Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1898-03-22
A A. AEGSTRoM, B. Mus,
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Piano and Organ Tuner
AND REPAlRER.
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TRIBUNE Office.
Hi11eb0e'S Lecture.

Prof. Hilleboe was greeted by a
large and attentive audience at the
Opera House last Friday evening.
The house was packed to the doors,
and the people were not disappointed.
They came to hear the license question
discussed, and they were treated to a
mastery presentation of the various
phases Of this issue. After an open
ing song by four young girls, 1.-THE
''Philos'' Prof. Hilleboe was presen-
ted by Mr.. P. H. Frye, who acted as
chairman of the evening. The Pro-
lessor reviewed in a fair manner the
arguments made by the defenders of
the licensed saloon, and then proceed
ed in calm way to puncture them,
one by one. While high license served
to weed out the lower class of dives,
the added attractions of those remain
ing served as an enticement for men
and boys who would never go near
one of the low places, and while
the number of saloons might be limi /
ed, the amount of drinking done would
practically remain the same. In dis
cussing the ''blind-pig" and ''enforce-
ment' phase OF the question, Mr.. Hill
leboe referred to the workings of pro-
hibition in North Dakota. The brew
ers' report showed that $1,000 barrels
of beer had been consumed in that
state during the past year, or a per
capita consumption of ! gallon for
each man, woman and child. This be
admitted was deplorablt4 record, but
when compared with the high license
state Of Minnesota. the result was not
unfav"rable for prohibition. The
amount consumed per capita in Min
nesota for the same period and ac-
cording to the same report was about
eight gallons. He gave an interesting
review OF the prohibition movement in
this city in the past. The speaker
showed that at the close of the two
years when prohibition was in force
in Willmar the "blind-piggers" were
on the run, and that no man who was
not trusted accomplish of the "blind.
pigs" could get a drink for love or
money. The speaker stated thu it was
not enough that the issue was carried
at the polls, but that a council should
be elected which would enforce the
law. and that the friends of the cause
should give them their assistance
throughout the year. He also recon.
mended that a village attorney be Sc.
lected to- deal with the "small fry, -
as the district court procedure was
too cumbersome and dilatory to dea
quickly and energetically with the
small offenders Of the law. The vii
lage charter he said provided for the
annual appointment of village at
torney of which provision however the
village had never awaited itself. The
speaker showed that the cry of thigh
er taXes' was a puerile one at the best
Even if the sum of 81 900 derived an
nually from the saloons of Willmal
was clear profit, which the speaker
contended it was not, the increase O.
taxes would be but trife over hal
of a mill IS cents on each 800 of as
sessed valuation And the books
of any merchant Of Willmar, the
speaker further commended, would show
bad accounts directly traceable to the
saloons absorbing the substance Of
the debtors to more than offset the re-
duced taxes.