History of Detroit and Wayne County and early Michigan: A Chronological Cyclopedia of the Past and Present, Vol. I, Part 130

Author: Farmer, Silas, 1839-1902
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Detroit, Pub. by S. Farmer & co., for Munsell & co., New York
Number of Pages: 1094

USA > Michigan > Wayne County > Detroit > History of Detroit and Wayne County and early Michigan: A Chronological Cyclopedia of the Past and Present, Vol. I > Part 130

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836

MANUFACTURING ESTABLISHMENTS.

It is not claimed that the foregoing list of fac- tories includes all of the larger establishments, but it is intended to be, and is, a representative list. Among the larger factories not already named is the Clark Hardware Company, who make builders' hardware and other specialties; the Detroit City and the Leonard Glass Works; the Gale Sulky Harrow Manufacturing Company; the Michigan Carbon Works, manufacturers of fertilizers and

other products ; the Pullman Car Works; Bagley's Mayflower Tobacco Factory ; the Detroit Electrical Works; Frost's Wooden Ware Works; the Detroit Brush Company; the Dry Dock Engine Works : the Fulton Iron Works; the Michigan Bolt and Nut Company; the Detroit Lead Pipe and Sheet Lead Works ; the Diamond Fanning Mill Company ; the Griffin Car Wheel Company ; and Hodge's River- side Iron Works.

CHAPTER LXXX.

THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC AND TEMPERANCE EFFORTS.

THE sale and use of brandy at Detroit date from the settlement of the city, and nearly all the diffi- culties between Jesuits, commandants, and traders had their origin in efforts to restrict or monopolize the traffic in this beverage. So serious were these quarrels that the settlement was almost torn to pieces by the plots and counter-plots of the dispu- tants to foster or put an end to the business of liquor-selling. In 1705, during Cadillac's trial before Count Pontchartrain, at Quebec, for interfering with and injuring the trade of the colony of Canada, he said, "Mr. Vincennes is now actually at Detroit, with four hundred quarts of brandy, and is keeping a public house. * * * In corrupting the savages, brandy has not been spared." In the course of his defense he also showed that brandy was a common article of traffic. Indeed, at the older settlement of Mackinaw, brandy had always been sold to the In- dians, and M. Vaudreuil himself "sent an Ottawa Indian, formerly an officer under his command, to Michilimackinac, with his canoes loaded with seven or eight thousand francs' worth of goods and brandy."

Among the complaints made against Cadillac, it was also set forth that, for a permission to work at his trade, he required "a blacksmith to give him the sum of six hundred francs, and two hogsheads of ale."

In 1708 M. d'Aigremont reported that it was

certain that if M. la Mothe Cadillac had not introduced the trade in brandy at Detroit, but very few of the traders would remain, and no more would go there. Brandy and ammunition are the only profitable articles of commerce to the French, the English furnishing all others. *

* * In order to prevent the distur- bances which would arise from the excessive use of brandy, M. la Mothe causes it all to be put into the storehouse, and to be sold to each in his turn at the rate of twenty francs per quart. Those who will have it, French as well as Indians, are obliged to go to the storehouse to drink, and each can obtain, at one time, only the twenty-fourth part of a pot. It is certain that the savages cannot become intoxicated on that quantity. The price is high, and as they can only get the brandy each in his turn, it some- times happens that the savages are obliged to return home with- out a taste of this beverage, and they seem ready to kill them- selves in their disappointment. M. la Mothe has bought of four individuals, one hundred and four pots, at four francs a pot, and sold it at twenty francs, thus making a profit of four fifths.

M. Aigremont recommended that "the govern- ment at Montreal should prevent the savages from

carrying away such large quantities of brandy, as it is the cause of most of the troubles arising among them," and added that "they squander the greater part of their beaver in presents and in brandy,- have not enough remaining to purchase half the articles that are indispensable to their comfort."

The Jesuits seconded every effort to prevent the sale of brandy to the savages. They protested and prayed against it, but all in vain. The traders en- couraged the traffic, because they not only made large profits from the sale of the beverage, but while the Indians were under its influence their furs could be obtained for less than their real worth ; it was true that the genuine French brandy then sup- plied rendered the Indians quarrelsome and often dangerous, but this was deemed of small account in comparison with the profits made. Even the com- mandants of the posts engaged in the business of liquor-selling; one of Cadillac's earliest acts was the establishment of a brewery, and while Tonty was in command he not only monopolized the busi- ness of selling brandy, but would allow no one to keep liquor in the house even for private use. He claimed the sole right to furnish "eau de vie" to both settlers and savages.

Under the English, the disturbances occasioned by Indians made quarrelsome by the use of liquors so greatly increased that on April 14, 1774, the mer- chants of Detroit were compelled to put their liquor into a "general Rum store," and to agree that no Indian should have more than one glass at a time. The following firms signed the agreement : Wundert Visger, McWilliams & Co., Collin Andrews, Jos. Thompson, Geo. McBeath, Jos. Cochran, Norman McLeod, D. Van Alm, John Porteous, Gregor Mc- Gregor, Jas. Sterling, Simon McTavish, A. Macomb, Abbott & Finchley, Robinson & Martin, Wm. Edgar, James Rankin, Garret Graverat, and J. Visger.

In June, 1775, James Abbott, James Sterling, Alexander Macomb, and John Porteous, merchants, were constituted a committee to prevent the sale of rum to Indians under a penalty of $300 York cur- rency. No attempt was made to enforce any such rule in the case of officers or white citizens, and a ledger of 1780-1781 shows that a great variety of liquors were kept and sold. Hundreds of entries of " Port," " Red Wine," "Sperrits," "Muscatelle and

[837]

838

THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC AND TEMPERANCE EFFORTS.

Madeira Wines," "Shrub," "Bitters," "Jamaica Rum," and "Mardi Gras Beer," are suspiciously grouped with charges for loaf sugar, nutmegs, lime- juice, wine-glasses, " rummers," and decanters.

The same customs in regard to liquor drinking prevailed under American rule. By law of August 15, 1795, Courts of Quarter Sessions were author- ized to license the sale of wine and beer, the price of a license being fixed at four dollars. It was stated by a traveller that in 1796 many of the lead- ing merchants were in the habit of drinking heavily.

The Indians also always found those who were willing to exchange fire-water for furs, and scores of drunken Indians were frequently seen in and near the town.

In 1805 the price of a territorial license for the sale of liquors was fixed at not less than $10 or more than $25, the amount to be determined by the justice of the district. Under this law, during the War of 1812, bars existed in every possible location. On October 7, 1814, the price of a license for dealers in the district of Detroit was fixed at $10, while out of Detroit district it was only $5. Certainly this discrimination would not be pleasing to De- troit dealers now. The same law provided that no one should be licensed to sell liquor in less quan- tities than one quart, except on the recommenda- tion of twelve respectable freeholders. Under law of February 1, 1815, dealers were not to sell to any soldier without consent of his officer, or to any Indian without permission of the Superintendent of Indian Affairs, or to any person on Sunday except travellers and lodgers, under penalty of $10.

A city ordinance, passed October 8, 1824, pro- vided that " No person shall retail, sell, or deliver, for money or any other article of value, any spiritu- ous liquors by less quantity than one quart, or any cider, beer, or ale by less quantity than one gallon," unless licensed; and it was also unlawful to sell or give liquor to any servant, apprentice, or minor, knowing him to be such, "without the consent of the master, parent, guardian, or mistress." The price of a license was fixed at $25. Proof of "good moral character " was required, and bonds were to be given that good order would be maintained. The good order, at least so far as the Indians were con- cerned, was imaginary in the extreme. The records of the Common Council for August 9, 1825, contain the following :

On account of many disorders, riots, and indecencies, com- mitted in the streets of the city by Indians from different parts of the country, when visiting the city, the Superintendent of Indian Affairs was requested to aid the corporation by instructing the interpreter to explain the laws of the city from time to time to the Indians, and the consequences of their conduct ; also to direct the agent to ascertain from whom the Indians buy liquor, and report such breach of law.

Tavern licenses, at this time, were issued by the city, the price varying from $10 to $18 each. On May 9, 1826, the price of a city license was raised to $50, the ordinance to take effect June Io. On April 12, 1827, the Legislative Council passed an Act warning tavern-keepers against giving or selling liquors to habitual drunkards, and prescribing pun- ishment if they should disobey. It also provided that no spirituous liquors, wine, cider, or beer should be sold within one and one half miles of the place of gathering of any religious society. Under the same law, licenses were issued by the County Court, and tavern-keepers who were licensed were required to have, at least two beds. Debts for liquor were made uncollectable, and notes given in payment for it were declared void.

On April 5, 1829, the price of a city license was fixed at $5.00, but no liquor was to be drunk on the premises of the person licensed.

On February 19, 1830, the first Temperance Society in Detroit was organized under the name of The Detroit Association for the Suppression of Intemperance, with General Chas. Larned as presi- dent and F. P. Browning as secretary. Its second anniversary was held February 25, 1832, at St. Paul's Church, and its name was then changed to The Detroit Temperance Society. At the same meeting addresses were delivered by Jerry Dean, Horace Hallock, and C. C. Trowbridge. On March 6, 1833 the society was merged into a State organi- zation, called the Michigan Temperance Society.

About this time the subject of temperance began to assume increasing prominence, and in 1834 the Committee on Ways and Means of the Common Council was instructed to report on the necessity and the most immediate and effectual mode of reducing the number of groceries. (The word "grocery," at that time, was nearly synonymous with the present word "saloon.") On April 15, 1834, the committee, consisting of Messrs. Stevens T. Mason, and Henry Howard, presented an elab- orate report to the council, showing that there were forty-six bars then in the city, and that much evil resulted therefrom, and urging a reduction in the number of groceries. The figures as presented by this committee showed that the bars licensed by the council during the previous year averaged one bar for every thirteen families. Such was the effect produced by this report that the council decided to refuse to license the sale of ardent spirits by gro- cers. An ordinance was also unanimously adopted prohibiting the sale of liquors in quantities of less than one gallon by any person unless licensed, and fixing the price of a license at $50; also requiring two sureties in the sum of $25 each.

The action of the council was soon nullified by the dealers, and in November, 1834, with a popula-

839

THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC AND TEMPERANCE EFFORTS.

tion of only 4,973, fully one hundred persons were selling liquor. On February 28, 1835, a new Tem- perance Society, called the Detroit Young Men's Temperance Society, was organized, with Dr. Doug- lass Houghton as president. At its annual meeting, on January 11, 1836, the following officers were elected : F. Dwight, president; A. S. Kellogg, first vice-president ; M. J. Bacon, second vice-president ; R. E. Roberts, third vice-president; and J. S. Far- rand, secretary. At this meeting it was

Resolved, that John Owen, H. McClure, J. S. Farrand, R. E. Roberts, E. Emerson, B. P. Hutchinson, H. N. Walker, James Filson, H. Dwight Williams, and C. W. Penny be a committee to distribute a Temperance Almanac to every family in the city.

In 1837 the Detroit Young Men's Temperance Society was merged into the Young Men's State Temperance Society, with its officers and executive committee in Detroit and a vice-president in each senatorial district. The following were officers : M. J. Bacon, president ; John Owen, treasurer; Rev. R. Turnbull, corresponding secretary, and H. G. Hub- bard, recording secretary, with Stevens T. Mason, G. E. Hand, John Chester, A. S. Kellogg, and J. S. Farrand as an executive committee. In 1838-1839 the same president and corresponding secretary were in office, and the Society continued in existence until 1846.

Prior to 1836 such organizations aimed to promote temperance rather by the temperate use of liquors than by total abstinence therefrom ; but in 1836, at a State Temperance Convention held at Ann Arbor, Rev. Chas. Reighley, then of Monroe, made a stirring appeal in favor of total abstinence. This was deemed at the time a very radical idea, and the convention voted against using a pledge of the kind indicated.

After the convention, those in favor of total abstinence organized a new society called The Michigan Total Abstinence Society. On February 1, 1837, H. R. Schoolcraft delivered an address under its auspices at the First Presbyterian Church. Its officers in 1839 were: A. E. Wing, president ; J. P. Cleveland, secretary ; T. Romeyn, chairman of executive committee ; and R. Stuart, treasurer. The Detroit City Temperance Society, on the basis of total abstinence, was organized in July, 1840. In 1845 H. Hallock was president, and J. S. Farrand secretary, and in 1846 W. A. Howard was elected president and E. C. Walker secretary.

In 1836 retail liquor dealers paid a city license of $50. Wholesale dealers paid $70, and tavern- keepers from $10 to $75. In 1838 the price was reduced to $25, and in 1841 to $20. By Act of March 28, 1836, a State license system was provided for, and in addition to any city license, dealers were required to procure a State license at a

cost of from $15 to $20. This law was super- seded, on March 19, 1845, by a law providing that it should be determined by the qualified voters at each charter election whether or not the Common Council should grant licenses for retailing intoxicat- ing liquors, and if upon canvassing the votes it should be found that a majority were inscribed "No License," the city authorities during the next year were prohibited from granting licenses for the sale of intoxicating liquors of any kind. On June 18, 1845, a temperance meeting was held, at which addresses were delivered by Dr. Lyman Beecher and Professor C. E. Stowe.

In anticipation of the city election of March, 1846, when the Local Option Law of 1845 was to be put to the test, a public meeting of those opposed to the granting of licenses was held at the City Hall on February 27, 1846, to discuss the subject. An immense number gathered, and at the close of the meeting a committee of twelve was appointed to print and circulate " No License " tickets at the polls. The election was held on March 2, with the follow- ing result : In favor of licensing saloons, 230. Op- posed to licensing saloons, 1,070. Notwithstanding this vote, the City Council, unwilling to carry out the provisions of the law, appealed to the city attorney for a decision as to its constitutionality, and on March 24 he reported that the law was binding. On April 7 the license committee of the council reported the facts as to the vote, and recommended the adoption of the following resolution :

Resolved, that no license will be granted by this council to any person for the purpose of selling intoxicating liquors of any kind.

The resolution was accepted and laid on the table.

The citizens apparently thought it was time for them to take part in the discussion, and on Monday evening, April 27, 1846, a mass meeting was held at the City Hall, and the following resolutions adopted :

Resolved, that as citizens mindful of the laws and regardful of public morals, we hereby respectfully express the hope that our public authorities will rigidly enforce the no-license law, and we pledge them our united efforts to aid them in its enforcement.

Resolved, that a committee of seventy-five citizens be ap- pointed to carry into effect the foregoing resolutions.

The committee were duly named, and the influ- ence of this meeting was immediately apparent. The council resolved not to grant licenses. The dealers then resolved to sell, and they did sell, without a license, and in the spring and summer of 1846 suits were instituted by the city against a large number of persons for this violation of law. The practical results, however, were not such as to en- courage those opposed to licensing saloons, and in 1847 the vote of the city was in favor of the license system. At the charter election in March, 1850, the vote on the question of licensing the sale of liquor

840

THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC AND TEMPERANCE EFFORTS.

was : For license, 1,482 ; against, 1,035. The ad- vocates of temperance next directed their efforts to- wards securing the prohibition of licenses by the State, and as a result of the agitation, Section 47 of Article IV. of the Constitution of 1850 contained a positive prohibition of licenses for the sale of liquor.

On June 19, 1850, while the constitutional con- vention was in session, John B. Gough delivered his first lecture in Detroit, in the Presbyterian Church. At the first meeting, and for the nine following meetings, the house was crowded with eager listen- ers to his thrilling temperance appeals. In the same year divisions of the " Sons " and the "Cadets " of Temperance were organized in Detroit, and a society known as the Temperance League came into existence. As a result of these varied organi- zations, and on the petition of Z. Chandler and two hundred and sixty-five others, the city marshal, on February 4, 1851, was directed to enforce an ordi- nance, dating back as far as 1836, which required saloons to close on Sundays and after IO P. M. on other days. Like many similar efforts, this one was abortive, and finally the council, on December 23, 1851, in defiance of the Constitution,

Resolved, that dealers selling one quart and upwards at a time might be licensed for $10, groceries for $25, and coffee houses and taverns for $30 each.

The legality of their action was contested, and in 1852 the Supreme Court decided that the city had no right to grant licenses for the sale of liquors. The result was that the traffic in liquors was open to any one who cared to engage in it, without the payment of a license or tax of any kind.

On July 7, 1852, delegates from all the secret temperance societies in the State met at Detroit in a mass convention. An immense procession formed part of the programme. It marched to Woodbridge Grove, where the meeting was held. Addresses were delivered by Neal Dow, Jacob M. Howard, Father Taylor, the sailor-preacher of Boston, and Professor Gardner, the New England soap-man. Seats were provided for the entire company.

We now reach the history of the first "Maine Law " of Michigan. The petitions in favor of this law were gathered together, pasted on cotton cloth, arranged on rollers, and then presented to the Legislature by Rev. J. A. Baughman and Rev. George Taylor. The document was 1,300 feet long, and when unrolled, it was unanimously agreed to be the longest prayer ever made in Michigan. The law was approved February 12, 1853.

It provided that the Council or Township Board, on the first Monday of October, might authorize some one person to sell liquor for mechanical and medicinal purposes upon his giving bonds to sell for those purposes only. The dealers were required

to keep a list of persons buying liquor, the kind bought, and a statement of the purpose for which it was to be used. This law was submitted to the people for approval or rejection on the third Monday of June, 1853, and the votes were canvassed on the first Tuesday of August, with the following results : In the city 2,042 votes for the law, and 1,755 against it. Majority in favor, 287. In the county 3,831 for the law, and 2,980 against it. Majority in favor, 851. In the State 40,449 for the law, and 23,054 against it. Majority in favor, 17,395.

A majority being in favor of the law, it went into operation on December 1, 1853. At first it had a marked effect in Detroit, as well as in the State at large, and during December many dealers abandoned the business.

In order to secure the enforcement of the law a new temperance society, called the Carson League for Wayne County, was organized on November 22, 1853. The following resolution gives details of its plans :

Resolved, that we organize a Mutual Protective Association, which shall be entitled the Carson League of the County of Wayne, whose mode of operation shall be as follows: Its first object will be the establishment of a fund of two millions of dol- lars or upwards, which shall consist of equal shares of one hun- dred dollars each. To raise this sum every person becoming a member shall give his or her note for one share or more without interest. The sum thus raised shall be subject to equal taxation, sufficient to defray expenses for the suppression of the sale of in- toxicating liquors as a beverage.

The following were appointed officers for the first year : A. Sheley, president ; H. K. Clarke, vice-pres- ident; Hiram Benedict, secretary ; C. N. Ganson, treasurer; H. C. Knight, general agent ; H. K. Clarke, A. Sheley, B. Wight, executive committee.

The League made its power felt, and on Decem- ber 3, 1853, this notice appeared in a city paper :

The proprietors of the Biddle House, National Exchange, Andrews' Railroad Hotel, and we believe nearly all the hotels of any respectability, have closed their bars in compliance with the existing law. We notice, also, that most of the grocers of any standing, who kept an open bar for retail, have closed them.

Prosecutions went on, and were almost uniformly successful. Finally, on December 9, 1853, B. Rush Bagg, police justice, rendered a decision against. those who were enforcing the law on the ground that the law itself was unconstitutional, and the complaints, therefore, void. This decision greatly encouraged the liquor sellers, and on Friday, Decem- ber 16, following, they held a meeting at the City Hall, at which it was

Resolved, that we, the citizens of Detroit, assembled at this meeting to provide means to test the constitutionality of the liquor law, profess to be law-abiding citizens, and have no other end in view than the support of equal laws : and whereas, by the Constitution of the State, we have public officers whose duty it is to administer our laws, therefore we deem any number of persons

841

THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC AND TEMPERANCE EFFORTS.

associated for that purpose to be an illegal society, or league unknown in law, and dangerous to the peace and harmony of the community ; and that we will take legal measures to prosecute all such associations.

The operations of the Carson League were soon after suspended, and again those who sold liquor were successful in their plans. The temperance question, however, remained an issue. The agita- tion continued, and on February 3, 1855, the Legis- lature passed what was known as the Ironclad Maine or Prohibitory Law. This law made the traffic in liquor entirely illegal ; no one was permitted to sell except druggists, whose sole or principal business was the selling of drugs, and they might sell only for medicine, or as a chemical agent, or for scien- tific, mechanical, or manufacturing purposes, or sacramental uses, and were required to give bonds to keep the law.

All payments for liquor were declared illegal, and made recoverable at law. Bills for liquors were made non-collectable, penalties were provided for disobeying the law, and liquors seized might be destroyed. The law went into operation on May 15, 1855, and all or nearly all the leading saloons in Detroit were closed. On May 25 Mayor Ledyard issued a proclamation appealing to the citizens to stand by and conform to the law, but by June 27 nearly all the bars were again opened. Many per- sons were arrested for selling, but most of the cases against them were appealed and then dismissed. The number of bars was not perceptibly diminished, and the law soon became a dead letter in Detroit. About this time "beer halles " began to displace the old "saloons," and in the three years from 1855 to 1858 their number increased with amazing rapidity.

On July 13, 1858, a petition, signed by six hun- dred and sixty-eight ladies, was presented to the council, reciting the evil effects of these places, and praying the council to enforce the prohibitory law. This petition was referred to a special committee of three, and on July 27, 1858, they reported, recom- mending that an ordinance be passed requiring all saloons to close at 11 P. M., prohibiting the sale of liquors to minors, and proposing other means to remedy the evils of the traffic; but no action was taken.

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History of Detroit and Wayne County and early Michigan: A Chronological Cyclopedia of the Past and Present, Vol. I, Part 130

Author: Farmer, Silas, 1839-1902 Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Detroit, Pub. by S. Farmer & co., for Munsell & co., New York Number of Pages: 1094

Author: Farmer, Silas, 1839-1902
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Detroit, Pub. by S. Farmer & co., for Munsell & co., New York
Number of Pages: 1094