Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-04-12
CHICAGO SOCIETY
WOMEN NABBEO
IN CABARET RAIDS
One Jumps from Window,
Others Offer Jewels and
Money to Be Let Go.
ALL SUBPOENAED BEFORE
VICE BOARD FOR HEARING
Managers, Performers and
Guests Asked to Tell About
Suggestive Songs, Etc.

CHICAGO. April 12.-Agents of the
Illinois Vice Commission late last
night and early today brought con-
sternatlon TO the fashionable guests
OF two downtown esaurants-Rectors
and The States-agalnst whose repu-
tation there rested no question except
the nature of their cabaret entertain
ments.
From these cafes only the managers
and members of the cabaret shows
were subpoenaed They were ques-
toned by the Vice Commission as to
suggestive songs which are alleged
features of cabarets.
From the tenderloin men and women
sight-seers out Summing were
gathered and brought before the com
mission One woman, in hysterica
fear of disgrace, tried to jump from
a window when the invaders. with
their subpoenaes. reached a restau-
rant in the vice district. Another fell
on her knees and wept. A man
jammed a roll OF bills into the hands
of an officer
Take this, for Gods sake!" he
cried, "and let my party go. You
don't know what this means
Officers tried to keep the rushing
mob, some weeping, some laughing
Historically. from the doors. and
finally restored order. Then they
were bundled into automobiles and
taken downtown.
From some of them the senators
drew reluctant admissions that few
of the songs and dances might be-
suggestive and perhaps" had bad
effect upon the diners A girl singer.
crying as she testified asserted she
never would sing I'm My Harem." a
song Lieutenant-G Governor O'Hara
was particularly inquisltive about.
The manager of a well-known res
taurant said the restaurant business
had degenerated into a vaudeville
show and he did not know when it
would stop.
After investigators and memerbs
of stunning" party said they had
on Twenty-frst street the commits
sion voted TO recommend to Mayor
Harrison that the cafes license be
revoked and will call the attention
of the states attorney to the test
mony of the manager. who said moth
ing indecent went on.
Senator Beall said he saw girls not
more than fifteen or sixteen years inn
bibing mixed drinks in the cafe, and
some of them were more or less in
toxicated
The names of several of those trap
ped in the red light district saloons
and cafes appear in Chicago's Blue
Book They gave as their excuse
that they were out Summing.
The manner of the raids was the
most spectacular ever witnessed in
Chicago. Shortly after midnight
Lieutenant Governor O'Hara loaded
his Investigators into autos and or
dered them to serve subpoenas on en-
tertainers and guests alike.
Many Women Weep.
These witnesses were rushed to the
Hotel La Sale in automobiles and
Immediately called before the COM
mission ana asked to tell of scenes
in the cafes. Women were weeping
and the men were protesting.
Friends and relatives of the men
and women caught in the dragnei
stormed the rooms of the commission
striving to prevent the appearance oi
those served with subpoenaes on the
witness stand.
A young married woman from
Peoria, Ill. was a witness. She ad-
mitted her husband was at home, ano
that she had a daughter 10 years old
Would you have taken her to the
resort" she was asked by the lieu
tenant governor.
God forbid" was her reply. ~
only went myself TO see the sights
worse than you can see In the best
theatres and cabarets any night, but
1t is no place for baby"
The majority of the women wit
nesses admitted that they were mar
ried, but were out for lark. Several
Of them are more or less prominent
figures in Chicago society life.
A woman artist of distinction, whose
home was in Philadelphia, was one OF
those caught in the net She said that
she was simply out to get impress
sions, and that she saw nothing in
artistic in any Of Chicago's gilded
cafes which she had visited