The Detroit times., 1913-02-19
LIQUOR SOLONS
NOW DECLARE
FOR DRY CASINO
Saloon Aldermen Lined Up by
Barnett, Who Makes An
other Quick Shift
FOR CITY OPERATION
OF PARK PRIVILEGES
With All Opposition Apparently
Withdrawn, Scheme Seems to
Have Clear Sailing


Aid. Eddie" Barnett, Third ward
diplomat, is the bobbing cork in coun-
ell matters.
The smiling alderman rides ques-
ton I'D and down on the wave OF
popular approval with the utmost
serenity. Eddie" is not TO be caught
mapping with a dead issue In his
pocket However. despite his knowl-
edge OF city AFFAIRS, Barnett is still
cub in council politics.
First Eddie" was for municipal
operation OF the park concessions.
Then he decided that IL would be i'm
possible for the city TO operate the
Belle Isle casino to the satisfaction
OF the public He opposed the meas
ure as chairman OF the parks and
boulevards committee. but Aid. John
Thompson slipped one over on Bar
nett and got him 10 sign committee
report favoring the municipal oper'
alton OF all the park concessions, ex-
cept the pony privilege and the boat
ing privilege, the latter being left out
OF the report by mistake. Ii was
later incorporated In the report
adopted by the common council. which
also instructed the park commission
er TO include In his estimates an
amount sufficient 10 maintain and
operate the privileges on Belle Isle
and In Palmer park for one year.
Eddie" winked wisely when he
was told that the committee slipped
one over" on him.
He who laughs last laughs best"
said the alderman.
His next move was TO ask the aid
ermen on the parks and boulevards
committee to recind their action OF
the previous meeting. They fatty re-
fused. Barnett then announced that
he would show his nerve by opposing
the measure single-handed In the next
council meeting. but at the eleventh
hour he changed his mind. bobbing
up serenely Tuesday evening. az an
advocate OF municipal operation OF
the park concession, which means the
elimination OF beer on Belle Isle.
After the council meeting. Barnett
gathered the aldermanic saloonkeep-
ers, Wenzel, Rutter, Jakel, O'Brien,
Behlow ard Knapp, ostensibly TO cor
rect the erroneous impression that
the saloon men in the council were
opposed to "dry" island. Eddie
put them all on record as favoring
municipal operation of the island
casino.
Then Eddie" grandly announced
that there ought TO be one place
where the voter and his wife and chill,
dren can go and not come into con-
tact with beer and rum.
IL am opposed to the sale OF beer
on the island, and | am In favor OF
municipal operation OF park conces-
sions," said Eddie" adding that he
hoped the board OF estimates would
allow the necessary $4,000 asked to
finance the venture. The other sa-
loon aldermen agreed with Barnett.
although some OF them at heart were
not willing converts" judging by
statements made In previous meet
ings.
AS the matter stands now the com
mon council, including Aid. Barnett,
is unanim ously in favor OF municipal
operation OF park concessions. II re-
mains to be seen IL Barnett Is sin
cere in his approval of the munkSipal
operation plan, or II he is carefully
nursing Ills grudge until he can get
a crack" at the appropriation when
the matter comes before the board
OF estimates. Barnett was formerly
president OF the board and still has
strong influence there.
The Kiefer-Penniman ordinance.
limiting the number OF passengers in
cars. is another measure that Barnett
straddled. He introduced the ordi-
nance With great eclat a few weeks
ago. Then following a storm OF dis
approval and Eddie" quietly passed
up the ordinance.
Penniman 'kidded' Barnett about
his lack of enthusiasm for the ordi-
nance.
There Is always somebody around
ready to steal political thunder re-
marked the assistant corporation
counsel, but when they think they've
got a cuckoo and hatch a duck In
stead. there is nothing doing
"Oh. | have not turned it down,
explained Barnett. but you will have
to show mo first"