Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-03-03
MAYOR DISCLAIMS PART
IN GRAND CLUB DAME
Knows Nothing of Affair .,
Which, 1t Is Charged, Girls
Bought Beer
BEARS HIS HONOR'S NAME
Disavows Connection With Organs.
tion-Says He Knows Nothing
of Event

Mayor Smith today disclamed any co,
nection with last nights sixth annn.
grand enterta lnment and dance Of n.
Thomas r. Smith Republican Club-nars,
in his honor--at which, it was alleged ~.
and whisky were sold to girls in sho,
dresses and for which policemen and olh.,
ofTiceholders sold lottery tickets
He expressed his regret that the ol,.
that bears his name should be criticized n,
alleged infractons of the law and repeaiss
his warning to officeholders not 10 n.
"maced" by political clubs lie added ina,
so far he has not been informed OF M.
charges except through the newspapers
Mayor Smith severed his connection win
the club before he was elected Mayor,
- had no invitation or other informa,i,,
about the entertainment" said Mayo,
Smith. 81 spent the evening at home. IN.
first intmation 7 had that there had bean
an entertainment or any comment abou,
it was this morning.
REGRETS ALLEGED "HoLD-upr
~ regret very much II officeholders a,
| policemen were 'held-up' for tickets
have repeatedly warned the police and Of,
| fceholders not to permit themselves 10 M
| inveiged into disposing of tickets for th,
| sort of thing As ward leader ! warned
them. ! never missed an opportunity d
| do so.
] II 1nNI1lnR ODJeCllOndDle LOOK place Al
| the club il. Is to be regretted very much.
| Denial hat there was any sale Of intox.
| cantS to minors was made today by Actin
| Lieutenant McClintock. of the Germantowr
avenue and Lycoming street police station
in whose jurisdiction the entertainment
| was held.
Two policemen were detailed at the en-.
| tertainment," said Lieutenant McClintock
| "If there had been any sale of liquor to
| minors or siXteen-year-old girls II positivey
| would have been stopped and report mad
| to me. No report of infraction OF the Law
was made | know that the club Is ven
careful itself to see that every proprley
is observed. Possibly there were girls IN
short skirts there, but that Is not unusual
SKIRTS no CRITERION TO AGE
"You know" he added, you can't tell
the age of woman by the shortness Of
her skirt"
The club conducted a lottery in connec.
tion with the social function. which was
held at Quartet Hall. 2717 Germantown ave.
nue. i'm the Forty-third Ward.
The two alleged violations of the law
sale of intoXcants to minors and "raffng'
of prizes-went undisturbed in spite Of tn
presence of many policemen. including sew
eral leutenants. according to non-member'
who were present. Between dances,
was said girls in short skirts made us
| VI lHt supply VI an
beer. which also was depleted by the thlrs
OF policemen and petty officeholders an
| politicians.
MAYORS KIN IN CHARGE
The Mayors brother-in-Iaw Jake Lans
ing was in charge of the entertained
Mayor Smith was not present He was 70
membered. though, by a 'honkey-tonkey
, one-step in his honor.
Drawing for the prizes in the lottery va
held at the height of the entertainment
The prizes were OF the usual rattle" type
ton of coal, gold watch, umbrella, box .
cigars, clock, etc. More than $1,000 and lss
than S25O0, II was estimated, was yielde
by the lottery, which was furthered by N
sale of tickets to policemen and fremen VII
are members Of the club. ~
I Those of the Policemen in the ward VII
D have a high regard for the Mayors Of
- | repeated ultimatum that the police mu
stay out of politics" complained about q
| methods used in disposng of the ticket
A Each bluecoat was furnished with SIS wor'
1 | to sell at 25 cents each, with hint tn'
= 1t would be better to return SIS TO the CIV
). treasury than to report no success in d
= posing of the tickets. Many policem'
e yielded up IS and threw the tickets away,
or saved them in the faint hope that may
- one of the tickets would bear the fuc'
h number bringing ton of coal for the cell
l. or an umbrella for the wife.
s Firemen and other members of the c'
holding municipal jobs received the sar
? treatment.
t Policemen who stayed at home with th'
II wives to have a serious talk about the M
price of food and those who were on du
n missed the time of their lives" Bluecoa
& in their best clothes hobnobbed with m
It who can grant political favors, and Inc
were plenty of pretty girls to go arou
for the dances. Music throbbed from eve
floor.
After the last light had been put 0
and the last merrymakers had wended TN
way home in the early morning snowi
the affair was voted a great success.