The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1909-07-29
DAYLIGHT LIQUOR
LAW A FAKE
TIN BUCKET PROCESSION
IN OMAHA EVERY
EVENING.
SALOONS ARE OBEYING
LAX ENFORCEMENT METHODS
PREVENTED BY DEcAPITA-
TioN OF OFFICIALS.

OInand, NED, July e. husulHB
the IAN" is a favorite amusement in
Omaha just now. Golf, motoring,
boating and ever baseball are all
given a back seat and the tin bucket
capable of Folding a half-gallon or
more of beer has stepped into the
limelight and shines refulgently from
1880 to s o'clock every evening. But
at s O'Clock to the minute, the pro-
cession of cans which has been head
ed towards the nearest saloon, turns
from the drink emporium and
makes its way toward the homes.
The regard in which the can is
held is due TO the new daylight sa-
loon law which wen into effect sew
erel weeks ago, and which forces ev-
cry saloon in Nebraska 10 close at
8 o'clock every evening. So unani-
nous has the use of the can become
that after the first furry attendant
upon the enforcement of the law,
matters have adjusted themselves to
the changed conditions and now there
is scarcely a law on the statute
books that is being observed as
faithfully as the daylight saloon law.
The whisky interests, fearful of
the shadow of approaching statewide
prohibition, are obeying the law, hope
full, by so doing, to show how law
abiding the saloons really are and
thus retain license to exist. The Ne
braska Retail Liquor Dealers Asso-
citation, in official conference, has de-
cided to drop from it's rolls IN
member found violating this law and,
furthermore, to prosecute to the linn
1t any ~saloonist arrested on such a
charge.
Prohibition Prohibits.
The old story of prohibition does
not prohibit" is proving untrue in
this state. That is. the prohibition
law Nebraska has is certainly pro-
Atbiting. Nebraska has demonstrated
that prohibition rests with the Of
ficials who are supposed to enforce
the laws. not with the laws them
selves. And Nebraska has a law
which forces it's oficehOlders to en-
force the laws. Invoked against an
~Oficeholder who is derelict in his
duty, this law gets the official head.
1t is called the Sacket law. Under
its provisions, any citizen may notify
any Off cial of his dereliction in the
enforcement of any law, and should
that official not, within ten days,
remedy the lax methods, the Office is
declared vacant. This is the princi-
pal weapon in the hands of the pro-
hibitionists by which the anti-saloon
laws are enforced.
The Anti-Saloon league is watch
ing the saloons as a hawk watches a
brood of young chickens, but since
the daylight law became effective
only two violations have been dis
covered.
Many schemes to beat this law
have been suggested, but none have
been effective. S%aloonists fear to
get caught, because the law declares
that while the case is being fought
through the courts the license shall
be forfeited and the place closed.
With this law staring him in the
face. no saloon keeper cares to risk
the cancellation of his license and
the consequent closing of his shop.
But despite the law, the people of
Omaha have a two-housr' lease of life
every evening-that is, those who
care to go to the trouble. Council
Bluffs, Mo-, is Immediately across the
river. In Council Bluffs the saloons
remain open until 10 o'clock every
night. So hundreds of the thirsty
mes cross the Missouri river on the
electric cars.
River Turns a Trick.
o The Missouri River has turned a
trick for the benefit of the Omaha
"thirsties." Some years ago the river
changed its channel, leaving a small
portion of Iowa on the west side of
the stream, with only an imaginary
line between Iowa and Omaha. In
this oasis the saloons keep open un-
til 10 o'clock, and here numerous
thirsty souls are satisfied nightly.
But while Omaha is dry after 8
o'clock. the drinkers of Lincoln look
upon this city as a veritable city or
pleasure. For Lincoln is dry all day
and all night. Saloons were voted
gu of the town and on the same day
that the daylight saloon law became
effective in Omaha, the dry" law be-
game effective in Lincoln.
In their efforts to. secure beer, the
Lincoln thirsty go to Havelock, a
small town 10 miles away, which has
electric car connection. Immediate
ly after 8 o'clock, when the saloons
in Havelock close, a motor car, nick
named the Bum" leaves Havelock
for Lincoln. The car is met at the
city limits by Lincoln police and ev-
cry man is searched for a bottle,
which is coniseated when found.