Davenport Democrat Davenport, Scott, Iowa July 20, 1924 REFORM WAVE OF W.W. LUNGER AND CAPT. NEAL MOST STIRRING EPOCHS IN ANNALS OF DAVENPORT. It was during the last year of Mayor Harry W. Phillips' administration that the first real sign of officially recognized municipal reform struck Davenport. Even at this early stage, Mr. Phillips recognized the handwriting on the wall. He felt the all night saloon and the wine room were bad adjuncts to the city. He was convinced that if local measures were not taken to remedy the evil, outside parties would come here and take drastic action. So he issued his famous midnight closing order. Like a bomb it fell into the camp of many of the saloon keepers - but not all of them. A number of the saloon men had previous to this order conferred with the mayor and given him their approval of such a course. But others resented the order in no uncertain terms, and only be arrests and revocations of licenses of the offenders was the midnight closing order made effective. Smarting under the new conditions the liquor interests bided their time to "get even" with the mayor. This they did when he came up for re-election. He was defeated and his successor again threw open the town. Enter W.W. Lunger. During the years 1906 and 1907 there was an epidemic of reformers in Davenport. The disease commonly called "easy money" appeared to be infectious and spread rapidly. At this time W.W. Lunger was a practicing lawyer. Business was slow in this line. He had previously served a term in the city council, but when he came up for re-election, his constituents proved so ungrateful as to elect his opponent. So, having plenty of time on his hands and no legal business in sight, he joined the ranks of the "reformers." His first act was to start a crusade against the slot machines, principally in the cigar stores. He also threatened to close all the pool rooms and many of the saloons, but for some reason or other failed to do either. But he did succeed in abolishing the slot machine. Lunger at the time claimed to have been selected by the Ministerial association. In the eyes of the public, his acts and sincerity were questionable. Several traps were laid in an effort to entangle the wily reformer but to no avail. At one time a citizen walked into his office and softly closing the door behind him, laid a pile of gold on his desk. "This is just a little present for you, Mr. Lunger, and i hope you will accept it as cheerfully as it is tendered to you," said the citizen. Did Mr. Lunger accept it? Well, hardly! When the citizen left the office, he carried his gold watch with him. During the prosecution of the slot machine owners, E.M. Sharon served as their attorney. Later he filed charges in the district court asking for Mr. Lunger's disbarment on the following allegations: First- That Lunger received money from the cigar dealers at the same time he claimed to represent the Ministerial association. Second- That after accepting $400 from the Ministerial Association he proposed to certain cigar dealers that if they would take out their slot machines in order that he could represent to the ministers that he had accomplished the task for which he was retained and paid, they might put the machines back in a few days with his consent and he would not do anything further to molest them. Third-That he had threatened and had commenced proceedings from motives of self interest against the saloons and compromised the same before trial. After much difficulty and many refusals, Judge Barker named A.W. Hamann, Charles Grilk, and J.C. Hall a committee to investigate the charges and report the result of their investigation to the court. They reported they found no evidence that would sustain an accusation for disbarment. Has Own Newspaper. Both as an alderman and as a reformer, Lunger made many enemies and critics. He desired to punish some of them. Recognizing the power of the press but having no newspaper at his control, he decided to give vent to his feelings in weekly bulletins. These were published ten thousand at a time and circulated over the city. Public officials, politicians and leading citizens against whom he took a dislike were subjected to abuse and attack in these bulletins. At that time M.J. Malloy was a member of the city council. He and Mayor Scott were viciously attacked by Lunger. August 20, Alderman Malloy entered the tailoring shop of Alderman Lindholm on Perry street. In the shop at the time with a bundle of bulletins under his arm was Mr. Lunger. Mr. Malloy walked up to him and the following conversation is said to have ensued: Malloy- Still in the publishing business, eh? Lunger- Yap, have a copy of today's issue. Malloy- You dirty cur, you can attack me all you want, but you can't drag my family into your dirty sheet. Lunger- Well, stop me if you can. Three minutes later, Lunger arose from the floor. His nose was broken, one rib fractured, and an optic closed. His face was covered with blood. Without washing or otherwise alleviating his distress, he walked to the office of Police Magistrate Roddewig, three blocks distant. "I want to swear out a warrant charging Mike Malloy with murder," said Lunger to Roddewig. "But you are not dead," meekly replied the magistrate. "Well, it's no fault of Malloy's," reported Lunger. After considerable argument, Lunger agreed to a charge of assault with intent to commit bodily injury. Information was filed and Mr. Malloy appeared for trial, represented by Attorney Henry Vollmer. Much bitterness was evinced on both sides and the city hall echoed with the shouts and epithets of the opposing attorneys. Mr. Vollmer during the course of his remarks charged Lunger with holding up the Davenport breweries for $5,000. The remark was all the more significant on the part of Mr. Vollmer by reason of the fact that at the time he was attorney for the Davenport Malting company. Mr. Lunger only smiled as Mr. Vollmer hurled this charge at him and did not respond. After an all day trial, the charge of assault with intent to commit great bodily injury was dropped, and one of plain assault and battery substituted. To the latter charge Mr. Malloy pleaded guilty and was fined $100 and costs. Only one more of Lunger's bulletins was issued after this time. It was mild and harmless as compared with former issues. Mr. Malloy's blows had evidently taken all the pep out of its editor. Some time later, Mr. Lunger departed for the northwest and is now residing in Washington state. Neal-Kemmerer Cleanup. It was also during the year 1907 that the Neal-Kemmerer crusade against the saloons, generally styled "the master cleanup,"- from the fact that Neal is said to have received $6,200 in fees- was inaugurated. Under the provisions of the mulct law, each saloon keeper enjoined was compelled to pay all court costs and in addition $25 as fees for the prosecuting attorney. At the time there were 200 saloons in Davenport and Scott county, and none were spared at the hands of Capt. Neal and his plaintiff co-worker, T.H. Kemmerer. The sheriff's office was kept busy day and night serving injunctions and in so doing enriching the coffers of Capt. Neal. Capt. Neal did not demand the strict enforcement of the mulct law. He still had a heart for the saloon keeper- after getting his money- and drew up a compromise decree the essentials of which were 11 o'clock closing at night and Sunday morning closing in addition to the elimination of screens and wine rooms. Attorney Neal's crusade occasioned much bitterness. Prominent citizens arose in protest and declared a greed of gain and not principle was at stake. He was openly accused of taking advantage of a law merely because it afforded him personal profit. Capt. Neal did not answer his accusers. It was harvest time with him and he believed in the old maxim of "making hay while the sun shines." Whether at that time he anticipated the storm clouds and tempests that were to greet him later is merely conjectural. Breaks Cane on Reformer. During the height of the agitation, Dr. A. Richter, editor of the German Demokrat by chance met Plaintiff Kemmerer on Brady street. Dr. Richter, as was his custom, carried a cane at the time. This he broke over Kemmerer's head. Mr. Kemmerer swore out information charging Dr. Richter with assault. Dr. Richter appeared at the office of Magistrate Roddewig in the city hall for trial. Capt. Neal appeared as attorney for Mr. Kemmerer, the prosecuting witness, Dr. Richter demanded a jury trial. The request was granted and the case continued. The storm that had been smothering for some time quickly burst forth in all its fury. The flames were kindled when Fred Vollmer in a ringing speech announced a collection would be taken up to buy Dr. Richter a new gold-headed cane. He then passed the hat and the crowd clamored around him to hand in their contributions. About this time Capt. Neal and Mr. Kemmerer emerged from the building and attempted to make their getaway unnoticed. But this was not done. Both were confronted with clenched fist and direful threats. Capt. Neal started down Harrison street to his office in the basement of the Schmidt building. The crowd followed close at his heels shouting, "kill him, hang him, tar and feather him, throw him in the river, take him to Rock Island," etc. By the time Capt. Neal had reached third street, the crowd became so large and threatening that he entered the office of John Berwald nearby. The crowd pressed around the outside of the building and demanded that Neal come out. He went to the telephone and calling up the police station demanded that protection be sent him. The crowd in the meantime kept clamoring for Neal to come out. Pulling a Colt's automatic from his hip pocket, Capt. Neal accepted the challenge and rushed out into the street, at the same time threatening to shoot at the first man who laid a hand on him. One fellow who was clamoring the loudest for Capt. Neal's scalp when the attorney brushed against him with his gun, quivered, "I never said anything Captain." (to be continued) Cathy Joynt Labath Scott Co, IA USGenWeb Project http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/index.htm Iowa Old Press http://www.IowaOldPress.com/