CHAPTER II.

THE SOCIAL EVIL AND THE SALOON.

In the Commission's consideration and investigation of the Social Evil, it found as the most conspicuous and important element in connection with the same, next to the house of prostitution itself, was the saloon, and the most important financial interest, next to the business of prostitution was the liquor interest. As a contributory influence to immorality and the business of prostitution there is no interest so dangerous and so powerful in the City of Chicago. The Brewery Companies, the Liquor Dealers' Protective Association of Illinois, and the Wholesale Liquor Dealers' Association have all gone on record as in favor of the elimination of the sale of liquor in connection with prostitution.

In spite of this fact hundreds of prostitutes (928 counted by the Commission investigators) are permitted and encouraged in no less than 236 saloons, which were investigated by the Commission. Many of these disorderly saloons are under the control of brewery companies as will be seen later in the report. These saloons are frequented by immoral women who openly solicit for drinks and for immoral purposes and receive the protection of the saloon keepers and interests.

The Commission is strongly convinced that there should be immediate and complete separation of the saloon and the Social Evil and that no house of assignation or prostitution or rooms above or adjacent should be allowed in connection with a saloon.

Bawdy houses found by the Commission were appalling enough, but the abuse of liquor selling privileges is equal in viciousness through its open and alluring flaunting of vice and degeneracy, and in its destruction of the moral character of men who frequent the saloon primarily for drink only.

The following definite information and specific cases bring out very forcibly the conditions as they exist. Names and addresses have been suppressed, signs such as X1-X11-etc., being inserted.1

For text of laws and ordinances regarding saloons see Appendices XIXII-XIII-XIV-XV-XVI.

EXISTING CONDITIONS AND TYPICAL CASES.

1. Saloons and the Brewers. The records show that there are 7,152 saloons in the City of Chicago. The City Ordinances limiting the issuing of dramshop licenses which went into effect November 1, 1906, declare that a license may be renewed upon strict and full compliance with the law and ordinances in force at the time of the application. No new license, however, can be issued until the licenses in force at the time are less than 1 for every 500 of the population, as determined by a school census. When this occurs, new licenses may be issued.

The ordinance further provides that the owner or owners or his or their legal representatives, of a license may be given the right to a renewal or reissue at the same or different place of business. Also the owner of a license may assign or convey his right to the renewal or reissue to another person. This privilege of renewal or reissue shall apply only so long as the license in each case shall have been kept in force continuously and uninterruptedly in the name of the licensee, or his successor in interest.

The ordinance also provides that no license to keep a saloon shall be hereafter issued to a firm except in the name of the individual members of the firm, and no such license shall be hereafter issued to a corporation, provided, however, that any corporation now holding such license in its name may designate the person or persons who shall be entitled to a renewal or reissue for the license period beginning November 1, 1906.1

At the present time, the ratio of saloons to population is practically one to three hundred. Before any more licenses can be issued, therefore, according to this ordinance, the population of Chicago will have to be nearly doubled. Some think this will take 25 years.

This makes the saloon problem in Chicago a very interesting one.

The brewers recognize this fact and are endeavoring to control as many licenses as possible.

The following news item which appeared in the daily press October 2, 1910, is illuminating:

1Appendix XII.

SALOON LICENSES WORTH $2,000.

Contests before City Officials for Their Possession show Value.

The "saloon court" composed of City Collector Magerstadt and Assistant Corporation Counsels Barge and Beilman, yesterday heard fifteen cases in which breweries and the supposed owners of saloons were contesting for the ownership of licenses. While in most instances the breweries won, having for some consideration been given an assignment by the saloon keepers, in several cases they were beaten. The value of a saloon license in Chicago, owing to the restrictions placed on their issuance by the $1,000 ordinance, is now approximately $2,000. The breweries are making every effort to secure enough licenses to give them full control of the saloons.

It is also worthy of note that a saloon keeper of a disreputable resort in South Chicago declared that certain brewers are trying to buy up the licenses of similar resorts in that vicinity, offering $1,500 for the $1,000 licenses. In one instance it was reported that a certain brewery paid $1,700 for such a license. Only recently a representative from a well known brewery has purchased four licenses from owners of saloons in the South Chicago vice district. The price paid for one of these licenses was $1,800. The reason these licenses were sold, it is said, was because of the agitation against the sale of beer in houses of prostitution. When things were running smoothly in the houses these licenses could not be purchased for $5,000.

The Brewers' Exchange, which is composed of 90 per cent. of the brewing companies in Chicago, has repeatedly affirmed that it is absolutely opposed to the sale of liquor in connection with prostitution.

An investigation with reference to 236 disorderly saloons shows that representatives of fourteen brewing companies are on the surety bonds for sixty-three of these saloons.

In addition there are a number of individuals on the surety bonds for other disorderly saloons who are also connected with brewing companies but are not given as being representatives.

II. The Liquor Dealers' Protective Association of Illinois and the Saloon. This organization has about 500 members in Chicago and all of them are owners of saloons. This body of men has passed resolutions and has worked for the separation of prostitution from the sale of liquor in saloons, yet the nuisance is not abated.

III. The Wholesale Liquor Dealers' Association. This is another important organization in the liquor trade. It also claims that as an organization it is interested in the elimination of disorderly saloons.

Attention has been called to these organizations because they might become very strong factors in any concerted effort to divorce the sale of liquor from prostitution, especially in relation to saloons, and could do much to really change the situation for the better.

IV. Disorderly Saloons. During the period of this investigation the Commission has considered conditions in 445 saloons in different parts of the city.1

The investigators have counted 928 unescorted women in these saloons who by their actions and conversation were believed to be prostitutes. In fact they were solicited by one or more different women in 236 different saloons to go to 33 hotels over saloons, to 82 rooms over saloons, to 23 regular houses of prostitution over saloons, to 37 hotels not over saloons and to 61 flats not over saloons.2

Of the 455 saloons investigated, 47 were on the police list as furnished by the General Superintendent of Police on October 26, 1910, and 398 were not.

Of the 37 hotels to which investigators were solicited to go by prostitutes in saloons, and which were not over saloons one is on the police list, 32 are not and 3 are doubtful.

Of the 61 flats to which investigators were solicited to go by prostitutes in saloons, and which were not over saloons, three are on the police list, 32 are not and 26 are doubtful.3

It is a fact that many saloons, especially those on the North Side, are beginning to put in partitions in the rear rooms. In some instances the entrances to these small rooms are hung with curtains so that it is difficult to see over or into the booths.

V. Saloon Advertising. Saloon keepers often issue cards for distribution. These cards call attention to the "joys to be found within" the saloon, the effect of the liquor drank and the possibilities of pleasure.

1Table IV. 2Table IV.

3Table IV.