Willmar tribune., 1901-02-20
Interviewed The COUNCIL.
Report Of the Interview With the VII
lage Council by Ladies Of the
Local w. G. T. D.


petition was started on Monday after
noon; the 18th inst. Then we learoed
that the council held its regular meet
ing the same evening. Rather than to
wait four weeks for another meeting
we decided to call on the council at
once with what few .signers we could
secure in the meantime. Six of our
number called at the engine house a
little after nine O'Clock and found
four of the aldermen in the council
room. We were late, as the council
had already adjourned their meeting.
We were, however, very courteously
received and asked to take seats. Our
petition was handed to the recorder
and together with the signatures was
closely scrutinized by the aldermen.
The petition was worded as follows:
"We the undersigned, members of
the Women's Christian Temperance
Union OF Willmar, petition and pray
that your Honorable Body will more
rigidly enforce the law against the IL
legal selling of Intoxicating drinks in
the Village of Willmar."
It was signed by twenty-three ladies
and six gentlemen, some of whom we're
not members of our Union.
We explained that owing to the
brief time at our disposal we had been
unable to see large number of peo-
pie to secure their signatures to the
petition. Mr.. Williams assured US
that there was sufficient number of
signers and that it would receive as
much attention as if it had five hun
dred signatures.
The petition was placed on file for
future action.
: We told the aldermen present that
it was reported to US that more liquor
was being sold in Willmar now than
when saloons were running. This
both Mr.. Tyler aud Mr.. Williams de-
clared was not true. They said the
truth was that very little liquor was
being sold. They admitted that some
liquor was being sold, but only on
the sly and in no great quantities.
They showed US reports of where they
had employed detectives and paid
them $185 for their services but that
they had been unable to secure any in
toxicating drinks. The aldermen also
explained the difficulty in securing
proof against those who were selling
liquor illegally as they were so care
full to sell only to such as they could
trust to keep it secret. No strangers,
the aldermen said, could get drinks at
Willmar. They also said that the
detectives were soon spotted when
they remained in town. One of our
ladies suggested that more caution be
observed, but Mr.. Williams very
earnestly said that the councilmen
were all in earnest and had been do
ing everything they could do to rigid
ly enforce the laws. All the members
of the council present agreed that
very little liquor was being sold now
compared with the days when there
were open saloons at Willmar. Z.
One of our number asked if the tenn.
perance saloons could not be forced
to close on Sundays. We were told
that there was no law to compel then
to close. There was a law to pro
hibit all kinds of public sports or
Sunday, although it was generally q
dead letter..
We asked if it was true that the
brewing companies were boarding {
hundred men to vote in favor of sa
looms at the spring election. Alder
men Markhus replied that he did no
believe there was a single man KEEP
here for that purpose.
The question was raised if the Hamn
Brewing Company would be allowed
to sell liquor around town. Mr.
Williams said that the brewing com
panies could not sell drop of liquo
at Willmar. That orders might b
sent to St. Paul but that the hous
here was simply a cold storage hous
or storeroom.
We were overjoyed and much pleased
to learn that conditions in our villag
we're really so much better than 1
currently reported. We are glad t,
know that SO little drinking is goin,
on. And we hope and pray that con
ditions will improve still more an
that the saloons will not be legalize,
but will be defeated again and again a
the polls until it shall remain settle
! policy that Willmar shall be ten
perance town. We have prepared thi
statement that the people of Wilma
may know what the views of the cour
Gil are in these matters. The under
s signed vouch for that the statement
) made are substantially as reporte
{ above. sstss 81 =s.z, ..= &
$ Mrs. Lucy D. GETCHELL
E OLIVE M. YOUNG q: @
B EZRA S. JOHNSON .5 ss
& ANNIE MCDONALD =s =S.=
81 MRS. H. IDA IVES. !. b b
i The cattle shipping season has b
. gunand Frank Rose wants . chant
3 To bid on your stock. He will pa
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