Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-20
ALL RIGHT AFTER AWHILE,
WORD is PASSED AROUND
Nothing Will Come of Crusade Is
Opinion of Divekeepers.
IT DOESN'T LOOK THAT WAY
Commissioners Are Bent on Correct.
ing Evils, Police Are About Seek
ing Evidence, Public Opinion Is
Aroused and Worse Is to Come.

Aroused and Worse Is to Come.
Awaiting the time that the agitation
against the law-violating music hall has
blown over. and 1t will be safe again to
spen the ladies entrances" TO cafes and
upstairs rooms. the music hall propri-
nors put the lid on last night and con-
6ded to their friends:
Things will be all right again after a
while"
For a Saturday night last night was
The auietest that has ever fallen to the
music halls and cafes which have for
merly catered to young girls. But the
common talk. which any one with pair
sf ears could not fail to comprehend.
was that this crusade-started last Tues
fay afternoon by The Star, taken up by
The people, made a fight of government
against iawlessness at the secret con-
ference between Commissioner Johnstr"
md Maj. Sylvester Thursday-is a mere
spasm and that, inch by inch, the lid
will be lifted In good season.
Loss Of Money Is Sole Bother.
The proprietOrs are worried only ON
account Of q temporary loss OF re-
eeipts. They do not kelieve that the
crusade will stick.
In spite of the fact that Commissioner
Johnston himself yesterday wrote down
the first bit of evidence that 10 going to
emirch the record OF one of the worst
Eoman-serving dives in the city, the mu-
sic hall men who have been violating
the law laugh at the idea of the citizens
Of the city of Washington ever piling UP
enough evidence, with facts, names and
Hates
Commissioner Johnston has In his
vest pocket single piece of evidence
Rgainst one of Washingten's worst
dives. 1t was given him by citizen
who could give places and names.
Not only that. but the Commissioners
have asked that any one who can pro-
court would accept, showing that any
music hall keeper has sold hard liquor
10 young girls or to youths under age,
shall tell the authorities Immediately.
Send 1t to US by mail. or telephone
it." is the way Commissioner Rudolph
expressed it,
TT will pile up. 1t will be accumu-
iative The police will make every ef-
ed, and II Will all be given to the ex-
elise board" said Commissioner john
ston.
And yet the music hall keepers
those who have violated the law-stick
their thumbs in their vests and say
there is no earnestness behind this
fight.
II every Saturday night in the past
had been as perfect, from an excise
law standpoint, as last night. then per-
haps this crusade would never have
1r1p ornI Nv fheap
ence Of plain clothes policemen, warned
by the police captains, trembling on
account of The Stars disclosures Of
the situation. and taking notice of the
enormous wave of sympathy for The
Stars fight, the violating music hall
men put on the lid tight last night
and told their friends to come around
after the matter had been forgotten.
Such a Difference in One Week.
week ago last night, in many an
upstairs room with ragtime attach
ments. where the bulI-voiced vocal ar
fists bawled their vulgar songs. the
law was smashed to atoms with nearly
every gulp Of liquor. Young girls fiocked
alone to certain of the resorts and came
away after an evening Of whisky. Gig
arettes and song with the men they
had picked up at their table.
There L. no doubt about that. The
police and the excise board aeknowi-
Monday night after rest on Sun
day evening; the same things happened.
tuesday night. after The Stars first pen
picture. taken at random ont from d, ,h,n few
let down just q little bit. Wednesday
night there wSs not much difference
over Tuesday night.
But Thursday! After The Stars stories
had called the Commissioners attention
to the situation and the record Of the
police and the excise board. that famous
Becre: conference between Maj. sylvester.
Assessor Richards. Corporation Counsel
Thomas and Commissioner Johnston re-
suited in hurry call TO the police cap
tains.
The word went forth obey the Law.
Friday night was mournfuily and pain
fully improbable TO the music hall men.
who heretofore had reaped a golden har-
vest by the breaking Of the law.
And only three days after The Star be-
gan its exploitation OF the entire situation
the lid came down with a bang last night.
so that the violators of the law could
make a semblance of respect for the
law untii the situation they promise
come about-namely. when the people
and the police grow careless again
Quiet All Along the Line.
Made cautious by The Stars revelations
of nightly scenes of debauchery and
revelry. which strict enforcement of the
laws would have prevented. the music
hall hangers-on deserted their old-tme
haunts last night.
In some instances IL would seem tina,
the saioonkeeper with the upstairs rag
time annex, where the tenets OF the law
have been battered into unrecognizable
fragments, welcomed this alarm of his
former customers. He had duil-lookine
room last night.
He could have pointed with pride tC
any prowling investigator. and could have
said:
See what a nice, well conductor place
I keep There are no young girls here
no loud singing, no rough characters"
And he would have been speaking the
truth. The city had a model last night as
Tar as the EXCISE laws are concerned.
Minors Go Thirsty.
har