The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-07-11
Cafes, Found Selling
Liquor, Are Wrecked,
Says Mayor
EXECUTIVE RAN
OPEN CITY ONCE
Michigan Nj an Elk
plains Why Hi" Gill
Put the Lid" On

L. r. Stewart. OF Battle Creek. a
member OF the Michigan Dry Cam
paign committee. in travelling
through the west, made II point
TO interview "Hi" Gill. mayor OF
Seattle. on the prohibition ques'
ton.
Gill was convinced not only that
prohibition was a success, bat was
enforcible In a city OF 400. 900. where
conditions two years ago were al
most identical with those now exist.
ing In Detroit.
He had been mayor OF a wide
open town such as Detroit now Is,
but later was elected on the law
enforcement program. How Mr.
Stewart found 1t. Is contained In
the following interview. which he
sent TO the Wayne County Dry
Campaign committee:
II voted against prohibition In
Washington" Mayor Gill told me,
because conditions here had been
and feared the effect. Of prohibition
on business. Most OF the business
men voted against It, too.
man in Seattle who isn't In favor OF
the prohibition law, unless he Ia
fnanciaily interested in the liquor
extortionste rents from saloons have
been cut on are angry about il.
Prohibition has been a great bene-
~ 10 our state and city. From my
s5perisnce' ! can can say tina, the mar ian
TO fully and fairly comprehend
Mayor Gtirs changed attitude, u IL
iii" OH was elected mayor some
years ago on platform declaring
for a wide-open town. lie gave jus,
that. His chief OF police retired
court. The town was too open" and
Mayor Gin was recalled by the peo-
pie. Last fall. he again became a
candidate on the theory that Seattle
wanted closed town. and tho law
enforced lie promised to enforce tho
prohibition law. MAYOR Gill IS keep
ing his promise-with a vengeance
whenever liquor Is found In - drug
eumstances convincing that the place
IL a legal nuisance" II Is wrecked
by the police Bars. counters. tables
chairs stock In fact everything is
taken out OF the place and tho hui
ing closed. Mayor ON said: we
wreck them first. and argue after
wards"
saw the Gsroid cafe. one Of the
sweiiest places In the city. owned
and operated by former saloon
keeper. and supposed TO be powerful.
cause they had found quantity of
liquors I'm a sofa In the owners pri-
vate Office, and also In the garbage
can. and other proper and improper
places for storing IL. In all, the po-
lice found over i've barrels OF beer.
and about 100 quarts OF whisky. That
was the evening OF June 20. June FL.
when I saw the swell Joint" plumb
ers. under police direction. were dis
connecting all removable plumbing
fixtures and when the Job was done
only noors and bare walls remained.
The sale OF liquor in Seattle Ii haz-
ardous business. Mayor GIL IL max
ing good on his promise to enforce
the law, and Ia demonstrating that
II can he enforced In big city
In referring TO the visible effects
OF prohibition. he said There has
been just one drunken man In my
office since January I. Before that.
day" II 7 can help you people In
liquor traffic. Just let me know: I'll
a yesr more In office. and I'll enforce
the law In Seattle. and when I get
out OF office. I'm going to keen UP my
daht against the liu.ior traffic.