The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-05-07
ROADSIDE INNS
FORMING BLOC
TO BEAT Law
Protective Association Be-
ing Organized for Fight
on State Act.
BY JAMES DOSS
Times staff Writer

Roadhouse operators in Indiana
are organizing themselves into a
protective" association, it wa
learned today, in an effort either tC
beat the new state liquor law or tie
it up in the courts for a lengthy
period.
Under the law, the roadhouses au-
tomatically are3Out of business June
/. Even if the licenses extend past
that date, they are cancelled and
the operators are entitled to a re-
bate on the unexpected portion OF
the license.
The organization movement is
statewide and at the reported rate
of SIS an operator. An Indianapolis
law firm has been approached, it
was learned, and has guaranteed
that it either can beat the new
liquor law roadhouse ban on the
grounds of it being discriminatory
legislation, or can tie up its en-
forcement by injunction for a con-
siderable length of time.
Resentment Is Strong
Resentment of the states new
liquor law is reported to be stronger
over the roadhouse ban than any
other provision. The roadhouSe
operators are faced with the prob
lem in many of the larger counties
Of having a large investment and no
chance to get out from under"
For them, the only course is to
take loss, bootleg, or join the CO.
operative movement to beat the
law. Even if they fail to beat it,
they figure they can operate through
the profitable summer months I'M
der injunction and appeals and
thus get part of their investment
back.
The organization movement, it
was reported, is to be centralized in
Marion, Vigo, Allen, Lake, Wander
burgh and st. Joseph Counties.
ABC Regarded as Tough
The new state Alcoholic Beverage
Commission already has gained d
reputation of being tough" Gov
Paul V. McNutt repeatedly has as
serted that the roadhouse must
go" and the operators believe him.
They are convinced that the ABC
will enforce the law through its ex-
else police force and most Of them
want to avoid return to bootleg
cling if they can. The courts, they
figure, are their only recourse.
Another and far more unique
move to beat the roadhouse pro-
vision of the law already has been
started in Clark County.
There, the situation is comph-
Gated by gambling. Wide open
craps, chuckaluck, roulette an q
horse betting are reported available
in Jeffersonville itself.
Only a few miles outside the city
limits are the Log Cabin, which re-
opened two weeks ago, and the
GREYHOUND, both gambling resorts.
dog racing Is SCllcdulCO W SNe'A
soon at the latter resort.
Evolve a Neat Dodge
The Clark County gamblers and
resort keepers have figured out a
neat dodge that would enable these
county resorts to operate under the
new liquor law. They have ap-
preached the Jeffersonville city
council. and are reported to have
found them amenable, on the theory
that the city limits could be ex-
tended five miles in narrow strip
about five yards wide to form loop.
This, of course. would bring the
resorts under the city's jurisdiction,
technically, and the ABC couldn't
step in under the roadhouse pro-
vision.
What is reported to be holding up
the annexation" deal is the little
town of Claysburg. just north OF
Jeffersonville.
It seems Claysburg residents do
not care to be party to such a
trapSa ctiOn