Chicago Tribune
BAR PERMITS AND CABARETS
FACE A DOUBLE FUNERAL
———
Both Are Expected to Be Buried in the Same Grave Today.
———
Abolition of long protested adjuncts of Chicago Saloons is expected today.
It was predicted last night that the city council at its meeting this afternoon will abolish the special bar permits — at least during the period of the war, and the new anti-cabaret ordinance will go into effect at midnight.
Ald. Joseph O. Kostner, head of the city council committee on home defense, stated that at a meeting of his committee to be held this morning a recommendation to abolish the special bar permits will be voted and will be reported to the city council for immediate action this afternoon.
Final Blow at Permits
A final double barreled blow against the special bar permits was delivered last night by the Chicago Juvenile Protection Association. The organization made public three affidavits indicating that soldiers and sailors were given intoxicants and that disorder prevailed Saturday night at three entertainments given by German societies to which special bar privileges were granted. The societies were the Social Turnverein, the Eisenberger Liedertafel, and a German social association.
A telegram received during the day from Secretary of the Navy Daniels, which read as follows, was given out:
"Thank you for the telegram signed by yourself, Mrs. Bowen and Mrs. McCormick. I earnestly hope that the recommendation I made to the members of the city council that the special bar permit ordinance be repealed may be carried out."
Albert E. Webster, assistant superintendent of the Juvenile association, in a statement ridiculed published statements of the United Societies that soldiers and sailors did not obtain liquor at dances given under its auspices.
Suggest German Control
"It might be illuminating to have the personnel of the United Societies made public," says the statement. "Do persons of German descent dominate it? Do Messrs. Weiner, Neumann, and Kramer constitute the powerful triumvirate that not only dares to defy Secretary Daniels, but also dictates that all members of an American city council must perpetuate a practice that demoralizes the American men who are going to fight Germany in the trenches of Europe? I have every confidence that the majority of the council are loyal Americans, who will refuse dictation on this question from a bunch of foreign societies when the desire of the federal authorities has been so clearly expressed."
The Terrace Garden will go into court before Judge Foell this morning in an effort to get a temporary injunction against the operation of the anti-cabaret ordinance, but Assistant Corporation Counsel James W. Breen insisted last night that no court would listen to the cabaret’s contentions and that the new ordinance would be enforced at midnight.
Situation Explained
"The Terrace Garden — or the Morrison hotel people — are contending that they have a right to continue the operation of a cabaret because they hold an amusement license," Mr. Breen said. "In our answer, which will be ready to file the first thing in the morning, we shall simply cite that the amusement license was issued, as are all licenses, subject to the provisions of the city ordinances already in effect or subsequently put into effect. Strange enough, their petition doesn’t mention the word dramshop, and the new ordinance only provides that there shall be no cabarets in connection with dramshops.
"We don’t believe they have a leg to stand on, and we expect to see the new ordinance rigidly enforced."
"There is only one formidable opponent to the proposed repeal or suspension of the special bar permit ordinance. This is the United Societies for Local Self-Government. This organization has adopted resolutions recommending the amendment of the ordinance rather than its repeal.
Expect Daniels to Win
Although in the past the United Societies have been credited with enough influence over the city council members to enact or stop almost any sort of saloon legislation, Ald. Kostner and other aldermen say they are confident that the desire of Secretary of the Navy Daniels, who wants the permits abolished, will have a greater weight with the city legislative body than the wishes of any local group.
It is expected that the committee meeting this morning will be a lively session. The state council of defense, in response to appeals from the Washington military authorities, has urged the city authorities to respect the desires of the army and navy heads. A representative of the state council will attend the committee session.
Ald. Kostner will tell the committee of his personal conference in Washington with Secretary Daniels and Samuel P. Thrasher, director of the Committee of Fifteen, who also conferred with Mr. Daniels in company with Julius Rosenwald, is to be present to ask the abolition of the special bar privilege. The Juvenile Protective association, a long time enemy of the permits, also will be represented.
It was predicted last night that some saloon owners will be ready to place their O.K. on the departure of the special permit because they fear the eventual closing of downtown saloons in the federal five mile zone unless restrictive suggestions from Washington are complied with.
