The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1914-11-16
EARNINGS Large
LEMONS MUNICIPAL SALOON
RETURNS LARGE PROFITS
TO CITY.

Lennon, Nov. 16.-Lemmon will
realize fully $4,000 from the mu-
nicipal saloon in net profits for the
first years business If the present
pace is maintained. The average
monthly net earnings thus far has
aggregated $500, but it is expected
that there will be a decrease during
the winter months.
it is asserted there is less drunk
enness in the city than ever before.
Former habitual drunkards have
reformed in a great measure through
their failure to get liquor to satisfy
their craving, and laboring men who
could not afford to spend their mon
| ey over the bar have been put on the
blacklist.
In order to get around the state
law, which prohibits a municipality
from conducting a proposition of this
kind, the Lennon Civic Improve
ment league was organized, with fif-
ty-four electors of the city as mem
bers. The league was Incorporated
under the laws of South Dakota for
the purpose Of carrying on a general
retail saloon business.
Inc Oyid"o Vi TIC itdSuC PIOFlut
that the proceeds from the saloon
shall be used for the purchase and
retirement of bonds and warrants on
the city of Lennon, as follows:
Fifty per cent of the net proceeds
each month shall go towards the pur-
chase and retirement of city bonds
and warrants in their inverse order
Of issue.
Forty per cent of the net pro-
ceeds each month shall go towards
the purchase and retirement of
school bonds In their inverse order
of issue.
THE remaining 10 per cent shall
go towards the building and mainten-
ance of roads in Perkins county
within six miles of the city of Lem
mon. and more especially those roads
leading into Lennon"
In addition, therefore, to taking up
the warrants of the city, it also saves
the city 10 per cent in actual cash,
as the league takes up these war
rants at par instead of discounting
them 10 per cent, as had been the
custom of the banks.
The bylaws of this organization
are so constructed as to meet prac-
tically every point that might be
brought up and are considered excep-
tionally good.
The directors elected by the league
to manage its affairs receive no re-
Enumeration whatsoever. They are
George e. Lennon, founder of the
city which bears his name. Walter
Mowrey and John Rocks.
These directors are subject to re-
call at any time by the members of
the association, and any action OF
this board can be referended and
passed upon by the members of the
association as a whole.
This association took up the two
licenses which a city the size of Lem
mon is allowed under the 900 to l.
law. The city was paid the $4,000 it
would have received from two sa-
looms, and Perkins county received
the $500 it would have received had
the ordinary method of granting Ii
censes been followed.
i. The saloon is opened at $50
o'clock in the morning and closes al
$50 every evening. Four bartend-
ers are employed, and the association
keeps a special pollceman on uuty al
all times in the saloon.
BY this method there is eve any
lboisterousness, swearing or vulgarity
in the place. the special officer hav-
ing full police powers and being in.
structed by the league to guard
against these customary evils.
This saloon has practically a mo-
nopoly in the liquor business in sec
tion of the state 100 miles east and
west of Lennon. eighty-five miles to
the south, and to the Canadian line
on the north. This accounts for the
large earnings of the place.
The league has profted by the ex.
: perience of Sisseton and the other
cities and towns which have tried the
municipal saloon. The manner in
which the place has been run has
won for it the support of all classes
t Of people.