The New York herald., 1922-06-09
Charges of 'Flagrant' Dry Law
Evasi0ns Called Untrue
by Restaurateurs.
RAIDS HAVE BEEN MANY
Cabarets and Night Clubs, Not
Eating Houses, Are Said to
Scoff at Statute.

The Society of Restaurateurs of this
city is up in arms against the Hotel
Association of New York for calling
upon President Harding, Secretary OF
the Treasury Mellon and Federal PRO
hibition Commissioner Haynes to stop
the fragrant and brazen" violations
Of the Volstead act inrestaurants out
side of hotels here.
In statement issued last night the
Society of Restaurateurs says that
the charges seem to be actuated by
either "childishness or hysteria," and
that it was grave mistake to send
broadcast such sweeping condemna-
ton of restaurants doing a legitimate
business in this city.
The statement sets forth that there
are various kinds of restaurants and
presumes that the all night dancing club
lis listed under restaurant heading
The society, which Is made up Of be-
tween 1850 and 1000 restaurant pro-
prietors. declares it holds no brief Tor
the all night clubs and cabarets. which
are claimed to be more like theaters
than restaurants. k
The statement says among other
things:
1.-The restaurants as class are ac-
cused OF openly plying bookkeeping prac-
tees and the violations growing In mum
bers and extent II the hotel associa-
tiori had been more specific 1t would
have shot better within the mark. We
think 1t most unfair TO condemn a whole
class for the sins of the few.
while we sympathize with the rotel
men for the great injury done to their
business by the Volstead act and admit
that part Of their charges against GER
tain restaurants are wholly justified. we
think the charges made will do more
harm than good in the long run.
1--WE presume the hotel men know
whereof they speak when they make
such charges. If they had singled out
the offending type OF restaurant the
stigma would not have been borne by
the innocent with the guilty. An un-
fortunate mistake has been made by
Jumping the various types in single
group and tarring them all with the
same stick.
Members Of the society say that res
excellent patronage and are no doubt
cutting into the business OF hotels at
night because of>the entertainment.
Prohibition Director Ralph A. Day
said last night that probably restaur ants
with attractive cabarets located In the
theatrical district might be more or less
openly selling liquor to patrons known
to walters or even owners. He declared
he was giving the complaint OF the hotel
association proper attention.
Other officials attached to the loo nj
prohibition unit called attention to the
fact that almost every all night cabaret
restaurant in the theatrical district had
been raided from time to time and evil
lence presented to the Federal courts.
In most every instance. they said. the
offenders were let off with fines or the
cases dismissed owing to the technicsli-
ties of the law.
1t was stated that II the courts would
adhere to the injunction feature Of the
volstead act majority OF the so-called
high class high priced night cabaret eat
ing places could be closed up in thirty
days. Such an injunction can be issued
when the court is satisfied there have
been violations on the property.