The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1907-05-31
Mayor Declines To Recede
From Position.
HEARING IN HAMMERS CASE
Executive States That We're 1t Person
al Business He WOuld COncede,
But Is a Public Matter.
From Tuesdays Daily.

|
Adam J. Hankner's saloon was closed
at midnight last night not to reopen
AGAIN unless the council votes to restore
his license. This was the outcome OF
the hearing held last night by Mayor
Andrews, at the council chamber, when
Mr.. Hankner applied to have his license
restored. Mayor Andrews, before whom
the hearing was had. declined to with
draw his order revoking the license.
City Attorney j. w. Schmitt, Chief
Osten and several of the police force
were present at the hearing, but aside
from the officials and reporters there
were hardly any spectators.
Mr.. Hankner addressed the mayor,
saving: Il haven't very much to say.
| think you will grant me little cour-
tesy in this matter, which / think | am
entitled to. Some of the things that
were said here were not exactly true.
1t will be hardship to lose the license.
/ have family here which | would like
to support in the way they ought to be.
If | have done wrong am Wiling TO
apologize | think l will do better if
given a chance. as understand that 9th
ers have been given this courtesy. |
don't see why | cannot be treated the
same as they were. | have been in the
business for eighteen years, and have
had no black mark in the saloon bust
ness. | wish you would look up my
record. for | am not one of those people
who try to do wrong | was accused
of good many things that are not true.
The right party was not shown as the
guilty one. | don't know that | have
anything more to say. | took out the
license May and it has eleven months
more to run. Everything that | have is
in it, and to revoke it will be hard on
my family. If granted another chance.
there will be no cause for complaint, l
think"
Mayor Andrews replied by saying:
1T is with the deepest regret that
am compelled to say what | am going
to saw | was elected on my declaration
that the laws and ordinances would be
enforced. | am not a fanatic. 1t is true
that some saloon men have committed
offenses. and / have seen them and they
have promised that it would not occur
again. They were light offenses, be-
cause of the circumstances under which
they were committed. One instance was
where liquor was sold to minor when
the proprietor did not know of it and
the bartender did not think that the
party was under age. Some have kept
open little beyond twelve o'clock, but
said that their clocks were wrong. There
ought to be town clock The charter
compels me as mayor to see that the
laws and ordinances are obeyed. | have
taken an oath to see to this. If | do not
do so D would be guilty of malfeasance
in office. and anyone could have me ar
rested tomorrow. You virtually admit
the charge to some extent, but aside
from that i have the affidavit of per-
son that you sold liquor at two O'Clock
in the morning. If it is false it is
greatest wrong and hardship on you. L
have no right to assume that it is false
until it has been proved so. My action
will not be final, for you can appeal to
the council The law does not require
this hearing, but | am glad to give IT..
If this was a matter that concerned my
own business. it would not take me a
minute to decide to restore your license,
for | believe that you would be law
abiding. l do not think that this would
happen again. If | allowed you to run,
however, possibly some similar case
would occur, and / would be expected to
act according to this precedent. You
can see what position | would be in
| regret exceedingly that l cannot show
greater leniency. but i cannot see how L
can do otherwise than revoke the Ii
cense The council meets soon, and |
would be willing to call special meet
ing to take the matter up. | regret this
affair at the commencement of my adj
ministration 1t has been said that this
is the first offense and that it should be
overlooked for that reason, and this is
a good argument but at the outset of my
administration | asked all of the saloon
keepers to meet with me, and there was
an implied promise that all would obey
the laws. and on my part that | would
be compelled to see that the laws are
enforced. | have made inquiries and find
that you have good family and good
reputation. Really | am not revoking
your license; you do it yourself by VIC
lation of the laws and ordinances.
grant that you have been influenced by
influences that you despised and that
YOU sought to get rid of. / will cheer
fully do al | can to assist you, if l. can,
as mayor and CITIZEN
Mr.. Hankner: would you grant me
the privilege of running until the coun-
Gil meeting?"
Mayor Andrews: "Why?' 3.
Mr.. Hankner: Il hate to close, as
the interior is being reprinted and i'm
proved and men working there. | would
like. also, to see what the council will
do"
Mayor Andrews: 81 have consulted
City Attorney Schmitt, and would
gladly let you do it, but | cannot legal
ly do so. However, you may run until
the papers are served on you, which will
be about midnight"
This closed the formal hearing. but Il.
-. Fleischbein, manager of the Standard
Brewing company, inquired about the
uneXpired portion of the license. wishing
to have it transferred to someone else
City Attorney Schmitt informed him
that this could not be done. as the IL
cense becomes null and void and the
money that it represents is forfeited to
the city.
Mr.. Fleischbein was anxious to have