The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1909-10-16
Concerning All
Saloon Signs.
The Attorney General Answers Few
Questions That Puzzle Sa-
loon Keepers.

Prosecuting Attorney Joseph ]. O'Con-
nor is in receipt of a few answe RS to
questions that would serve to puzzle
most anyone. They concern the new
liquor laws and will doubtless be read
with interest by those concerned in the
liquor trade.
The digest of the circular follows:
'No sign of any kind or description,
mentioning, referring to or advertising
any of the liquors named or mentioned
in this act shall appear upon or be at
tached to the outside of the part of any
building used or occupied for the retail
of any liquors named or mentioned in
this act, and any person who shall Of
fend against the provisions of this
section shall be deemed to have been
guilty of violation of this oct, and on
conviction thereof shall be'punished as
provided in section seven of this act. :"
You submit the following questions:
Q)Would the word "Saloon" or Buff
fet" upon the outside of building
where liquor is retailed be violation
of law?
(2)Where saloon has Art Glass win
dows, and the words RYE" and Grand
Rapids Silver E'oam" form a part of
those windows, would those words be
construed as violation of the law?
~ Would it be violation of the
law to paint on the inside of the win
dow the words Saloon, Buffet" or
some advertisement of a particular
brand of liquor?
(DCan picture or other advertise
ment of liquor be placed inside and
near the window so that it can be seen
from the sidewalk in front of the
building?
In answer to your first inquiry will
say that am clearly of the opinion
that the words Saloon or Buffet"
do not come within the meaning of Sec
tion 33 for the reason that they do not
mention, refer to or advertise any Ii
quors.
In answer to your second inquiry will
say that am clearly of the opinion
that the words "Rye" or Grand Rap
ids Silver Foam do come within the
inhibition of Section 33. and am also
of the opinion that the courts would
hold that where these words are part
of the design of the window that they
appear upon" the outside of the build
ing within the inhibition of this section.
In coming to this conclusion / do not
mean to be understood that the words
appear upon" should be, construed as
"appear from" the outside, but simply
to hold that sign that is part of the
design of front window of building
appears upon the outside of the build
ing just as much as though it were
worded in as a part of the design of the
brick or steel Of the front of the same
building.
In answer to your third inquiry will
say that the words Saloon" or "Buf.
fet", in my opinion. are not objection.
able whether upon the inside or outside
of the building. ! have some doubt as
to whether the courts would hold thai
sign painted upon the inside of a win
dow could be said to appear upon
the outside. My view is that the word.
appear upon" are used in connection
with " attached to- the outside of the
building so as to cover any outside signs
which might be worked into the con
struction of the building, as suggested
in my answer to the second inquiry
After careful consideration of tn,
matter, we have come to the conclus
ion that to place any other than thu
above strict construction upon the word
appear upon" would make it impos
sible to lay down any definite rule as t
what signs would be a violation of thu
statute.
In answer to your fourth inquiry will
say that do not think this section pro
hibits the placing of a picture or othe
advertisement of liquor in or near th'
show window so that it can be seen from
! the sidewalk in front of the building.
Very respectfully yours,
JOHN e. BIRD