR
SAYS LAW IS BEING ENFORCED

The mayor and people Of Laurel. Nd.
take violent exception to the criticisms
OF the town by Charles w. parr. q local
attorney who testified at the prohibition
hearing before the House District COM
mittee this week. Mr.. Dafr spoke OF
Laurel as horrible example" OF what
prohibition can do for q town.
In statement to Star reporter this;
morning Mayor William e. Gilbert OF
Laurel said that the people OF that town
were Mortified at Mr.. Darrs allegation.
"Mr. Darr lived In Laurel seven to teu
years ago." said the mayor, and during
his stay moral conditions were e. bad -
he testified. But when he stated that
conditions in Laurel at this time are th0,
same that they were seven to ten years
ago he failed to inform himself OF con-
ditons in Laurel. for we know that local
option is a reality and our laws are en-.
forced. and We protest against the slandef
OF our town by Mr.. Darr or any one else"
Allegations Denied.
The mayor also handed The Star re-
porter q resolution passed by the city
council in session last Wednesday even
Ing. This resolution declares that the
statements In regard to the town OF
Laurel. attributed to Charles w. Darr.
before the District committee of the
House of Representatives. as reported in
The Washington Star OF April 70. 1908,
are Indignantly denied. and this body.
representing, as We believe, the best. and
certainly the general. opinion OF our citi-
xens. take this means OF expressing our
regret at what appears an over-anxiety to
serve clients. even to the extent Of gross
and incalculable harm
to our town. according TO the report OF
his remarks, In which he Is made to say:
The speakeasies went out of business
in q hurry. for, with an open bar In the
town, there was no incentive for any
body to patronize these blind tigers.
Mr.. Darr said, and the conditions OF the
old dry days have come back-that ID.
speakeasies by the dozen are hourtshtng,
he said. and, to his knowledge, there
reptitious or unlawful sale OF liquor In
LAUREL
"As time works changes, especially in
municipal officers and their ideas OF their
public duties, 1t II unfair, even though true
ten years ago to ideal conditions OF today.
for while the said Darr. with the then
sheriff., visited 'speakeastes.' We have Q
different character Of oficers now. ana
the statement above referred to 10 abso-
ground Of Ignorance. AZ Darr has not re-
sided In Laurel for about seven years.
The records show there have heeM
seven convictions under the law now I'M
force. One Of them, q former sheri6-tO
whom, we suppose. Darr refsrs-was
hsavily fined: two persons wers convicted
at the present term Of court, and one of
them Is now In jail, and the judge OF thu
circuit court has given notice that In
every case hereafter q conviction Will o4
followed by o sentence to the house OF
correction.
1T Is absolutely false, and . Islander,
upon the officers, the states attorney and
on our people. for any one to say. an
Darr 10 reported to have said, that
'speakeasies are Aourishing by the do$en'
in our town. and We challenge him 10
prove his assertion.
I'VE have no officers now Who Woul0
visit with Dssr . speakeasy and aid v1o-
lators of the law. but We assert thu law
is enforced and will be enforced It ait
hazards by the court. the states attorney
and all the officers.
Resolved, That copy OF this resolus
ton be transmitted to the COMMITTEES of
the House Of Representatives on the Dis
trict of Columbia, and q copy be sent to-
said Darr, who ID requested to transmit
his evidence of the existence of 'speak-
easies' to James L. Scott. chief Of police
and constable"