The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-11-03
MANY "CLUBS'
ARE "BLINDPICS,"
SAYS GILLESPIE
These Will Be Wiped Out If New
Licensing Plan is
Adopted
ALSO MEANS CUT IN
NUMBER OF SALOONS
Undesirables Will Be Cut OF to
Make Way For New
Licenses

folce commissioner Gillespie has
definitely decided to recommend To
the council committee on liquor regu.
iation, next spring. that all CLUBS
serving liquor be compelled to take
out saloon license. This, as the
commissioners stated, Friday, will be
part of the plan ne is developing tor
the better regulation of the retail
liquor trade In Detroit.
The results OF licensing clubs will
be twofold. says the commissioner. In
the frst place, 1t will necessitate the
number OF saloons being reduced, AZ
there are several respectable clubs
70 which licenses will be readily
granted, and as the council cannot ex.
coed the present number Of Licenses,
q number Of undesirable saloonkeep.
ers will be forced out of business 70
provide these clubs with licenses.
Secondly, the "blind-pigs" or drink
ing clubs organized for the purpose
Of supplying their members with
drinks after hours and on Sundays.
will be closed.
The commissioner does not intend
his action to embarrass the better
class Of clubs, such as the Detroit,
Yondetega, Harmonic. Fellowcraft.
Printers, and others where liquor is
served for the accommodation of the
members and the proceeds 60 towards
the maintenance Of the institutions,
but he aims IL directly at the drink.
ing clubs which are organized and op.
Grated by individuals for the purpose
of evading saloon regulation and the
yearly license fee OF $500. But In go
ing after these drinking clubs the
commissioner is forced to place all
the clubs In the city serving liquor
In the "blind-pig' class, and to deal
with them as such.
The commissioner is gathering data
on every club In Detroit, and when
the proper time comes he will turn
this information over to the council
LIQUOR committee for consideration,
with the suggestion that the alder
men use their own discretion In fix
ing the amount Of the club license
fee, which will likely be less than
$500.
The fact that | have decided TO
ask the liquor committee, next spring,
to license clubs where liquor is serv-
ed, does not mean that the police de-
partment will leave these clubs alone
until that time" said Mr.. Gillespie.
IF find that the club evil Is grow
ing or the privilege ID being abused
I will take immediate steps to rain
and close up some places. The prac'
tice of organizing drinking clubs Is
an old one in this city, and 1t will
take time to stamp them out. Any
individual wishing to organize such a
club has been permitted to do so by
Incorporating the club and paying a
fee of $40 and the federal license fee
Of S25 year. Then tickets or keys
are sold to a limited number OF men,
bers. They 60 there whenever they
want 70 drink These clubs as a gen-
eral rule are open day and night,
Sunday included"
It is understood that there are 300
or 400 such drinking clubs In Detroit.
Some Of them are operated by men
put out Of the saloon business by the
LIQUOR committee as undesirables.
II the better class Of clubs are COM
PEELED to take out liquor licenses,
they will be under police regulation,
the same as saloons. They will not
be allowed to serve liquor on Sundays
and holidays or after hours. The
Yondotega, one Of the SWEETEST
and most exclusive clubs In the city,
would be compelled to change its
present quarters on Jeherson-ave..
because It Is within 400 feet OF q
school.