The Scat Club was one of several social clubs that had been set up in order to avoid the prohibitions against saloons, or "joints.". After new members paid a membership fee they were given a key that gave them access to the establishment. A 1903 article in the Topeka Daily Capital refers to the Scat Club as a "German American" club of about 300 members located at 5th street and Kansas Avenue and mentions several other clubs (at least seven) that had been set up after a change of mayoral administrations. While not all of the social clubs were designed to provide access to alcohol, clearly Frank went after the ones that were.