The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-02-25
SALO0N|STS FAVOR
ABOLITION OF
FREE LUNCH
COSTS A LOT OF MONEY AND
DOESN'T HELP TRADE MUCH,
THEY DEcLARE-WlLL SUP.
PORT MekAYs BILL.

II there Is to be any opposition on
The part of Detroit saloonkeepers 10
Senator John d. McKay's proposed
dill abolishing the free lunch In sa-
looms, II will come from those in the
outlying sections rather than the
downtown liquor dealers. While tue
latter are divided on the proposition,
none OF them, II Is thought, would go
SO far as 10 engage In any active lob
bying against the bill, while many or
those who have built up their reputa-
lions on the quality of the lunches
they serve heartily indorse the meas
are. -
But II is out in the factory districts
where the effect OF the bill would be
felt most. and proprietors OF saloons
I'm these districts undoubtedly will be
heard from when the bill comes up
tor consideration. To most OF these
men their free lunch Is their biggest
asset. for II serves as magnet 10
draw the workingmen into the bar
rooms on the way home from work
and here man, of them remain long
after the lunch hour. spending their
money freely and drinking more than
Is good for them. But it's good in
yestment for the saloonkeeper and
| the cost OF the lunch is more than
made up by the extra business II
brings.
Down town II Is different. There
are men, of course, who like a bite OF
something To eat along with their
beer, and II was to satisfy this de-
mand that the free lunch came into
being. But II has grown. In some
cases, TO such proportions as TO be-
come nuisance and the proprietors
would welcome an opportunity to
throw ii out
One popular drink emporium In tAe
business district is Levi Cottington's
place on Fortst. west, near Griswold.
His free lunch is famous, and Is liber-
ally patronized, especially around the
noon hour. IL has been great draw
ing card unquestionably. and yet Mr..
Cottington says he is heartily in favor
Of McKays bill.
THE free lunch Is getting to be a
nuisance" said he. 1t costs me
from SIS to $50 day and 1t takes
lot of extra business TO make that
mp. II free lunches were abolished
I'm all the saloons II would be good
thing for the proprietors and would
not hurt business particle. in my
opinion. In Flint the council passed
an ordinance abolishing the free
lunch and the saloonkeepers were
mighty glad OF IT, The same thing
was done in Lansing, and |, for one,
hope McKay's bill will pass.
Robert Schram, proprietor OF Mil
lard's old place on Woodwardave.,
takes a similar view
Il don't believe the free lunch
helps business particle" said he.
as far as actual profits are concern
I'd Ny free lunch costs me from IL
10 Ia per cent OF my profits every
month. II | should cut 1t out there
might be slight falling off In trade.
out il would not amount to anywhere
nearly as much as the lunch costs
me. / suppose there are some men
who would come in and buy glass
Of beer. knowing there is a lunch on,
where they wouldn't otherwise, but
those men are few and far between.
"In some ways free lunch Is act
ually a deteriment. | have seen men
come in, size up the lunch on the
liable, and, If 1t didn't suit them. walk
out without buying a thing. Others
will kick like blazes IL the lunch does
not happen to suit them. and won't
hesitate to complain right to your
face Then there is a class OF fellows
who get their living off the free lunch
counters. Why, ] know a business
man who could buy and sell me three
times over that used to come in here
regularly for his lunch. He would in
vest five cents in a glass of milk and
then literally gorge himself at the
lunch table. The same lunch would
have cost him quarter in restau
rant.
Norman Sharpe, proprietor OF a
saloon and chop house on Griswold-st..
opposite the city hall. says IL is i'm
material to him whether the bill goes
through or not He will be satisfied
either way, he says.
There is no question" he contin-
red that good free lunch helps
trade. A man will come In for a glass
of beer and IL there Is lunch on he
will as likely as not buy a second beer
and top off with z cigar. for men who
smoke always like a cigar after they
cat. So a man will spend 20 cents
where ne would have spent only Ave
Il there was no lunch, but II Is doubt
ful whether the extra business, any
more than pays for the lunch. Person
ally. | don'f care. for when ] get In
nv new place, whenever that may be.
am going TO establish a serve-self
lunch in connection with my bar and
serve sandwiches, put up In nice style,
at five cents each.
"This talk of abolishing the free
Iunch is rot" says Louis Schneider
who runs two buffets on Woodward
ave. 1T would be better to let the
free lunch alone and regulate the
saloons In the factory districts so that
the temptation would be removed from
workingmen going home from their
work. That is, make II impossible
for saloon to locate within half 4
mile OF factory or something like
that.
.iTbe free lunch is all right and
should not be interfered with. And
rho fellows who will take advantage
OF Il and try to live at the expense OF
the saloonkeeper are not one In 100
specIaI Council Meeting.