The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1938-09-02
Liquor Boards Vigilance Only Smoke
Screen Ayers Committee; Negro Goat
Says Race Will Help to Put State Dry; Refusal of
License to Negro Is Cited

The committee that called upon
the Northwest Enterprise seeking
the support of the citizens against
the impartial action of the Wash
ington State Liquor Board, this
week claimed that the obvious ar
resting activities upon "stool-pig-
con" evidence, appears to be only
smoke screen. The committee
stated that openly and without any
apparent difficulty, the large oper-
ators of night clubs run without
molestation, except an occasional
''knock-over," where a bartender,
or some person designated for that
purpose, takes the fall" Howev-
er, there is no Negro help employed
in these places they say. The COM
mittee further added that when
ever the opportunity came to vote
the State dry again, they would
use every influence with the race
and its friends to vote it dry unless
the Board dealt fairly with the
race.
Refuse License
In the case of Mr.. Perry Gillian,
highly respected citizen and tax
payer, who has been turned down
for a beer license twice recently,
they pointed out that the establish
ment owned by Mr.. Gillian is the
most up-to-date tavern owned by
Negro in the State, also that he
opened a first-class restaurant in
connection. This type of business
is sorely needed in this district.
Further, they stated it could not
have been the location, for within
stone's-throW beers and wines
are freely dispensed by the bottle
and drink. Some crank complaints
were registered against Mr.. Gill
liam by chronic kickers and ieal-
GUS persons; put where can a Gre
ditable establishment be opened
that won't cause the enmity of I'M
scrupulous people, the committee
asked.
Best of Reference
Many of the leading Negroes of
Seattle appeared before the State
Liquor Board in Mr.. Gilliam's be-
half. One of these gentlemen is
superintendent of large Sunday
School. He expressed himself as
being DESTROYS of seeing a decent
place where respectable people who
wished beverages could patronize.
Mr.. Gilliam's investment of many
hundreds of dollars, the potential
employment to be given persons
who in some instances were receiv-
ing State relief, the recommended
ton of outstanding citizens, the
nearness of other dispensers, the
fact that his application had been
received before the order to issue
no more licenses, and to top it all
off, the signed petition of over rs
persons living within a radius of
three or four blocks demanding
this type of establishment - here,
they claim, is a Negro tragedy.
Employment is denied to several
persons, and a respectable citizens
life savings swept away because of
the Boards intolerance. This they
claim, is comparable with the die
tator countries, and not with the
real American spirit where a man
is supposed to have the right to
freedom and the pursuit of happin-
ess.
Martin Does Nothing
The committee says that this is
a very fine example of the condi-
tons faced by the Negro when he
attempts to engage in business
that has to be regulated by the
State Liquor Board. Another OPP
portunity to place members OF
their profession to work has been
swathed. In closing, they said
that they had the sympathy and
support of many persons, both Ne
gro and white, who have voiced
fhai1. opi,1io,,c tIof Cot,a,,oo,. Mo.
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