Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-06-14

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the blighted life and the grave of a
drunkard, besides ministering to the
depraved appetites of others already
travelling that road? No one can tell.
The men engaged in this nefarious
traffic, either in the clubs or out of
them, seem not to ask themselves the
question. But one thing may be taken
as certain: The young men whose
lives and prospects are ruined In these
clubs are Of the better class of men,
men whose prospects for the future
are better and brighter than the VIC
tins of the common saloon. The char
acter of the men belonging to the clubs
renders 1t respectable, at least in SEEM
ing and outward appearances; the
young men tempted to drink there.
many of them would never enter a
common saloon; the luxury and refine
ment exhibited lure the young man
of refinement to pass his time there, as
member or guest, and the seductions of
the place are irresistible. It may be
matter for congratulation that no one
can tell us how many have acquired
the liquor habit through the influence
of these higher classed social clubs.
Men of High Standing
One good result is bound to come
from the stand taken by these clubs
against the payment of the license tax.
1t will bring the true conditions more
clearly to the attention of the public
and increase the sentiment now so
strongly prevalent against the liquor
traffic in all it's forms. 1t is a sad
commentary on the condition of these
clubs that they exist only for the sale
of intoxicating liquors, because, with
out liquor, If the above report tells the
truth, they would be financial failures.
1t is significant also that this oppor-
tunity to make money and crafty de-
PRAYED appetites should lead men of
this class tdsresist the law. Most of
them are men of high standing, socially
and in business. Many of them are
members of churches that are striving
to suppress the liquor traffic in all its
forms; few of them would tempt their
neishbor's son, or their own, with
strong drink; and yet these upright,
Christian gentlemen are contributing
the means OF uphold this same deadly
traffic by their clubs and giving 1t a
semblance of responsibility by their
standing in the community as business
men, public officials and churchmen.
Strange how the good men can be in
=
money ease and display to forsake the
good and support evil.
Clubs Want Protection
There is one defense that these clubs
might make If the city prosecutor at
| tempts to compel them to pay the
license tax, and that is that the main
tenance of a saloon, even in a highly
respectable club, is crime per Sc and
therefore no power exists in the city
council to legalize It by the granting
of a license or in any other way. This
position has been upheld by some Of the
courts in this country already and Is
likely to be maintained by the highest
court If it ever reaches that tribunal.
But who in the controversy now threat
ened will raise this question? Not the
city prosecutor, for his position is that
the license law is valid and his effort |
will be to punish the clubs for not obey |
ing it. Not the clubs, for the success |
full interposition of that defense would
OUTLAY their saloons and close them up. |
They are anxious to operate the saloons
and have them protected as legal, but
are not willing to contribute their share |
toward the expenses of suppressing and
Furnishing the crimes brought about in
part by their participation in the liquor
traffic.
Much Money Spent
In this article the report of one club
showing the extent to which it is en-
gagged in this traffic has been set out. |
The reports of the other clubs are not
at hand. The public, no doubt, would
be glad to know what they have been |
doing in the way of selling liquors in
their "buffets." 1t is fair to say, from
the report of one of these clubs, that
not less, and probably more, than $780,
600 q year is being worse than squan-
dered in these clubs alone for intoxicat-
ing liquors. How many homes have
been broken up, how many more have
been made desolate, how many crimes
have been committed, how many men
financially ruined and women and
children brought to want by the sale of
liquors, the profits from which have
supported these highly respectable
clubs? No one can tell. But the good
men who are passively giving their
support to the liquor traffic by helping
with their money and influence tol
maintain these clubs would be as
founded If they only knew. When will
the good people, in the clubs and out of
them, rise in their might and majesty
and drive the saloons, and so-called
"buffets," out of existence? When will
business men rise above the sordid
scramble for dollars and the hope of
making money by running the lives of
degenerates or criminals Of them and
look to the morals of the people and
ioin hands in the effort to suppress the
LIQUOR traffic, an effort that will sooner
or later be crowned with success
Many of them have already come out
on the right side. and others are COM
ing MANY more would do so but for
their lack Of moral courage to maintain
publicly and by good works their real
convictions on the subject. Nothing
that could have happened in this COM
nunity should tend more to quicken
the moral conscience of the people than
the attitude assumed by these high
class social clubs and the conditions
that should be laid bare, If they are
prosecuted criminally as 1t is assumed
they will be, for refusing to pay a
license fee for the privilege of selling
intoxicating liquors, privilege that
profits them thousands of dollars every
year.
Prosecutor Shows Courage
The city prosecutor has shown his
courage and independence In the stand
he has taken in the matter. He is run
ming counter to the strongest influences
i'm attacking these clubs. He is men,
her of one of them. His position is
manly and courageous one, whatever
may be the outcome of the pending
struggle. He is entitled to and should
have the moral and If necessary the
material support needed to prosecute
these cases to the utmost, that justice
may be done; and the men inside OF
the clubs who are opposed to the liquor
traffic being carried on in the club, or
opposed to the effort to escape the pay
ment of the license fee. II they con.