Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-18
QUANT|CO ORDERS
| UNDES|RABLESOU7
Mayor and City Council Take
Action After Conference
With Gen. Butler.
BY a STAFF Correspondent of The Star.


QUANTICO, Va, September 18.-The
mayor and city council Of the small
community hedged in on all sides by
the Marine base here, aroused by civic
urge to "clean up" that is founded on
economic necessity, set out on broad
scale today to force all undeSirables
from the town, while Maj. Gen. Smedley
D. Butler, commanding the Marine base,
applauded.
Aroused himself in the last several
weeks by series of automobile acci-
dents in which members of the Marine
command were injured, Gen. Butler, on
the basis of reports to him, promulgated
an order that the town OF Quantlco
would be out of bounds to Marines, and
since last Saturday the little town has
been almost deserted village.
Mayor Confers with Butler.
Mayor A. E. McInteer and nine mem
bers of the city council called on zssen.
Butter Yesterday, and after a conference
during which the city officials assured
him Of their earnest desire to cooperate
in making the community more desira-
BILE. set out on their own account TO
read the riot act to bootleggers and
other objectionables.
Immediate results were Forthcoming.
The mayor today busted himself In
raiding places where whisky is known
to have been sold and aided by fellow
citizens he posted word at the resi-
dence of q man regarded as the ring
leader of the lawless element to leave
town by tonight. Mayor McInteer was
confident the man would leave.
Mayor McInteer pointed out To-Day
that the element in Quantico which
furnishes the conditions objectionable
to Gen. Butler Is transient for the most
part. composed Of hangers-on, both men
and women, who exploit the desires OF
the Marines. Acting on reports OF the
sale of whisky brought from Richmond
last week, Federal authorities last Fri
day night conducted raids on several
establishments. Gen. Butler, who In
vestigated reports made to him before
any action was taken, was seated IN
an automobile at the head OF the main
street when the Federal authorities
came out from their raids and saw
visible evidence to substantiate the
reports of unwholeSome conditions.
Whereupon he issued the order.
Marine Base Surrounds Town.
The town of Quantico is entirely sur
rounded by the Marine base and until
about six years ago was under the
supervision Of the commanding ofacer
so far as police regulations were con-
cerned. At that time the town was in
corporated and quite naturally the lead
ing citizens were elevated to positions
of authority. The report made to Gen.
Butler by Mayor McInteer and members
of the city council was that 1t Is very
difficult for men who have been living
together for years to interfere with each
other. Gen. Butler agreed that he could
not impose himself upon a municipality,
but he informed the mayor emphatically
that it was his duty to protect the Ma
rine command and that the town would
be barred to their entrance until places
where liquor Is sold were closed and
other unwholesome conditions oblitsr-
ated.
Gen. Butler planned this afternoon to
have Mayor McInteer attend the regu-
lar review and inspection OF the post
and to tell the command just what was
behind the order denying them entrance
to the town. Mayor McInteer accepted
the generals invitation and it was his
purpose to assure military authorities in
public that everything was being done
to "clean up"
Heretofore, there have been few oc-
casions when it was necessary to hold
court and Gen. Buffers campaign
caused haSty study of the municipal
charter in order that the mayor and
city council might know Just how far
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