Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-02-11
By HENRY B. LOOS
ARTICLE II.

Although the Slough revival. now draw
ing to a close at Atlantic City. Is gen.
orally credited to be movement intended
to effect municipal reform, members OF
the evangelistic party are unanimous in
asserting that the Rev. Or. Henry W.
Slough Is not a reformer but a converter
Of men. Reform, they say is "A by-product
OF the business of saving souls
Whether or not this is true the revival
services have aroused a wave of reform
sentiment among a large and influential
body of citizens of Atlantic City, and
from present indications it will not only
prove powerful enough TO overthrow the
political forces which rule the resort but
will see a decisive Tightening and clamp
ing down of the lid"
The saloon interests and the politicians
assert that with a law prohibiting the
sale of liquor on Sunday Atlantic City
has all the reform 1t can stand. Further
Efforts along this line, they say, will
result In a rapid wane in the popularity
OF the resort.
The total assessed value of real estate
and personal property in Atlantic City
Is about SlOO,OOO,O 900, OF this amount, more
than so per cent comprises hotel prop
critics, there being more than 1000 of
these establishments in the resort. Among
them are more than a dozen magnificent
lbeach-front hotels. of when az least five
I oAAolh NiAt AfaAlllh lluSlflIlta bl tic
world.
The Hotel Traymore, for instance, offers
an excellent example of the magniiCence
( of these hotels. II is the largest fireproof
resort hotel In the world, is II stories in
height and comprises 200 rooms and an
equal number of baths There is the
lobby. fioored and trimmed with marble;
the fountain forecourt and innumerable
parlorettes. sheltered angles and hooks,
where one finds everything at hand TO
provide the ultimate i'm comfort and
luxury.
Similar praise might also be given the
Marlborough Blenheim, the Chalfonte, the
Rudolf and other famous hotels of the
resort. The appointments OF these hotels
are only to be rivaled in the places of
royalty consequently, one may find these
establishments the hosts 10 the wcalthiest
ard most prominent men and women of
America at any time Of the year. They
come from the Pacific coast, from Canada
and from the far South. as well as from
the cities of the East, and these guests
pay from 81 TO $50 a day for their accom-
modations.
The shops which line the Boardwalk of
Atlantic City are numerous and thrive
remarkably. but there is this difference
between these interests and those of the
hotels; should the popularity OF At
lantic City wane, the proprietors OF these
stakes and seek another resort; but the
hotels worth S6O,OOOOO0 are not removable
and should visitors cease to come TO
Atlantic City these investments would
be almost a complete loss. One would
naturally expect that those who stand
behind these hotels would be the first 10
combat any movement calculated TO de-
tract from the popularity of the city.
"CLEAN-UP'' FAVORED.
With this in mind, II is significant 10
note that the management of every one
81 the large beach-front hotels Is in favor
of reform, and asserts that II the move
ment Is not carried 10 a prudish extreme
they will be heartily in favor OF any
movement to clean up the city.
The reason for this attitude Of the hotel
interests Is not hard to find. Several
years ago the law prohibiting the selling
- liquor on Sunday In Atlantic City was
tnforced. Since that time the sunday
crowds "a the resort have steadily in
creased r. magnitude, the money on de-
Easlf in Atlantic City banks and trust
e1Il nauIes has steadily grown ana the