Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-15
KRUC PARK WILL Be CLOSED
Put Out Of Business, Says Manager, by
Court Decision.
OTHER INTERESTS ARE AFFECTED
W. w. Cole Says that Concessions
VIII BE Relocated Rs Soon ns
Possible in Cities
Elsewhere.

Krug Park will close permanently next
Saturday. The announcement was made
Tuesday by w. w. Cole. manager, as a re-
suit. IL lie asserted. Of the decision Of
Judge Kennedy holding the liquor license
voted by the Benson village board was
Illegal. Mr.. Cole said he would begin at
once to relocate the various concessions
in oticr cities and to close up the business
here.
Mr.. Cole declared the park could not
he operated profitably without the sale
Of liquor. To appeal the case to the su-
promo court would do no good, as the
court could not pass on II until fall. II
a new license we're applied for in the
name OF an individual II would have TO
DO advertised four weeks and then the
rcmonstrsnce, he asserts, probably would
be renewed. He asserted the park lost
$4,000 last year ana rs already S14, OO behind
this year. Under the circumstances he be-
lleved It would be unwise TO continue the
existence Of the park without the license
1--WE started to give Omaha a high class
amusement resort, accepting as a prece-
dent the famous Knoll gardens Of Berlin.
Germany" said Mr.. Cole, discussing the
closing OF the park. I'VE have followed
the Management Of the gardens as near
as Is possible TO do IN this country, by
refralning from putting on a cheap class
OF amuscments and catch-penny devices
so prevalent I'm other parts Of the United
States. being satisfied to build up the park
on strictly legitimate lines, using music
and high class concert features as the at
fractions.
Kept Faith with People.
IAN our sensational features have been
- a..4I AAA.
that In my thirty years of experience there
has been no other amusement enterprise in
this country that has kept closer faith with
the public than we have. At all times
our object has been to establish a resort
to advance the interests of Omaha. How
we'll we have succeeded can better be
judged by the thousands Of Omaha's best
citizens who have been regular attendants.
II has been the only place OF the kind
where women and children have ever been
able to go in Omaha so far as I can rec
olloct and feel perfectly safe from moles-
tatlon. The expense OF maintaining a
police department for this purpose has
been very large. Basing 1t upon a BUSH
ness proposition we have hardly been justi-
fled, but nevertheless so long as l am
connected with an amusement enterprise
this feature will be maintained.
" ~" NAN ANt
Ing OF Omaha's Polite resort. Krug park,
without the slightest malice. 1t is an in
dlsputable fact that no summer resort can
prove successful and be denied the privi-
lege that must necessarily be given II.
The closing OF the refreshment part and de-
nying the public In general and the working
class IN particular their right to seek their
pleasure for themselves and families on
Sundays as It might suit their individual
taste. would prove an Improbable venture,
as 1t has the world over.
81 am free to admit that there are a few
people with probably unworthy motives
who arc ever ready to impose upon the
laws and use them for personal gain. This
Is unfortunate and | believe that the sooner
the commercial interests Of any community
concentrate their energies and improve
conditions the better It will be for all
citizens.
w have 225 persons employed in con
junction with the investment of many
thousands OF dollars OF out-of-town capital,
to say nothing of the Western Amusement
comrany's investments, and it requires a
great deal Of money each week to operate
the institution.
a Of Omaha's business interests profit
by tho operation of tho park. The street
railway company can figure on 100000
round-trip fares each year. The electric
light company profits materially by SELL
ing the illumination, aud, In fact. every
business house in the city comes in for a
general profit on account of the parks
existence.
Fully Concluded to Close.
1--WE have fully concluded to close the
park permanently and as fast as we can re-
locate the concessions in other cities We
shall do so, fully realizing there is not a
field for us I'm the city of Omaha. I think
the entire city will vouch for the fact the
park has been conducted well within the
meaning OF the law. We closed at Il
o'clock. We pay a fun years license for
about three and a half months business
privilege and not at any time have we tried
to take advantage Of undecided legal points.
Our action has been fully considered and as
self-preservation is the first law OF nature
We have decided to adopt 1t. We would
rather take our losses now than wait I'M
I'll the end OF the season"
The point upon which Judge Kennedy
passed that a corporation cannot hold a
license to sell liquor was passed on once
before by Judge Troup, but he held con-
trary to Judge Kennedy's holding. It was
in the suit Of Schlitz Brewing company
against Mel about three years ago that
Judge Troup. among other points, decided
the brewing company could hold a license.
The case went to the supreme court. but
was decided on other points and the o,es-
ton in controversy now was not passed
upon.
The Krug park case will not be carried
20 the supreme court, but there is n case
pending now in which the point is raised
The case was brought from Hastings.
Judge Corcoran decided a corporation can
hold a license and an appeal was taken
from his decision.
some Corporations Affected.
The corporations that will he affected nv