Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-01-05
NATIONAL NM!!:; NOTES.
I'ricf Bits oe News and Comments Oh
Men and McnSurcS-"On to
Baltimorc!" is Cry.

Washington, d. C-The Nations
Capital has had month Of enforced
prohibition. But it has been prohi-
bition in name only, for Baltimore
just Il few niles distant has been the
Mecca for hundreds who were unfor-
tunate enough not to lay in bountl.
full supply OF liquors before the new
law went into effect. Almost riotous
scenes attended the closing of Wash.
ingtcn'S saloons the night Of October
3lst. For days men, black and white,
and women, also, In many instances,
formed long lines on the sidewalks
awaiting their turn to "stock up"
Then followed days OF de.irium when
1T seemed almost as If the National
Capital had gone on one grand, old.
fashioned spree, for these wet"
goods stored at home offered easy
temptation to thirsty throats. When
TINS home supply was exhausted, then
'On to Baltimore" became the cry.
Tho electric line between the Two
cities Is the most popular thorough
fare, but crowds have also patroniZed
the two railroad systems, while the
famous Baltimore Pike has borne
throngs whc have made tho trip by
automobile. On one day during tho
month 1t is reported that 2400 round
trip tickets to Baltimore were sold.
and 1t is common report that tho
patronage Of the Washington and
baltimore electric line has just about
doubled since Washington went "dry."
Most OF these round-trip passengers
carry suit cases, satchels, or market
baskets. while others return bearing
just bundles Fifteenth and H
Streets is the corner from which
taese electric trains start, and the
policeman who covers this beat has
had his hands full between two and
sig O'Clock keeping the sidewalk clear
and preventing disorder.
While the electric line has borne
tho brunt OF this extra" November
traffic, the Baltimore and Ohio car
r'ed It's share on trains leaving after
slX O'CLOCK and returning around
midnight. The Pennsylvania trains
carry only their normal number Of
passengers, because their Baltimore
terminus is outside of tho Liquor
district"
The "st. Denis House." just across
the Baltimore county line from Elk
ridge, about thirty miles from Wash
,ngton, has become the real "last
chance house" for motorists return
ing to washington. It's proprietor Is
doing an unprecedented business and
motor ears can be seen lined up in
front OF his place at all times during
the day and early night.
warehouses;" Mt Relay. the Wade
chain OF saloons alolfg the Washing
ton road, the Sulphur Springs Hotel
Patapsco House, n mile OFF the main
road famous for its Maryland chicken
dinners, and half dozen booze en-
poriums in Mt. Winans arc all doing
business such as they never dreamed
Of before.
DRY" Washington has had many
plots on Its cscutchcon during tho
mon"h as prohibition town, the eli
max being reached when G1 persons
we're arrested in one raid alone for
bringing whiskey into the District
or Columbia. Scventy-two' cases of
alleged violation Of tho "dry" laws
were up before two police court
judges in one day, including the CT
mentioned above, who we're taken
from Washington, Baltimore. and
Annapolis electric trains, charged
United States Criminal Code which
bans the shipment of liquor into "dry''
territory under certain conditions.
AS usual. in such cases. large nun.
Ders OF Negroes are being used as
boot-leggers by more crafty and de.
signing men.
because Of the disgraceful scenes
which attended, the closing Of the sa-
looms ri u
hard liquors which have been much in
evidence on the streets and in the
courts. and the disgusting evasione
"nereby persons go to Baltimore and
other nearby points to tank up" on
"hlsRey and then return to the Dis
trict OF Columbia, an effort will he
madc at the approaching session of
Congress by representative citizens
to repeal that portion Of thes present
law In so far as it includes beers
ana l'ght wines in its inhibitions.
impetus has been given the move
meht since the declaration Of the
brewers that they are reducing the
alcohoi1c content of their manufac-
ture to per cent. and because of the
necessity OF freeing the town from
being thrown back on a hard whiskey
drinking basis. The u S. Food AID
m:nistration Bureau. by formal an.
nouncement has given approval to
this program, and has pointed out
that there IS whiskey enough to last
the country two or three years If
not an additional quart Is distilled.
The sprogram Of the brewers and of
the u. S. Food Administration. If Ia
claimed, will work for and bring
about REAL TEMPERANCE-s
briefly and moderation.