El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-03-11
On Social Clubs
State and County Officials
Begin Investigations;
Injunctions Sought.


War has virtually been declared on
the socalled Incorporated social clubs in
/ Ell Paso. many Of which are believed by
/ the officials to be running as fuII
( fiedged saloons under the thin dis
gulSe OF a social club charter
state officials, aided by county and
/ city officials, are making rigid inVesti-
SaJOnS into the workings and man
agement of the alleged Incorporated
social clubs. These Investigations
I thus far have borne fruit in the way
Of indictments and Injunction suits.
| More injunctions and indictments are
expected. The report is, that those
clubs which have not followed the law
! to the letter in their organization viii
be enjoined from further carrying on
sales of liquor, which it is claimed
was their principal reason for incor-
poration.
Complaints from saloonmen relative
to the sOcalled social clubs have been
numerous. The argument is that the
salOOnman has to pay high license,
while the organizers or, some OF the
social clubs get out Of paying license.
In addition to that the saloons are
compelled to close at $3.50 while the
clubs can remain open at all hours
and have the benefit Of Sunday sales
when the saloon has to remain closed
all day.
Application for Injunction.
ton against a socalled social club was
filed in the 34th district court Tues
day afternoon by county attorney 2.
r. Price. The defendants named were
w. l. Tuley and +. F. Gowen- Alleg-
ing that the defendants were conduct
ing a disorderly house at which liquor
was sold without the defendants first
obtaining a license the county attOr-
ney asked for an Injunction. A tenn
LOrary writ was ordered issued by
judge Dan NJ. Jackson, and made re-
turnable May 4.
Both the defendants in the injunc-
ton suit were indicted by the grand
jury some time ago on charge OF
keeping a disorderiy house They were
released after furnishing a $500 bond
each pending their trial in the county
court
The place complained Of in the ap-
plication for the injunction is the OLD
Lone Star inn on the county road.
Tuley and GoWen are credited with
having recently operated the place un-
der the title of the Montezuma Bene-
fit association and formerly as the
East Austin Independent social club,
the charter of that club being trans
ferred here from Austin.
Taylor Looks at Club Books
During the IuIl in the New Mexico
boundary hearing, c. W. Taylor rep
resenting the state Of Texas in the
hearing, has, with local officials been
visiting the various incorporated social
clubs 1t is understood that Mr.. lay
Tor, who is one of the office assistants
of the attorney generals office, acted
on instructions of the attorney general.
Under provision OF the law the attor-
ney general has authority to demand
and examine the books and papers of
socaIIed social clubs.
Mr.. Taylor was escorted in his
rounds Of the clubs by sergeant G. e.
Fletcher, of the police department. Not
a club it is stated, refused to show its
books. The object of the inspection is
not known, unless it is part Of the
scheme of investigating social clubs
that has been carried on by the state
officials for some time.