The sun., 1909-01-17

brewers convention was helo IN view VE-
leans. While this campaign was under
way and large delegation was pTesetns pstan
TO assert and encourage the liquor inter-
ests In the fght, louisiana was TO be the
rock upon which the prohibition wave
was to break
The campaign was conducted by the
liquor interests with greater viEor than
any previous one. Perhaps little too
much money was sRen' obanse seyS 70 sas
that the breweries were trying TO buy the
election. In every one OF these elecnons
the drys won, and the four parishes
closed their saloons with the departing
year.
The blow was sta ggering to the saloon
men. They dissolved their orsaniza-
ton. gave up the fight and have mace mo no
sincere campaign since in any, oi the
other parishes in which local option elee;,
tons were held. How they had suffered
may be imagined from the fact that the
1, 900 Louisiana saloons in 1905 had dwin-
died to $500 last year, with probability
that not over 1900 to i,500 viii take OUT
lionses for 1909. loss OF from % 70 ~
per cent. In three years.
To meet these conditions the Shattuok
bill was passed at the last session OF the
Louisiana Legislature. the underlying
idea being to check the prohibit ton move
ment by 1pandering to the better ele-
ment," and removing those abuses which
had driven the conservative element into
voting with the extreme prohibitionists
saloons fought the law in the Legislature
and they have been trying to sandoag II
ever sinoe II was passed
The law increases the amount OF license
$50 per cent. II prohibits music. cards
pictures &c., In a saloon. Under II the
saloon is a place where you 20 in. get
drink and walk out. with nothing attrac-
tive TO keep you there. A bar must be
conducted separate from any other line
OF business. No woman is allowed 10 be
connected with It, The saloon must not
be near school or church. Finally.
whites and blacks must not be served In
tho same saloon. Any violation OF any
liquor law forfeits the license perma-
nently.
The shattuck law had the effect Of
stopping. at least temporarily. the pro-
hibition movement. II was passed six
months ago and no parish has gone dry
since then. II has been In effect now
only a few davs, but vigorous howl
has been raised against 1t. and a large
number Of the saloon keepers are now en-
gagged in an effort to find some way to
get around it.
The first proposition was 10 boycott
those who favored the law or wanted IL
enforced but this scheme was abandoned
when Judge Saunders OF the United
States District Court came out In charge
to the United States Grand Jury Instruct
ing them TO investigate this conspiracy.
II was on the same dav that the District
Of Columbia court rendered it's Gompers
decision. The saloon men thereupon
dropped the idea OF terrorising the oPpo-
sition.
next tried. The first arrests made we're
those of the president Of the Boston
Pickwick and Chess, Checkers and Whist
clubs. the three leading social clubs of
New Orleans, and the closure of their
cafes as In violation Of the Shattuck law,
being too nea r the jesuit Church Res
taurants which EMPLOY orchestras we're
ordered TO cease all music. On the first
vas arrested on the charge OF selling
liquor TO a Ininor--he had filed hve
cent erowler with beer for a little girl,
As was TO be expected. these and simi.
lar endorsements OF the law have stirred
up the people. They see restaurant
music abolished, the clubs closed the
SUBURBAN resorts nut OF business; t,d a.
prohibition many are CRYING. and the
law is unquestionablv very unpopular
at present even among those who wanted
the saloons regulated
The situation has been further aeera-
vated by conflict Of authority between
the State and the citv authorities.
The law has. il is frankly confessed by
all had very different effects from what
was expected Of IL. Aimed at the 0rog-
eeries, honky tonks and negro saloons:
the disorderly resorts that have caused
most Of the crimes. II has hurt them least
and shut up the fashionable resorts.
In Baton Rouge. the State capital,
Il has closed all the hotel bars. State
officials and members Of the Legislature
will have to walk half a mile or more TO
get a drink.
In Alexandria, where somewhat SINH
lar conditions have arisen. and number
Of saloons have been threatened with
closure because they are situated within
the prohibited distance Of church, the
heroic policy has been adopted Of buy
ing the churches which interfere with
the free sale Of liquor and putting them
out Of business.
Another objection made to the new
law but applying still more strongly
TO the growth OF prohibition ie the fnsn-
cial distress caused by the abolition or
closure Of the saloon and the loss OF reve-
nue therefrom. Liquor licenses we're
high In the country towns OF Louisiana
and Mississippi. running gradually from
a minimum Of 900 to 5000. All the
revenue from this eouroe went into the
town treasury. producing from 10 to As
per cent OF the total revenues and furnish
ing not only the money which supported
the town administration but a sur
plus which contributed toward paving,
schools and other public improvements.
l. was largely because Of this revenue
that the Louisiana Legislature four
years ago reduced the maximum town
tax. Now that this source OF revenue
is cut OF or reduced II Is a serious prob
lem how to meet the deficit.
In Mobile, Ala, the liquor licenses pro-
vided $50 900 for the public schools. The
State prohibition law forced on the city
against It's will and that Of the people
has shipwrecked the public sch ool system.
There will have to be a reduction In the
teachin force and in salaries 1t Is proba-
bly this popular bitterness against the
new law and the injury IL has caused which
has encouraged the Mobile saloon men
TO carry the question into the United
States court in the hope that some way
will be found Of defeating or delaying the
statute.
In Lake Charles, La, Il has been neces-
sary TO cut all city salaries 25 per cent
because OF the loss Of the saloon revenue
In Shreveport salaries have been cut,
Offices abolished, the police force reduced
In numbers, the officers reduced to the
ranks and number of contemplated
public improvements abandoned.
This is the general tendency through
out Louisiana and Mississippi. and Il has
brought home 10 the people the cost of
prohibition. On the other hand the
opponents of the saloon call attention
to the fact that il the revenues Of the
towns and counties have been reduced