The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-12-19
AMAZED CHICAGO
SOCIETY RESENTS
RUDE RUM RAIDS
Police Actually Had Gall
To Invade Exclusive
Clubs, Donchaknow?

CHICAGO. Dec. Is.-While con-
siderable water has gone over the
dam since July 4, 1913. Chicago
Sunday was Just beginning to feel
the effect of prohibition laws.
Uniformed and plain clothes po-
lice early Sunday ra'Sed exclusive
clubs, took liquor away from MEM
bers and hauled them to stations.
Social functions were Interrupted
while police searched guests. Cab
aret and hotel entertainments were
halted while refreshments were
smelied, walters frisked. ana
astounded ladies and gentlemen
yanked to the black maria
saloons were raided and bluecoated
hosts descended on cellars.
By nightfall fifty speechlessly In
dignant citizens had been arrested
Barrels. bottles. demijohns and stills
followed them to headquarters-
The entire city paused in con-
sideration of this amazing develop
ment. While rumors that the gov
eminent and State could do these
things have reached here, official
confirmation has never been forth
coming. Arrests of persons for
noonshining have been made IN the
past, but the general understanding
was that the offenders possessed IN
ferior tastes in liquor, that they
sold poison and should have been
arrested.
? Social Clubs Rnided.
But Sunday SEINE OF the best
places in town were under sur
veillance-places that have repu-
tation for good liquor.
The Casino Club. the most eIclu-
sjxe society rendezvous in town, was
eheSsSd by a squad under Lieut.
Shoemaker. James G. Baker, So
cially prominent. was arrested as,
IL is alleged. he was passing bot
tie to friends at a gold coast ball
In the early morning hours the
same squad raided the Congress
Hotel. where one Of the social
events of the year was in progress,
and Day Mansion. one of the most
popular juvenile actors in town.
was arrested. He merely had
flask on each hip, police charge.
Guests at cabarets and Jazz gar
dens became terrified as men,
thought to be guests, 1eaped TO
their feet and yanked parties to pa
drinking liquor.
OIuCldl ChNCASo
and cabarets. whitfield every glass
and broke UP pre-New Year cele-
brstiens.
PfnoehIe Sessions Halted.
While these raids were In prog
ressI Arthur BurraSe Farwen, pres
ident Of the Chicago Law and Order
League, declared that the . a. m.
breakfast dances at country clubs
were held to give members more
time to drink.
Hundreds Of police were busy
throughout the day raiding resorts
in the black belt, and pinochle ses-
sions were interrupted in practically
every saloon in town by inquisitive
police.
So great was the public clamor
against this police activity, which
started Saturday, that newspapers
printed prohibition laws in full or
in part today to quiet Indignation.
1t seems that the laws call for
such interference with drinking.
Returning from the Sundxy raids,
Police Chief Fitzmorrfs called a
conference Of precinct captains. at
which plans TO go still further
were outlined.
Most fthe captains were sur
prised at the possibilities OF the
dry laws. They were explained by
James Breen. assistant corporation
counsel. and when II was ascer-
tanned that barkeepers selling liquor
over the bar could be arrested; that
q man coming out Of saloon In
toxicated could be booked for dis
orderly conduct. and even homes
raIded with a search warrant there
was great activity.
This is the first police raid on
Uouor violations since the State dry
laws were passed.