The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-01-05
CONSTABUlARY FOR
NEBRASKA IS URGED
Statute Indicative of How Omaha
VIII Fight Prohibition.

WIN right ITOinDitOu
Omaha, Neb., Jan. 4.--The courage
and mettle of Governor Keith Neville
VIII be thoroughly tested when it be-
comes his duty after May ! next TO
enforce prohibition IN Omaha. This
city voted wet by over 10. 600 majority.
TWO to one, against prohibition. and
number of men here who have made
money out of liquor sales, clandestne
and otherwise, believe public senti-
ment will not back up any effort to
dry MP the city and that no effective
prosecution or conviction at the hands
OF jury can be secured. Hence there
VIII be determined and prolonged
attempt to keep on selling booze in
Omaha, and the lure OF unusual profit
will he but one OF the impelling i'm
pulses
Dry leaders here believe the Cover
nor will have a very difficult task on
his hands unless he asks or the I.eGis-
lature gives him the right to create
a State constahulary, composed of
men beyond the reach of local in
fluence, who have nerve enough to
conduct vigorous fight 10 suppress
the traffic. a dozen. or possibly, a
less number, of State constables, ii
is urged, Will he able to enforce pro-
hibition in Omaha
Governor Neville viii not be with
out the substantial aid of Omaha cit
liens. The dry organization is being
maintained and 1t will be strength
ened for the task ahead. A fund Of
$4,000 has been pledged to finance
a law enforcement league and more
money will be forthcoming If 1t is
needed. Several wealthy persons in
the city among them a woman, are
dead in earnest on the proposition that
Omaha shall not be the Mecca for the
harvest field of bootleggers.
Tho World Herald. commentIn- re-
Gently on suggestions that Omaha was
not likely to favor law enforcement.
grew indignant and pledged its own
efforts to enforce prohibition, Dry
leaders are hoping that this is not
a transient emotion with its editor,
From almost the beginning the s
o'clock saloon closing law in this city
has been a joke so far as the selling
OF liquor is concerned. 1t has been
disregarded by many of the hotels and
saloon keepers and 1t. has not been
observed by others who hold only gov
erument licenses The World Herald
has not demanded or made a fight
for the enforcement OF this law, and
If 1t does throw its powerful infiu-
ence on $he side of the enforcement
OF prohibition, dry leaders say the
task will be much easier.
No Drouth Anywhere.
Last July the dry federation sent
two detectives In its employ TO make
the rounds OF the places where drink
is sold. Their detailed reports. now
in the archives of the federation, make
very interesting reading. These two
men visited hotel after hotel and
saloon after saloon, beginning their
rounds shortly after 8 O'Clock ron sew
cral evenings. The name Of each
place is listed, and a $50 the character
of the drinks served 10 them and the
number of men found. Many of the
hotels in the city. some OF them well
known. are on the hist. In most Of
the places no drink was obtainahle
in the regular barrooms which are.
under the law. open TO the public
view, although this feature is not
strictly enforced because OF TIE mum
Der Of eating places where liquor is
served. In the case of some OF the
hotels the men were taken to an up
stairs room, where others were Congre-
gated. and there served. In the case
of most Of the saloons where entry
was obtained the drinks were served
In rear or upstairs rooms or in some
nearby shop, entrance to which was
sometimes up an alley. At several
hotels they were unable to md any
thing, but on a second visit to one Of
these they found a different man in
charge. and they got what they asked
for. Several clubs are also on the
list whore beer was bought.
The early closing law interfcred
with very profitable business done
in the evening by n number of no.
teis and restaurants -Tite demand for
service has been such that some Of
the proprietors have made little CON
ccalment, other than discreet cloak
ing Of what was being sold, or selling
liquor. Many Omahan are foreign
born. and they like to do a little So
ciable drinking IN the evening, after
the theater and while they are relax
ing from business cares. They often
represent influential people in the
city and while these have no SYM
pathy with the sort OF things pulled
off In the rough house district Of the
Third Ward, the effect is to relax all
effort at enforcement of the law be-
cause the lower elements are not the
kind of folks who permit any playing
of favorites in law enforcement.
A few weeks ago Lincoln Steffens,
publicist and lecturer. was in the
city. While here he was the guest
of a group OF men interested In So
cial questions. He partook of no meal
before lecturing, but after the meet
ing he asked to be taken to a good
eating place. He was escorted to one
of the big downtown hotels. The
party filed into the dining-room with
wellknown leader of the dry fedora
ton in advance. The moment the
proprietor caught sight OF him he
gave a signal to the walters and the
latter promptly disappeared In a
few moments men were popping out
of n nearby room. hurriedly hitching
on overcoats and smashing hats over
eyes. They thought it was a raid.
with the dry leader leading a posse.
The men belong to club that periodi-
cally meets in one of the hotel din
ing-rooms
Fostered General Iaxity.
This defiance of the early saloon
closing law has naturally created a
laxity that extends into many chan
nels. One of tho liveliest gambling