The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-10-12
Following Indictment of Saloon
Men Hot Municipal War
Begins.
GRAND JURY DENOUNCED
A CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR, NOW
PRESIDENT OF THE TOWN
BOARD, CALLS s. TRUE BILLS A
POLITICAL MOVE.

coming an incorporated city has
plunged the town of Gary into the big
gest uproar over the enforcement OF
law against saloons that 1t has known
in the three years of its existence.
Following the indictment of sixty.
three keepers Of illegal saloons by the
Lake county grand jury on the eve
OF the first city election in the steel
city, open defiance of the anti-saloon
laws was more rampant yesterday
than 1t has ever been before.
Open denunciation of the act Of the
grand jury in bringing true bills
against saloon-keepers as high handed
political trickery was made by the
chief executive. Thomas e. Knots,
president OF the town board. who is a
candidate for the democratic nomin-
alton as mayor of the new city.
On the other hand, the conservative
element Of the democratic and the re-
publican leaders declare that the chief
executive has permitted the opening of
wide open saloons in the face of the
Deuel. remonstrance in order to curry
favor with the foreign laborers en-
ployed at the Illinois Steel company's
plant, who are rapidly becoming nat
uralized as voters
Big Election Fight Near.
In the vernacular of Gary the sa-
looms are known as blind pigs" be-
cause Gary is theoretically dry" terri
tory under the Indiana law.
A report that true bills had been
voted against two members of the
town board was denied during the day
by witnesses who testified before the
inquisitorial body. They said that evil
dence offered against the board men,
bers was held up until after the cleo
ton.
Next Saturday the citizens Of Gary
will vote to incorporate as city.
There is no opposition to this move,
for within three years the steel city
has grown to a population Of $4,000.
On November the first city election
Will be held and a mayor and city
council will be named. Even a new
city government, however, cannot null
lily the "dry" law, which positively
prohibits the sale of intoxicating liquor
in Gary until May 1, 1910.
L u0 DcuclI I0LuOuSLIduCc was maze
possible by the fact that the number
of signers required was based upon
the last town election, at which only
165 votes were cast. Unless the sa-
loon element can overthrow this law
in the courts, there is no hope for
them for nearly six months, no matter
how large their majority, because
county officials have agreed that even
the Anti-Saloon league cannot recall
tha -emonstrance.
Says Gary Wants Saloons.
In spasm Of reform two months
ago the citizens and business men
rose up in arms and drove out gambl-
ing houses and disorderlx resorts in
the district known as the patch in
the south end Of the town. The blind
pigs" were closed AID an appeal was
made for a few well regulated licens-
ed saloons. The saloons remained
closed but few weeks and were re-
opened in defiance of the law. There
was no interference on the part of the
police.
Il do not deny that the blind pigs
are running" said Mr. Knots: but
the people Of Gary want saloons and
they are determined to have their
beer. When we enforced the closing
law liquor was shipped in to all Of the
express companies and brought in by
wagons and on trains. I ordered a
carload seized and made arrests. but
could not get a conviction
This grand jury indictment is
merely political move to get met at
the coming election. l am the only
democrat on the present board and
the opposition party has control of the
county offices. They are willing to
try to besmirch the character Of the |
two other members and me in order !
to carry the election.
Calls Il Political Move.
Il know who Is back of this move |
ment. They could stop many of the |