The Daily Missoulian., 1911-10-19
CHURCHES SHOW STRENGTH NF|GHT
TOCLOSE SALOONS ON SEVENTH DAY
City Government Listens Arguments in Favor Of Dry
Sundays and Gives Assurance That Desire Of Temper
ance Folks Will Be Fulfilled.

to the declaration Of the council at
yesterday mornings meeting. Mayor
Evans last week designated Wednes-
day and Thursday as the days for
hearing arguments for and against the
new saloon ordinance. AS a result
Of the session yesterday morning, II
is a 1.O00-to-i shot that drinking in
Missoula on Sundays will be taboo.
The churches of Missoula showed
their strength yesterday. The stand
ing room only" sign was displayed
long before the council was called to
order and from the amount Of forensic
talent draped around the council
chamber 1t was evident that the Sum-
day-closng ordinance would be sup
ported to a fare you-well." Harry
Shapard was the only man who made
a talk against the ordinance.
The Real Meeting.
disposed Of by the council. Mayor
Evans got down to the real business of
the session. He first spoke about the
action the council had taken In regard
to West Front street. The owners of
property in that district have raised
their rentals to meet the fine exacted
by the city. The mayor stated that
the council did not intend for the
women to bear this additional burden
and asked the council for authority
to close of the houses OF the people
that raised the rents and refused to
put them back to where they were.
He said that $50 n month was an ex-
cessive charge for property that would
not be worth $40 month In any other
location or for any other purpose. ''1f
II comes to fight between the council
and that district" said the mayor. I'VE
Will put It out Of business In hurry"
He was granted the desired authority.
Commissioner Peat stated that he was
In favor Of putting the cribs entirely
out OF business at once. Mayor Evans
replied to this by saying that II Mr..
Peat wanted the women In the various
hotels OF the city that would be the
best way to get them there. Com
missioner Price announced himself as
holding the same views on the ques-
tion as did the mayor.
The subject of interest to the at
tending delegation was then broached
BY the mayor. who stated that
Wednesday and Thursday had been
set as the days FOR hearing the views
of citizens on the Sunday closing ordi-
nance. He said that he had his own
private convictions as to what should
be done In the matter, but that he did
not intend to consider them at all and
that he called the meeting for the pur-
pose Of finding out what the majority
OF the people wanted. He then called
for an expression of opinion. Harry
L. Shapard was the first one to take
the floor. He said:
shapard Heard From.
II want to protest against closing
the saloons on Sunday. There is no
state law requiring this to be done,
and you are working an injustice on
the saloon keepers of Missoula. Peo-
pie have been coming In here from the
outside. spending Sunday. and going
out OF town on Monday. Few OF them
will stay over here on Sunday now.
The people in the liquor business are
bearing a heavy burden at the present
time. believe our saloons are con-
heard Of any saloon keepers having
been In court for five years. They
are representative citizens and have
the city's good at heart The effect
Of your action will be that lot OF
bottled goods will be sold on iSatur-
day night and you will see lot OF
men drinking out of bottles on the
streets Sunday. There Is no state
law that makes you take this actior
ana ! think you will be putting the
cart before the horse"
Patterson Speaks.
Attorney John f. Patterson then
arose and stated that he had been
appointed by the Federated Brother
hood OF Churches In Missoula to ap-
pear before the council and present a
resolution asking that the ordinance be
passed. Mr.. Patterson said:
Il do not think the council will have
any trouble In finding out what the
sentiment In Mlssoula ls on this sub
ject. l believe that the city council
wants to make Missoula the best town
there Is, and II there is anything that
can be done to accomplish this, ! think
the council will take the necessary
steps. A short time ago, gambling
was running wide open in Missoula.
Public sentiment put stop to 1t. Pub
lie sentiment has been gradually grow
Ing. You can see that by the way
the people organized to put through
the commission form Of government.
At that time the people showed what
their sentiment was along this line.
The heavy vote for the commission
form OF government was as far from
the saloon element as possible. Broth
erhoods have been organized In all OF
the churches and have decided that
they. must work out better things for
Missoula. We organized for the COM
mission form of government election
and have heen growing stronger since
that time. This IL no sudden wave,
but Ia steady growth, and think
you will find. II you investigate, that
the majority Ia for the ordinance. The
other night we held meeting at
tended by several hundred, and the
expression Of opinion there would
leave little doubt In your minds as to
where the majority Of the people stand
on this question. 1t doesn't seem to
ma as IL this IL n dehatahle question