Word: curfew
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There was nothing so terrifying about the newest pill: Jimmy Byrnes's midnight curfew on bars, nightclubs, theaters, and other places of entertainment. In most U.S. cities bars close by 1 a.m. and most U.S. citizens go to bed betimes, anyhow. Even on those it most directly affected-nightclub owners, entertainers and swing-shift workers-the curfew would work no insurmountable hardships. But many a U.S. citizen asked suspiciously which home-front ailment the curfew was designed to cure...
Still, Small Voice. To thousands the official explanation-that the curfew was designed to save coal, manpower and transportation-was simply bunk. Mumbled a Chicago barfly: "Turn off the furnace and let us drink in our overcoats." Everywhere citizens pounced gleefully upon a shattering rebuttal: "It's going to be summer pretty soon...
...truth about the Byrnes order was that it was mostly psychological, in orgin and intent. Last October Assistant President Byrnes went to Europe and got religion about the war. The curfew was a Byrnes attempt to operate the U.S. conscience...
...Texas Too. In San Antonio, Texans asked if the curfew applied in Texas too, and many added: "If it does, we'll just have to start getting drunk an hour sooner next Saturday." The only ordinary citizens who would really be inconvenienced were swing-shift workers. Many of them thought their lives were uncomfortable enough anyhow; there is something chronically annoying about working from 4 in the afternoon until midnight...
Scores of demonstrators flattened against the pavement, some with wounds, some for safety. The fighting continued for hours. At least 20 demonstrators were killed, 150 persons, including a few police, injured. By nightfall Monday British troops had declared martial law, imposed a curfew, disarmed 800 guerrillas...