Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-06-07
RIG HOTELS READY TO
FIGHT LIQUOR DEALERS
Proprietors Resent Associa-
tion's Effort to Make Them
Abolish Music and Dancing.

Efforts the Retail Liquor Dealers Asso-
citation is making to induce proprietors OF
large hotels in this city to abolish All
music and dancing features in connection
with the serving OF drinks are likely, IN
a short time, to cause open warfare IN
stead of parley and consultation.
The association, which inaugurates the
campaign on Its own initiative, refuses 20
discriminate between any classes ol
iicenee holders They insist that the law
is tbs law whether II be in a small bar
room or in an elaborate roof garden In
hrst-class hotel
on the other hand the hotel proprietors
insist that there is nothing unlawful IN
the manner in which they conduct thelr
places and that there is no reason why
thew should be made to suffer for the
actions of license holders less responsible
than they. They apparently are ready to
feht for what they consider their rights
The License Court, consisting OF Judges
Stake and Patterson, has declared no
position In the matter A forecast OF
what their action may be Is round IN
statement made by Judge Stake and
ooncurred In by Judge Patterson during
the March sitting Of the court.
At that time Judge Stake pointed out
that there might be a ground for dis
crlmlnation between the high-class nos
tolry which maintains music and dane
ing with the serving of food and drinks
for the entertainment Of many patrons
who are for a time making the hotel
their bona f1de home and the hotel or
cafe which maintains the same features,
not for the entertainment Of legitimate
patrons who are making the place their
home but as an attraction to those VINO,
IL the entertainment did not exist, might
not patronlze that place or any place oil
q similar nature.
II is possible that in the light OF the
Developments of the last week and the
unusual nature of the attendant circum-
stances, the License Court may take
different view of the matter. The law OF
1881 Is not as specific as It might be con-
cernng the matter and there Is ground
under It for a wide difference of interpre-
tatlon In which the court may be governed
by no other restriction than n policy for
the public welfare.
It was pointed out today by an eminent
authority that the sense OF the law would
seem to be that any entertainment in
place where liquors are served is unlaw-
full when the entertainment ceases to be
incidental and becomes feature with the
drinking incidental thereto. This inter-
probation has been adhered to in many
instances, notably In a decision handed
down by Judges Breezy and Sulzberger
several years ago.
A manager OF one OF the leading hotels
on South Broad street said today that
tho insnuation against the conduct of
his hotel implied in the criticism of 1t
by the liquor men was something he
deeply resented.
This investigation is Joke" he said.
"They can send a hundred detectives
here II they want to. They won't find a
single intracton Of the law that we are
aware Of. Let them come ahead. They
won't be able TO hurt us or force US to
close in hundred years"
The association determined to send out
detectives, at a regular monthly meeting
held yesterday afternoon in Apollo Hall,
1925 North Broad street, which was large
ly attended.
I'VE are going to do all in our power to
abolish dancing in places where liquor
licenses are held" James A. Logan, pres
ident of the county organization, declared
Our members have agreed to abide by our
ruling and the brewerles also will support
us. The big hotels will not be exempt
from our crusade"