Evening journal., 1913-12-16
QUIZ SOCIETY
HEADS ABOUT
US. LICENSES
Solicitor Wants to Know Why
They Are Held If Booze"
Isn't Sold
GIVES ALL CHANCE
TO PLEAD GUILTY

Officers of the Eleventh Ward DEM
ocratic League, accompanied by Rob-
ert G. Harman as their counsel, the
officers of the Democratic League
with John G. Gray as counsel. and
the officers OF the Fraternal Order OF
Eagles with Sylvester ID. Townsend,
Jr., as counsel. appeared before City
Solicitor Daniel o. Hastings In his
Office yesterday afternoon In answer
to summons served upon them by po-
lice officers on Saturday evening. The
club officials were summoned before the
city solicitor to explain for what pur-
pose they had purchased government
liquor licenses II not for the sale or
liquor at the clubs or secret organ.
izations.
Each set Of officials was given a
hearing separately I'm Mr.. Hastings
private Office, and he was assisted by
Deputy City Solicitor John +. Lynn,
who took an active part In the pro-
ceedings
The officials were given to under.
stand. Il Is understood, that should
they come before the court and plead
guilty to the charges Of selling liquor
without license they Would be let
off with the customary fine IN such
cases, but that II they refused TO do
this the authorities would proceed 10
( get evidence against them which will
be used IN Connection with evidence
now in his hands and would con.
vict as many as possible The city
solicitor made It plain that the sell
ing of liquor by the clubs and other
organizations must end, and that he
intended to go down the list OF thirty
three clubs which have purchased Fed
eral licenses from top to bottom, In
order as they purchased the licenses
The clubs which oppose his action
will be prosecuted and the liquor sell.
ing will be forcibly stopped
Mr. Hastings asked a number Of
questions relative to the disposition
Of liquor at the clubs, some OF which
the officials were prepared to answer
and others that they we're not pre-.
pared TO answer at the advice OF their
counsel. II is expected that some OF
them viii be recalled before the city
solicitor at a future date to max,
replies TO questions which they were
not prepared 10 answer yesterday.
City Solicitor Hastings. at the be
ginning of his questions, made II cleai
that he Is not trying to delve int
their private affairs. but that Ia
prosecuting officials of the city dc
sire to convict those who have bee
Violating the liquor laws
1t Is reported that some of the elut
: and secret organizations are going !
hold conference to discuss
a proposition Of barring policemen fro
!, their club houses unless the ONCE
e have warrants. il being contended
lt them that the officers have no rig
b to force admittance into the eli
b houses without warrants.
e The hearings have aroused wi
g lspread interest as there are about II
1000 men in the city who are mer
bers Of the various clubs involved.
r. is reported that when the officei
p searched one of the club houses G
Sunday they went into the buffet an
turned on two taps to see II they weT
connected. When the taps wer
turned beer poured out
Mr. Hastings this morning refuse
20 make any statement concerning tn
Hearings. He will hear several othe
club officials this afternoon. and th
hearings will continue unit the entir
list OF 33 clubs is exhausted.