The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1913-11-07
CIGAR STORES
IN SALOONS. !. TO
BElVESTICATED
Police and Fire Commission viii
Get Opinion from City
Attorney.
CLAIMED 'ILLUSION"
FRONTS ARE USED
Question as to Whether Cigar Stores
Located in Saloon Fronts Can Be
Kept Open During Sundays and
Hours on Week Days When Saloons
Are Supposed to Be Closed.


asked to give an opinion to the po-
lice and fire commission as to
whether or not cigar stores in front
of saloons may be kept open after
hours and on Sundays when the sa-
looms are closed. Chairman Cofey
of the police and fire commission was
instructed to take the matter up with
City Attorney Morgan at Monday
nights meeting Of the commission.
Among members Of the commission
the opinion prevails that the cigar
stores cannot be kept open after II
o'clock on week days or on Sunday
without violating both a city ordi-
nance and a state law.
At the police and fire commission
session Monday night the opinion was
expressed by members that the cigar
stores were kept open merely as a
blind to permit evasion Of the IL
o'clock and Sunday closing laws.
Reference was made to the so-cailed
illusion fronts and it was claimed that
they are so arranged that a clear
view of the back of the bar could not
be had from the street. This is held
to be a violation of both the state
and city laws.
Three Virginia saloons are affect
ed by the cigar store agitation. All
are first-class bars. 81 have no de-
sire," said one of the proprietors
Tuesday, Ito evade any regulation the
city authorities may make for the con-
duct of the retail saloon business in
this town and my place has not been
open at any time. I don't see how
we can be compelled to close the cigar
stores when cigar stocks are readi-
ly accessible at all hours and on Sun
day at a dozen places over the city.
1 am willing to throw the doors of
my bar room wide open and petition
them off from the cigar store by any
suitable wire screen, but believe it
would be unfair to make US close up
entirely. I have always tried to re-
spect the wishes and the policy of the
city council in the conduct of my
business, while l am not an advocate
of closed town. Virginia is the
only town on the iron range that is
closed today"
Another disinterested liquor dealer
discussing the matter said: "The re-
tail liquor dealers of this town have
been living up to the law regarding
II o'clock and Sunday closing pretty
we'll. There may have been some ex-
cept1ons. There always are. l do
not believe in a closed town, but I
notice there is just as much drunken
ness about the city on Sunday as ever
before. Virginia is closed only so far
as the majority of the saloons are
concerned on Sunday. The pigs do a
thriving business and they do not pay
a license Of $1,000 year either as
does the retail liquor dealer. I would
like to see the retail liquor dealers
of this town get together and organ.
ize an association to look after theil
welfare. This bushes must depend
on public sentiment for it's life. W.
cannot buck up against majority Of
the people. A majority of the people
don't want Virginia made a Hicken
vile, but there is constant agitation
and / am informed now that the rails
ing Of the license or the cutting down
of the number of saloons is going tt
be one Of the issues at the Februar!
election. We have too many saloon
and I would be in favor Of reducing
the number of licenses, but to rails
the license fee will accomplish moth
ing to remedy the situation now exist
ing here.