The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1909-08-16
PROELEN
HARD NUT
TO CRACK
Opinion Is Expressed in
Hammond That Little
Can Be Done to Relieve
the Situation in Gary
Only Solution Given. !

The opinion was generally expressedl
in Hammond today that despite the
signing of a petition by the business
men OF Gary asking that the county
commissioners grant licenses to a few
saloons in Gary there would be nothing
done
a local attorney. in discussing the
matter. said that the county commits
sioners are powerless to take any ac-
tion for the relief of Gary, even If they
were disposed to do so.
The remonstrance in Calumet town (
ship has been declared valid By the :
county commissioners. and the matter
is therefore adjudicated so far as they
are concerned.
They have not the power. under the
law, to turn around at this stage of the
game and say that If the business men
of the city of Gary want saloons they
can have them. That matter has been
se,tled beyond all power of the COM
missioners to change their decision.
Suggestions Are Made.
The suggestion was made that Attor-
ney Mathews could refuse to take any
action against saloonkeepers who chose
to keep open their places of business
/ and that the saloons could run by the,
sufferance of the people CT county.
| The fact was pointed out. howeevr.
\ that there would be no way of regulat-
ing the matter and sooner or later all
of the saloons of the city would be-
open and would be running as blind
pigs
Prosecuting Attorney Greenwald said
today that he would be compelled to
take cognizance of such condition,
and that he would have to prosecute
saloonkeepers under the law prohibit
ing blind pigs if complaints We're made.
The only feasible way of making Gary
wet according to the men who epressed
an opinion about the matter today,
would be for Attorney Mathews to ap-
pear in court at Valparaiso and ad-
nit that the names on the remonstrance
were secured by fraud in the cases of
Biazen and Scanlon, which have been
!. appealed.
Would IlValidate Petition.
This would invalidate the remon-
strance so far as these two men are
concerned. and also so far as all Of the
other saloonkeepers in Gary are con-
! cerned.
I It is not thought probable that At
torney Mathews would consent to any
such program no matter how well he
was convinced that the business men of
t Gary are loosing money through the
towns being dry.
Attorney Mathews believes that he
has already won his fight. and 1t is
not thought that he would admit at
this stage of the game that he is
wrong and that the remonstrance was
secured by fraud and misrepresentation.
In fact. it appears that there is posi-
lively no solution of the problem un-
less Mathews would take the position
that the town will be wet again in a
few months and there is no use of pro-
longing the fight
All Up to Mathews.
The whole problem is up to the re-
!, sourceful attorney. who has engineered
. the dry campaign IN Calumet town.
n ship during the past year and a half
It has been suggested that If Mathew,
: would recedc from his position now the
. people of Gary would be under som,
e obligation to him, while if he waits
d until the remonstrance expires the!
will owe him nothing.
If Gary is placed under obligations
to Mathews It is argued that he will b,
in better position to arouse publ
opinion against the vicious resort whicl
he claims was the excuse for the start
A ing Of the remonstrance IN the frs
Il place and in this way can do more goo
y than il he hangs out dogsedly and re
fuses to compromise now.
The final word IN this matter mus
: eorres fro-7 Nfa4beTvS