The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-05-26

It was learned today that by means of the simple scheme of changing their names, five local clubs against which re- monstrances had been filed. were recently granted Iiquor licenses by the county com-1 mlssioners. The action was kept tquiet and Attorney A. J. Merritt, who represented local clergymen who demonstrated. was surprised when informed by The Farmer that the licenses had been granted.
 The names of the clubs which received licenses are: Akron club, formerly known as Acorn club; Borough, formerly known as East End; Longacre,
 7erly called Liberty A. O.: Ho n, formerly called Oxford. anu Keystone, formerI named Royal Social.
 The applications were advertised in. order to comply with the law but be- cause of the change in names the re- molastrants did not suspect these or gan1za1ons were the Identical ones to which objections had been made At torney Henry. Greenstein represented all except the Oxford club.
 The Keystone club is a coIored or ganization but the membership of the other four consists of white persons As the Royal Social club this organiza-
 ton had quarters on Broad street but was denied a, license by the commis4 SlonerS because neighbors remonstrat- ed against the noise made by mem bers Then the club moved to Water street TIT time was again turned down. The plea was made to the connrnis- sfoners that negroes have no place in this city where they can purchase drinks. If they go into a saloon and ask for a glass of beer the bartender says Git will cost you $1.'' They arc not allowed to sit in cabarets and sip cooling beverages. They pleaded that they ought to be given license so they could gather and drink without being mo1ested.
 The scheme adopted was copied from a plan used in Hartford to outwit re- monstrants. The clubs held meetings and voted to change their names. Then new papers were filed with the secretary of state in Hartford and ap- plications were filed for licenses. No remonstrances were filed against the newly named organizations within the time required by law. Thereupon counsel for the five clubs went to the county commissioners to demand n- censes. As no written objection had been filed the commissioners had ne alternative, but to grant the licenses,
 It was understood several months ago that the city administration was opposed toAsome of the clubs which had filed applications. The applica- tionS were pigeon holed after a. blan- ket renonstrance had been filed. Meanwhile just before the last city election was held on the bonding question, word was passed arC and among political workers, that if mem Bridgeport worked hard in favor of the bonds, favorable action might be expected on the license matter
 The club Inembe evidently took this advice to heart for there was great activity in tn esections of East Bridgeport where four of these clubs are located and the majority for ths bonds in the Tenth and Eleventh districts was unusually large. After the election administration leaders withdrew opposition to the clubs.
 Wholesale and retail liquor dealers have been opposed to the mushroom clubs from the first, however. and they were indignant today when they learned of the scheme employed by the organizations. Dealers say it ii unjust that they are forced to pay S75O g. year for a license on Which they can sell only six days a week while clubs, pay s1oO a year and caH dispense liquor on Sundays as well as week days. The objection of the dealers does not apply to bona fidt organizations but to small clubs which 1t is claimed, were formcs solely for the purpose of getting rev. enue for liquor sales.
 Of those included in the original list against which the remonstrance was filed the following applications have been refused by the commission CTS: Golden Inn, Elm Country club of Westport, and Taxpayers Improve Bridgeport Gaelic Athletic club and the Young Emmet clubs were given
 icenses as it was shown that these vereb ona fide organizations and that 10 individuals derived profit from the sale of liquors.