The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1914-04-03
4 Business Victory.
Cottonwood Citizen Thus Refers to
Recent Dry Victory.

irrefutable argument against the
oft.repeated assertion that the
saloon is help to the business
prosperity Of town. When the
business men of community once
get their eyes opened to the fact
this is an error, the saloon will
be doomed. Putting aside the
moral aspect Of the question the
business men of the smaller
cities and towns are just COM
mencing to realize that the sa-
loon is "A burden they can.
not afford to carry. This is what
the Window Citizen says.
1t is said that the prosperity of a
community can be very accurately
gauged 10y its banking business. The
banks of this place received calls to
report the condition of their business
at the close of business on March 4th
The reports were published in the last
issues OF the local papers. What we
find there is astounding, for it would
hardly he thought that the people Of
this locality would have SO much
money stored away, and yet there are
the statements of the banks for it,
We present the following figures as
showing the amount the people of this
neighborhood had on deposit in the
three banks OF Window on March 4th:
First National Bank. 1888 S97. 50
Window National Bank 5O2, ,OO7. 80
Farmers State Bank. .29S :364 -
Total. al............... 81 .7S9. 2,O.4l
Now remember this is in town
without saloons. Doesn't it speak
for itself? Show us another town of
its size that can equal it.
Since the spring election of last
week Cottonwood county stands in a
class by itself with possibly one ex.
ception. So far as we are able to
learn only one other county in the
state. kandiyohi is in the same class
as ours-without a licensed saloon
That is the record of which we can
boast. Is it not something to he
proud of.
The temperance victory cannot be
laid to any great growth in ranks of
the prohibitioni>ts though that party
may attempt to Ike the credit for the
same, For among those who voted
for nonlicenSe were those not adverse
to taking a glass Of beer or perhaps
whiskey. 1t is business victory,
pure and simple. Men have seen
where tire money which formerly went
to the saloon has gone over the count
er for groceries, dry goods, clothing
boots, and shoes, etc. and even
dwellings for the once homeless drink
er. 1t has been spent for necessities
instead of luxures. Men who came
into Window only few years ago
staunch believers in license are now
numbered and all the time for no.
license. And in the other towns of
the county first one and then another
until 1T last all ofthem. have Joined
the dry ranks for the same reason
the business men have found out that
it is a wise business move to eliminate
the saloon and the saloons have gone
Jeffers was the last to be numbered
among the drys and the ma jority this
year of six against license is signiti.
cant. 1t means that the business men
of that place have learned from the
other towns and have determined to
have the same advantages the others
have.
1t has been said the license money
was needed to help pay for our schools
The ones who expounded that doctrine
forgot that there was wide sepera-
ton between the school district and
money was needed on the streets and
sidewalks but they forgot that the
property owners paid for the side
walk and kept it in repair. 1t was
Sa1u the money was needed Tor sewers
but they forgot the sewers were assess
ed against adjoining property TWAS
said that liquor would be sold ANYWAY
but they forgot the law says one must
not steal and yet people steal Grad
ually one prop after another has been
knocked away until the liquor ad-
vocates have had nothing left upon
which to lean. This is only beginning
the end Is fast coming. Throughout
al the land the element of temperance
has taken hold aud the wave will soon
sweep over the entire country. Five
years from now there will be few sal
oOns in Minnesota and there wi be
none when good business Judgment
is applied to the solution Of the ques-
ton. The residents Of Cottonwood
county have every reason intne world
to rejoice that their county was the
first in the state to be absolutely sal
oonless.