Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-01-08
HARPER WANTS
VENICE TO BE
AN OPEN TOWN
APPEALS TO MAYOR EAKINS
TO KEEP LID OFF
WOULD USE INFLUENCE AGAINST
CLOSING ORDINANCE
Los Angeles Executive Journeys at
Night and Begs in Vain That
Liquor Sellers May
Be Spared
DETERMINED effort was

| "A maze by the mayor Of Los
a Angeles Wednesday night
to prevent the mayor of Ocean
Park from using his influence to
bring about the adoption Of the
midnight closing ordinance which
will deprive cafes with LIQUOR
licenses at that seaside resort of
the privilege of keeping open all
night.
AS Mayor Eakins, who ended
abruptly the notorious Brownies
ball OF New Years eve, is re-
sponsible for the proposed ordi-
nance, he could not, without
stultifying himself, take any posi-
ton but one Of advocacy and sup
port of the measure.
Ignoring the bact that consis-
tency in official conduct is
deemed highly desirable, Mayor
Harper, evidently with the hope
Of pleasing the liquor interests,
took upon himself the task Of per-
suading Mayor Eakins to change
his mind, and, as it were, recon
struct himself morally. With
this noble end in view, His Honor
of Los Angeles prepared to lay
siege to the conscience of His
Honor of Ocean Park.
CALLS ON EAKINS
Wednesday evening he went to
Venice With a professional auto
mobile acer, Tom Mack and a
mining IN named Sawyer. Jim
Morley took the quartet to the
Ship Hotel cafe and they sent an
automobile for Mayor Eakins.
That gentleman was preparing to
go to bed, but he was told the
mayor of Los Angeles was so ur-
gently anxious to see him that the
consequences might be dreadful
if he did not humor him. Mayor
Eakins is a humane man, and,
taking pity on the Mayor from
the neighboring city, allowed the
automobile to convey him to the
cafe where Harper and his friends
were awaiting him.
When Eakins appeared, the ro-
tund person who Presides for
veal or woe over the destinies Of
Los Angeles began an earnest ap-
peal for moderation and liberalitv
in dealing with the wide open
question in Venice.
PLEADS LIQUOR CAUSE
The mayor is a persuasive talk
er and it IS declared he used all
his eloquence and forensic pow
ers. His pleas were met with
cold silence for while, then May
or Eakins unbended sufficient
| 1y to argue with Mayor Harper.
He told him that he could not see
his way clear to allow the town
to run wide open, even at the re-
quest of the mayor of Los An
geles and declared such all-night
orgies as the Brownies ball
promised to be could not be toll
Grated.
Mayor Eakins was determined
in in his stand and refused to be
moved by the arguments ad-
vanced by the advocates of
wide-open town. Finally, seeing
that there was nothing to be.
gained, the party from Los An
geles entered their motor car and
were whirled back to the city,
where, if they report, it must be
to the effect that if lid comes
off it must be from Los Angeles
and not from Ocean Park.
When interviewed yesterday
! Mayor Eakins said:
Eyes, it is true they brought
Art Harper down to try and have
me change my decision. | have
committed myself on this matter
and as far as | am concerned the
closing ordinance will go through.
I have known Art Harper for
years and we are the best Of
friends, but l cannot alter my de-
termination to have an orderly
town. l was preparing for bed
when they came for me and said
that Harper wanted to see me at
the ship.
HARPER'S VAIN APPEAL
Dressing hastily, my wife and
/ got into the automobile that
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