The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-02-01
HAND OF LIQUOR
INTERESTS seen
IN COUNCIL
Body Refuses To Hold Up Petition To
Amend Watson Ordinance Until
People of District Vote On
the Proposal.
Whisky Folk Fearful of Effect Such
Precedent Would Have-Refer-
endum To Take Place, However.

Notwithstanding the action OF the
common council, Tuesday night, In re-
tusjng to defer action on the petition
of Albert Meloche to have his proper
ty on Grand River-ave., near HUDSON
taken out of the restricted district
the business men and other interest
ed citizens OF the Ninth precinct OF
the Twelfth ward are going ahead
with their referendum vote on me
proposition, next Monday, az scneoui'
ed
AID. Field, OF the Sixth ward, fled
notice of reconsideration, Wednes-
day morning, at the request OF tue
citizens of the district. This Will hoid
up final action on the report OF the
committee on liquor regulation, deny
ing the petition of Meloche, until next
Tuesday, accomplishing the same re-
suit as was sought by Aid. watson
in last nights meeting.
ct looks to us as though the coun'
Gil were very thin-skinned, said tne
Rev. w. A. Atkinson, OF st. Matthias
Episcopal church, one OF the leaders
In the referendum movement. why
were they thin-skinned? For the
simple reason that the liquor inter
ests were strongly represented at TIE
session. Among others, their atIor-
ney, Allan p. Cox. was present. Tue
councils attitude also reminded US OF
the u. s. senate. SWhen the alder
men are seeking election they lay
stress on the fact that they are the
servants of the people. When they
get ir and feel their power they re-
semble dictators more than servants.
I'VE are going ahead with this
referendum and establish q precedent
that will have a lasting benefit. since
this agitation started, people In otrer
wards have discovered that they are
not protected by the Watson ordi-
nance and other referendums are sure
to follow"
The vote on the proposition was
30 TO 8, Aid. owen and Vernon being
the only members OF the council 10
stand with Watson against the adop-
ton of the report at this time. be
wanted the report left on the table
until the people could vote on the
question, expressing confidence tnat
the vote would be Overwhelmingly
against allowing any more saloons IN
the neighborhood. Their action, IL
was expected, would stand as q pre-
cedent and would forever put a pan
on additional saloons in that neigh
borhcod. The majority OF the alder
men. some of whom have been very
keen for the referendum in the past,
proiessed that they were unable 10
see what was to be accomplished ny
a referendum vote In this case.
Aid O'Brien, himself a saloonkeep-
err. was one OF those who talked
against the referendum. 1t was his
maiden speech. The alderman was
strongly in favor of the restrictions
being maintained, but could see no
necessity for q vote Of the people as
long as the council was willing to
turn down the petition for an adci-
tional saloon.
81 don't see what bearing this refer
endum could have on the council he
said. 1--WE have the question before
ma now and we ought to dispose OF
II I want to say that / am great
believer i'm the Watson ordinance. /
think Il is one OF the best measures
the council has ever adopted. In fact,
7 thing 40 much of 1t that l am going |
In trv to put an amendment through |
embracing the whole city In the re-
stricted district. One of the reasons
am in this council again Is to ,re-
sent some OF the abuse and insinua-
tions that have been heaped on
decent saloonkeepers. ! want to tell
YOU we are all in favor of the Watson
ord nance"
Aid. HARPER, who wants to be
county auditor. thought 1t was car
rying the referendum idea too far to
submit such propositions. Aid. Wat
son was ready with reply.
There are a lot OF people In this
council who have been shouting for
tie referendum" he said. Now when
1t comes right down to it, they get
cold feet"