Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 98, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 March 1911 — NEW LIQUOR LAW [ARTICLE]

NEW LIQUOR LAW

Will Greatly Reduce Saloons In Gary and Elsewhere .Says Republican Paper. Gary’s saloons w'hich now number 239, according to the city clerk, probably represent the greatest number that the city will ever have for some years to come. Up to the present time is the spectacle of saloons increasing as time has gOne on, but the future will present just the reverse and as the days go so will the saloons. The new' liquor laws will serve to wipe out probably more than one-half of Gary’s “wet” goods establishments which now exist in the unusual ratio of one saloon to every seventy persons. Several things will operate to lesses the saloons. Foreigners lacking the citizenship and second paper qualifications will have* to get out, those who have been convicted of felony within the past fifteen years or who have been convicted on blind pig charges w'ill be denied licenses and the law is very plain that dive keepers will have no consideration from the county commissioners. Admitting that several of the foreigners,.and there are many of them in Gary in the saloon business, get around the law by transferring their licenses, most of them will run against the high license snag. After paying- out all fees, including attorney and publication services, a license will cost close to SBOO a year, which is more than double the old rate. Scores of Gary saloons will be unable to stand the pressure. Breweries are prohibited from giving them financial assistance, so with all of these obstacles it looks as if the game is up for many. •

Originally, when the- United States Steel corporation founded Gary, it intended that there be but tour or five saloons, but it was unable to carry out its plans, save in the first subdivision where it permits on property it controls two well regulated and law-abidding bars. \\ bile no new licenses can be granted under the terms of the law and thirty-four saloons are permitted, not counting those entitled to stay in business, it is doubtful whether the number ever gets as low as thirty-four, but on thing Gary can be sure of and that is that her saloons will not be so many in the future.— Hammond Times. (Rep.)