The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-09-18

reference to speakeasies in wet terri I
tory. The state liquor traffic in |
spector charged that more than 100
speakeasies were running in Column
bus The regular licensed dealers
have been violating the law. Condi- /
tions became so intolerant that an in !
vesttgation was authorized by the
city council and 1t discovered facts
that will startle the whole state.
Mayor Karb was hastily summoned
from his Michigan camp where he
was on his vacation. and in confer
ence with other local leaders who were
responsible for the lawless conditions
issued an order for a cleanup. The
Columbus Dispatch stated that unless
the cleanup came the mayor would
he recalled under the new charter and
with the aid of the women, who now
have the chance to vote In Column bus.
Bv a vote of twenty-four 10 one,
the city council of Cleveland authorize
cd a special committee to investigate
alleged police dickering with gangs
ters IN connection with murder in
the sixth city. Voicing public de-
mand that the city return to an ERA
of decency." two couuciimen natiy
charged that city hall interference
with the police department has dis
rupted the organization and that the
bars are down to practically every
species of vice and crime.
Among the charges made by coun~
cilman are that speakeasies are run
ming all over the city, though IT has its
quota Of licensed saloons; that women
are permitted to ply their solicita-
tons: that gambling Is openly per
nttted: that all the vices flourish.
VIII Deny Licenses.
Following this action by council
the newspapers Of Cleveland print
interviews with a number OF politi-
clans and officials, many of whom
pass the luck License Commits
sioner Frause. however. said:
Grill rooms and saloons hahitu-
ally harboring sangsters and other
UNDERSTANDS are going to be put out
of business this fall by the county
licensing com mfssioners. No grill
room, or saloon proved to re the haven
of gangsters will get a license. this
November II is getting TO he a ques-
ton whether the decent people OF
Cleveland or the crooks and gunner
are going to run the city and one
wav TO clean up the undesirable ele-
nent is TO clean out their nests.
Several Cleveland downstown sa.
! looms and grill rooms have been
reading on thin icc for two years
Some of them obtained license last
clean bills OF health.
II the investigation in Cleveland Is
| conducted thoroughly II Will dount-
( legs be discovered there as in Column
I hus that the license dealers are violat-
/ Ing practically all the laws regulating
the traffic and that speskeastes are
fourishirg The last annual report or
/ the inspection denartment Of the
state license hoard on file in the
! 1Fs Oh that dUrfn r.
! the year eoc cases against speakeasies
were prosecuted, and 196 convictions
/ followed There was A total of f.o2T
r,r0secuttorz against sDeakessv and
regular dealers. Two-thlrds OF all the
| prosecutions ard convictions were in
the ten big wet saloon counties OF the
/ state.
The question naturally arises. how
y srea keasies flourish in wet territory
under a license system, The reason
! Ia manifest The license dealers are
violating the law constantly. naturally
they don't desire OF fers to sell LIQUORS
without paying for the license. They
fear however. TO aid the officers In
prosecuting the speakeasins because
the speakeasv keeper would retaiiate
nd ioin In movement to prosecute
the regular license dealer, The license
dealer fearing that this might result
help prosecute the speakeasv keeper.
They iotn in a common effort to
prevent all laws regulating or con-
trolling the liquor traffic from being
enforced This is one Of the reasons
why speakeasies flourish in wet terri
tory,
Safer I'm Wet Territory.
Another reason is that sale of liquor
whore there are no saloons is much
looms are found The bootlegger and
speakeasv man, therefore, take advan-
tage Of saloon conditions 10 MY Their
trade with more afetv Officials o.
wet towns are almost always wet men
too. while officials of dry towns are
nearly ALWAYS dry.
But Cleveland and Columbus are
not undergoing UNIQUE experiences
In every saioon-ridder city In Ohio
the same conditions abound Eigh
of the eivhtv-eisht counties in ths
state have three-fourths of all the sa
looms and contribute two-thirds OF al
the murders. When, in 1912. the PEG
ME of the state. voted on the license
issue. the license law touted as a grea
model and ~ taking the saloon ou
of politics The saloon has not beer
taken out of notifies.
Nor has Ohio anv peculiar situa
ton In Massachusetts. which has
far better license lAv than Ohio, Their,
ere two and one-third times as man.
sneakeasies In wet territory as in DIR.
territory.
IT viii he recalled that Indian;
cities have undergone investigation
and exposures, in all of which fquo
dealers blind tt~er keepers, owner
Of resorts and INSCRIPTIONS pon,ician
have figured. and that some of tn
:. guilty have gone to the penitentiary
: while others are on the road thither
Indianapolis is now In the midst o
! another scandal. Claude NJ. Worley
l., special Investigation attached to tn
! criminal court In answering tif
state board Of accounts as to the issu
9 OF his appointment and salary. make
statements which look very mucl