Davenport Democrat Davenport, Scott, Iowa July 20, 1924 TWO THOUSAND DAVENPORTERS MARCH IN HISTORIC PERSONAL LIBERTY PARADE. Now that Davenport is a clean city the name of the Civic Federation has been almost forgotten. But 15 years ago or rather from its birth in 1907 on for some nine years the name of Civic Federation was on the tongue of every Davenporter. So strong were the vice powers organized that when the clean-up movement was formed it was secretly organized. This was in December of 1907. This organization demanded the strict enforcement of the mulct law and won out only after a hard fight during which many saloons were closed, many violators were prosecuted and hard feelings between the law enforcement and wide-open town elements were engendered. The German press was particularly hostile to the Civic Federation and dubbed the "Civic Degeneration." During the entire period of its existence, the meetings were held in secret and its officers and membership were unknown. Rev. W. H. Blancke was its active head and H.B Betty its attorney. Every effort was made by the liberal element of the city to ascertain the identity of its members, but to no avail. A number of leading citizens were looked upon with suspicion and boycotts were started against their place of business. On March 9, 1908, the Federation issued an ultimatum to the saloon keepers of Davenport giving them until March 14 to rearrange their places of business to comply with the mulct law and after that date to comply with all its requirements. That year, 86 saloons were put out of business. "Personal Liberty" Parade. During this time occurred the famous "Personal Liberty" parade, participated in by 2000 marchers. The procession terminated with a mass meeting in Washington square. Here a number of leading citizens made speeches attacking the mulct law and the Civic Federation. This outward display of protest instead of intimidating the Civic Federation as hoped by the promoters appeared only to stir them to further and more decided action. They brought outside parties to the city to spy on the saloon keepers and gather evidence against all violators. It was after the trial of a case in July, 1908, that one of those spy witnesses, William Schoenig of Muscatine, was assaulted on Main street, and was saved from great bodily harm only by the timely arrival of the police. The attacking party escaped and were never apprehended. Three other witnesses, all boys who had gathered evidence against Jack McPartland, were arrested in Rock Island on a warrant issued in Davenport charging them with perjury. Attorney Betty on behalf of the Civic Federation secured their release on a habeas corpus procedure. Some time later, McPartland, thru Attorney Walter H. Petersen, filed a suit for $50,000 damages against the Civic Federation, its officers and members, alleging they were in conspiracy to ruin his business. This suit was looked upon more in the nature of an attempt to "smoke out" the membership. It contained a prayer to the court asking that the defendants named be required to answer certain questions the main of which was, "Who are the members of the Civic Federation and what amount has each contributed to the fund?" The request was never sustained by the court and the suit was later dismissed without being called to trial. Efforts were being made to entice Attorney Betty to Rock Island on phony telephone calls, presumably to give the gang a chance to beat him up and at another time he learned of a well defined plot to kidnap him in an auto. He received hundreds of threatening letters, but passed thru the entire crusade without being harmed. As rapidly as cases were made out, injunction proceedings were started against violators of the mulct law. The decree entered required the defendants to live up to the letter of the law, and a violation was regarded as not only a violation of the mulct law, but brought the defendant also in contempt of court. Many citizens arose in their might and declared the campaign on the Federation to be one of persecution, not prosecution. A committee of leading business men, after injunctions had been taken out against Turner hall, Schetzen park, Suburban island, Washington garden, etc., met representatives of the Civic Federation at the Commercial club and asked for a more lenient enforcement of the mulct law. The request was denied. Previous to this conference, a petition signed by a thousand citizens making the same request of the Federation was ignored by that body. During the height of the prosecutions, the various breweries served notice on all saloon keepers stating that inasmuch as many injunctions and agreements were being violated the only safety for them was to abide by the law. They therefore would refuse to sell to any saloon keeper who refused to respect the mulct law. Fourteen saloons in the country outside of incorporated towns and therefore in prohibition territory were ordered closed by the Federation. The St. Julien and Kaiserhof hotels were put out of commission by reason of the lawlessness governing their managements. Famous "Sappy" Rink Case. A test case was started against a saloon keeper by the name of Charles (Sappy) Rink during the month of February 1909 for re-engaging in the saloon business. Rink did only what all of the saloon keepers were doing under like conditions. They would comply anew with all of the provisions of the mulct law within their power. The Civic Federation contended that they could not do this under the same general statement of consent under which they had been enjoined. Judge Bollinger held with the contention of the Federation and Rink was held to be in contempt of court and sent to jail upon failure to pay a fine of $200. Upon the strength of this ruling by the district court, the Federation issued a statement that all saloonkeepers who had been enjoined and were found in business by May 1, 1909, would be prosecuted for contempt of court, and that the owners of the buildings occupied by such saloon keepers would be proceeded against for contempt. All the enjoined saloon keepers quit business. About 23 of the places opened up under a new management. Thereupon contempt proceedings were brought against the owners of these places. The Rink case was carried to the supreme court by the liquor interests, and the decision of Judge Bollinger was reversed, which resulted in all of the above contempt cases being dismissed. The attorney for the Federation argued the Rink case before the supreme court on a petition for a rehearing which was refused. A test suit was brought in the district court to test the legality of the new general statement of consent that was secured in the city of Davenport in June, 1909. Judge Bollinger decided in favor of the legality of the new statement of consent. The 300 Foot Limit. After practically all the provisions of the mulct law had been put into force by the Civic Federation, there remained one clause that it was believed would be overlooked by them. This was the closing of all saloons and bars within 300 feet of churches, cemeteries and school buildings. But in this belief the sympathizers reckoned wrongly. The Federation thru its attorney finally took action on this clause and demanded its enforcement. In the neighborhood of a dozen places were affected by it, principally the Commercial club, and the Hotel Davenport. The former installed the locker system and the hotel escaped the deadline by changing its bar entrance from Main street to the alley. In order to permit of this change it was necessary to have the city council alter the alley into a street and it is now known as Library avenue. Previously it had been designated Pretzel alley. Cathy Joynt Labath Scott Co, IA USGenWeb Project http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/index.htm Iowa Old Press http://www.IowaOldPress.com/