Los Angeles herald., 1909-05-17
FAKE SANDWICH
IS HIDDEN AWAY
RESTAURANT PATRONS PAY
FOR REAL FOOD
Proprietors of Better Glass of Eating
Places Express Satisfaction with
New Enforcement of
Law

That hitherto meaningless sign
which each Saturday adorns the walls
of places in Los Angeles where liquor
is sold has come into its own. This
saloon closed tomorrow. Do not for
get your Sunday flask is the way the
notices read Until within the past
few weeks it was to read the sign and
smile.
There were many in Los Angeles
yesterday who wished they had needed
the notices. Three weeks ago the edict
went forth from the office of Chief of
Police Dishman that the Illegal sale
of strong drink on Sundays must cease.
The order was directed especially
against restaurant keepers, who used
their liquor licenses for the sole pur-
pose of dispensing drinks on Sundays.
Order Is Effective
That Chief of Police Dishman's order
is having the desired effect was proved
by a visit yesterday to the various
restaurants in Los Angeles, where
formerly it was an easy matter to OBJ
tain the much desired Sunday nip. y
But the lid is now on, and it is a
wise person that can refresh the inner
man with liquid without also paying
for food. The restaurant proprietors
evidently have been studying their
cook books, and it is no longer a
source of conjecture as to what con-
stitutes a meal.
The much abused and overworked
wooden sandwich has been relegated to
it's proper place, and instead a rare
and juicy roast beef sandwich or a
palatable dish of real food is placed in
front of the person who feels that he
must have his Sunday beer. The un-
fortunate who has "just the price" is
fe
obliged to eat his meal, but he must
pay for it. And that's where the rub
comes.
The Way 1t Used to Be
For the past two years many res
taurants in Los Angeles have used
their liquor licenses with the sole view
of a Sunday trade. The little round
tables on which we're placed a few
crackers, a bite of cheese or the in
evitable dish of beans were not seen
except on Sunday Monday morning
they would be gathered up and care
fully placed away until the following
Sunday.
In issuing his order Chief Dishman
instructed patrolmen to visit every
restaurant where liquor was sold and
make a report of conditions. The re-
suit was a number Of arrests and con-
victions for violation of the Sunday
liquor ordinance. That tine proprietors
OF such places have realized that the
order was given to be enforced and not
bluff was evident yesterday.
The days of "crossing your fingers
and winding the right eye" have
passed, at least temporarily, in Los
Angeles. That the new police admin
istration will eventually prove benef1-
cent to those persons who desire to
conduct a legitimate business was evil
dent from talks yesterday by several
proprietors of Main street restaurants.
The general opinion prevails that II
will result in fair and open competi-
tion and place the liquor business in
a position in which it will command
as much respect as any other legiti-
mate business.
Said one proprietor last night: "It
is a pleasure for anyone who desires
to run his place III proper manner
to have such laws enforced. 1t does
away with favoritism and makes equal
and just competition. When know
that pay the same amount of license
fees as my neighSos desire the same