The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-12-12
Celebrated "First Ward Ball"
Will Not Be Held Tomorrow
Night as Has Been Custom
For Years.
Gig CONCERT is TO
BE HELD THAT NIGHT
"Bathhouse" CoughIin, Pro-
noter OF Ball and Owner of
The Ward, Says the City Is
Growing Better.
Chicago, Dec. IL
No ball,
That's all.

NAICdSO, Dec. IL
No ball,
That's all.
AID. John J. Couahlin.
The First ward orgy is no more.
Not only is this disgrace to Chicago
killed for this year, but for the future
as well.
In place of wild masquerade scenes
In the Coliseum with liquor flowing
like water, concert will be given
Monday night. The concert will be
fine-remarkably fine, also dry, says
Aid. Coughlin-and will be a treat
for women and children.' THE
Bath has not arranged details, but
says that in addition to a military
band, soloists of note will be on the
program. The concert will open at
O'Clock and close at midnight
This change of heart and of pro-
gram was disclosed by Coughlin after
the mayor had announced that the
ball must stop and had given the aid
erman chance to withdraw grace
fully. "Bathhouse" John, after con-
ferring with Aid. kenna, said he had
abandoned the ball in Difference to
public opinion-and other things.
There is only one discordant note
and that is not loud enough for the
Bathh ouse" to hear it-from the tick
ct purchasers-at 81 each--who don't
care for concerts and can't get a re-
fund.
FarweIi Greatly Pleased.
The mayor announced that had it
not been for the onslaught of Presi-
dent Arthur Burrage Farwell of the
Law and Order league. which resulted
in verbal rough and tumble between
the Bathhouse" and the Rev. E. A.
Bell of the Midnight mission, he
would have called off the ball. He
also charged Misrepresentation and
said reformers had been threatening
to blow up his house or slug him on
the street II the ball should be held
But there is no irritation in Mr..
Farwelfs composition now. On
hearing of the demise of the ball he
announced: II commend Mr.. Busse
for his stand for civic righteousness"
and followed with this suggestion for
an alliance:
And I commend Aid. Coughlin for
his change about front. and if he
wants to join forces with the Law
and Order league for the moral uplife
we welcome him gladly-and Aid.
Kenna, too
by the hand" said the Rev. Mr.. Bell
So enthusiastic was Mr.. Farwell
that he announced he gladly would as
sist in filling the concert program
with local artists. if such PROPOSE
ton would meet with the approval of
the Bathhouse." The big chorus,
from the Moody institute was suggest
cd. and f. O. Sellers. one of the vocal
soloists, agreed to volunteer if he did
not have to butt in
The Rev. Melbourne P Boynton,
pastor of the Lexington Avenue Bap-
tist church. offered to talk and obey
the midnight closing order
Bows to Public Opinion.
THE annual ball of the First Ward
Democratic club is thing of the
past" said Aid. Coughlin. Public
opinion seems to be against it and l
gracefully bow to the goody-good peo-
pie Of Chicago.
Perhaps those who arrayed them
selves against the ball were in the
right. But on my honor l did not
think it was so Objectionable. and
still think the annual ball of the First
ward was conducted in an orderly
manner. considering the large attend
ance. The great trouble. l suppose.
was the immense crowds that attend
ed the ball Put $4,000 or 10000 peo-
pie into dance hall and there is 60
ing to be some noise.
'Of course there was drinking at
the ball and a good deal of it, but
10000 people can put away a whole
lot of stuff that cheers. There was
less drinking in proportion to the size
Of our attendance than at any other
ball in the city where liquor is sold
The First ward ball was twenty or
twenty-five average size balls rolled
into one. That's why it appeared
there was so much drinking and Ca
rousing.
OutIives Two Big Rivals.
When we first began to hold an
nual reception the crowd was of the
average size. In those days the Coun-
ty Democracy Marching club and a
Republican organization used to give
similar ball, and the attendance at
both was greater than at the First
ward dance. We proved to be better
entertainers. however and for several
years the First ward ball got the
crowd. Other balls were dwarfed in
to significance.
Conditions have changed since We
gave our first annual ball. and what
was then looked upon as being all
right is now called an orgy. Not until
within the last two or three years
has the press or clergy ever entered
a word of protest against the holding
Of the ball. The reason. suppose. is