Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1912-02-28
P. j. Youngdahl, Superintendent,
IL Franklin Bldg,
MINNEAPOLIS. Mimi.

the cities or villages as large as Will
mar and with the class of people con-
stituting the citizens thereof. That
idea is wrong and false.
There are so many points or
phases from which this question
might be discussed and is so large
that it is difficult to assimilate it and
present same in digestive form.
On account Of holding the position
of county attorney for over seven
years, and that Of justice of peace
prior thereto for number of years,
my opportunity for observation as to
crimes committed, the causes there
fore, special work in depression of
crime and the enforcement Of law
have been more than ordinary. The
natural result thereof also is that
I have observed conditions both from
moral and commercial aspect un-
der the license and no-license regime.
In the first place, it has yet to ap-
pear as fact that any possible good
can come from a saloon; either to
the individual who patronizes it, to
those dependent on him or to the
community Of which such person is
a member. The saloon is a drain to
the consumer physically, mentally
and morally as we'll as Of his means.
The result upon the individual is bad.
Such individual constitutes a COM
posite part Of the community and &C
cording to the number attendant up
on the saloon to a corresponding de-
gree will the community be deterior-
lated. The young, who are reared
under conditions that are not clean,
wholesome and elevatinq. have just
that much more to overcome in or
der to become good, useful and law
abiding citizens. 1t is hard for an
individual to rise above the environ
ments during the formative period of
his life. From what is observed and
heard determines the character of
such individual. He becomes accus-
toned to it and finally forms a part
of self; consequently, the absence of
the saloon from the community and
it's resultant abhorrent influence and
spectacles leaves the pathway of
travel for the youth, clean; the for
nation of good and upright charac-
ters easier, and useful citizens more
| certain.
Willmar has, with the exception
Of ten months, now seen about ter
years of no-license. During that
time the city has grown from two
thousand to over four thousand in.
habitants, business houses have in.
creased in number and stability. Thu
business men are the most ARDEN
supporters of no-license. They arr
that, not only from moral view, bu
because it means business to them
While Willmar had saloons the mer
chants were obliged to do very ex
tensive credit business, keeping larg,
number Of uncollectable accounts OF
their books; resulting in total los
to them. Why? Because drinking
intoxicants were so much more prev
alent and earnings went into the sa
loonkeeper's till. The collection O
unpaid bills then formed a large
part of the attorneys business. Sine
the saloons have been voted out, tn
reverse is true and has resulted il
better business, happier homes an
unpaid accounts to collect a scare
ity. These are actual conditions an
any village or city is invited and urg
ed to try it. Give the no-icens
policy fair chance and I am con
WINGED that any village or city viii
prosper Hereunder. These result
cannot be realized the first year.
may take several years, but ever
year will evidence better conditions.
When Willmar had saloons, drunk
enness and crimes were by far NOR
prevalent and numerous. It was no
safe to let your wife or daughter g
upon the streets without they bein
shocked or insulted; and travel up
on our rural highway was not SAT
after dark.
To be sure, the mere fact of onl
. voting out the saloon is not sufficient
Just as sure as the saloon is closed
the unlicensed places or "Blind Pigs
will step in to take the place of tn
saloon; and they will flourish if lef
alone.
When l first became county attor
ney (shortly after the voting out o
saloons) there was an unlicense
drinking place in every vacated sal
Don as we'll as numerous so-calle
eight drink parlors." What wa
done7 The<law was enforced with
J out discrimination and persistent
not only once against the same vic
lator but every time Of violation
}, when competent evidence could b