The Washington times., 1913-07-07
BIG SUNDAY TRADE
AT RIVER RESORTS
Excise Law, Making Long Dry
i Spell Violated BY Few Blind
4 Tigers.

After a dry SPELL unprecedented in
the District, the barrooms of the city
threw open their doors to a thirsty
and waiting public promptly at o. clock
this morning. For thirty-one hours
fiom midnight Saturday until : a. m.
today, the lid had been down tight on
all places where Intoxicating liquors
are sold, clubs and hotels included. The
period marked the longest drought in
the history of the District
Police records today show that there
was not a violation or attempted vio-
lation of the Jones-Works excise law
by licensed saloonkeeper, restaurant
proprietor, or hotel man in the Dis
trict yesterday, bearing out the state
ments of the representatives of the
liquor interests tnat they would CO.
operate with the police and Corpora
ton Counsel's office in seeing that the
Sunday-closing paragraph of the new
law was strictly enforced.
Find Gases.
The city, however, was not absolutely
dry, any more than any prohibition
territory is absolutely dry. There were
few attempts to run "speakeasies'
and blind tigers" but. as told in The
Sunday Evening Times. the police had
but little difficulty in locating the
wet spots, and this morning the un-
licensed liquor dispensers were arraign-
ed in Police Court.
The clubs iid not attempt to serve any
intoxicating liquors, and members who
dropped in for their usual Sunday nip
were obliged to take something soft"
In some of the clubs, it was said today
that many members remained until mid
ner1 AnN b. - rnNr1A
be opened for an hour, but so far as the
police could learn the CLUBS We're as
strict in declining to serve members
during the one hour Immediately after
midnight as were the hotels and res
taurartE.
Police records today show that six
persons were arrested for being intoxi-
Gated yesterday. There were four other
arrests shortly after midnight Saturday,
but the police learned that these per-
sons all obtained their liquor before y
o'clock Saturday night. The six who
were intoxicated yesterday said they
obtained the liquor at nearby resorts
in Maryland or had purchased 1t In bot
tie form the night before.
Served As Usual
Members of clubs IN Maryland and
Virginia, where the locker system is IN
vogue, had no difficulty in being served
as usual, although it was said by MEM
bers of the country clubs that the
crowds were no larger, If as large, as
is usual on Sunday.
The river resorts and other places IN
MARYLAND, where liquor is sold Sundays,
did a big business. Many automobile
parties who motored to Washington
from Baltimore and other places for
dinner were greatly disappointed ~hen
informed that no liquor could be served
with the meals.
Recently this business has been a
rather big item with certain hotels and
restaurants sundays. The prop1etors
feel that under the new law they VIII
lose practically all these patrons, as
it is believed that when II becomes
generally known that no drinks are
served here on Sunday, the autofnopHe
parties will select other places as their
destination at meal time on Sunday.
Can Find Tigers.
The police say today that the raids
made yesterday on alleged speakeasies
demonstrates that they can cope with
any Illicit attempt to dispense liquors,
and that when the propFietors of blind
tigers find that they are to be arrest
ed and vigorously prosecuted efforts |
TO violate the law in this manner will |
die a natural death.
While there were six arrests for in |
toxication yesterday, and none the Sun |
day before the police say these figures {
DO not indicate anything, and cannot be (
taken by opponents Of the law as show |
ing that intoxication will increase un- |
der the new regulation.
Under the old law il was not misde- /
meanor TO get drunk. So long as a !
person was not disorderly or helplessly /
under the influence of liquor the police ,
had no right to interfere. Thus, II is /
pointed out there may have been six or /
maybe a good many more cases of in |
toxication which were observed by !
members Of the force the previous Sum
day, but which, under the law did not
warrant action.