Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-10-22
MAYSON HOLDSUP
LOCKER CLUB
CLOSING
Advises Council Not to Enforce
Order Until Court Reaches
Decision.

city Attorney Mayson advised today
that the order of council closing four
locke clubs be not enforced until a
decision by the supreme court on the
in1urctions against the city preventing
the closing of these clubs under a for
n1er act. But as the action of council
Yesterday was taken on the authority of
new act by the legislature. Mr.. May
son said he would not wait very long
on the supreme court He said the or
der of council could be enforced under
The new charter amendment by an an
peal to the superior court for amend
nents to the injunctions.
Glooms stalked around the four clubs
today-the Georgia Athletic. the
Knights of the Mystic Ark, the South
ern and the Bees, for only an approval
of the order of council by the mayor is
needed to make it final, and there is no
doubt that Mayor VIM will approve it.
The members and officers of the Press
club and the Central club are also I'M
comfortable, for the police committee of
council has delayed action on these for
two weeks.
Nine of the locker clubs were granted
permits at the meeting of the council
Yesterday afternoon. The Piedmont
Driving club. the Atlanta Athletic. the
NJ and M, the Elks, the Standard, the
Terrace. the Eagles, the Moose and the
Beavers clubs did not file their petitions
in time. But Chairman w. G. Hum
phrey. of the police committee. said
these would be investigated and report
ed on at the next meeting of council.
Chambers For Clubs.
In enforcing the new charter amend
ment, Chairman Humphrey and his
committee won out in the council YES
terday, despite a bitter fight for the
clubs led by Alderman John E. McCleI-
land and Councilman Aldine Chambers
and Claude c. Mason. All declared that
the police committee had to fight a
strong combination. for it was the first
time that Councilman Chambers and
Alderman McClelland have been on the
same side of any question this year.
From the discussions of the various
officials, a spectator would have i'm
agined that the council was struggling
with deep and Weighty problem But
II was very simple. Before the council
secured additional authority from the
legislature number of clubs were able
10 run despite the objection of the
council When the authority was Sc
cured the committee proceeded to try
TO close number of clubs which they
branded as masquerading barrooms. All
the opposition was merely an effort to
keep these clubs from being closed
The only objection to the report of
the police committee is that the mem
hefs and officers of some of these clubs
nave political influence, and they are
exercising it" declared Alderman James
Z, Warren.
Not a Club Meeting Law"
You admit that there is not locker
club in the. city complying with the
state law" said Councilman Chambers
to Alderman Warren. II want to know
how you reconcile your action in grant
Ing permits to some of them with your
oath Of Office"
u could get enough OF you polltl-
clans to agree with me l would move to
close them ALL, replied Mr.. Warren. Il
can't do that so l am trying to do the
best | can
Alderman McClelland then wanted to
close them all. But he was persuaded
not to make such motion.
Councilman Mason insisted that the
h. - =
dence upon which it closed these clubs.
He said the sessions of the committee
were executive, but that the council
men ought to know why the clubs were
being closed. The committee declined
10 give this information. The vote on
the Georgia Athletic club was IA to IA.
Mayor Pro TEN Gambler cast the decid-
ing vote to close the club.