The Kadoka press and Kadoka reporter. [volume] (Kadoka, S.D.) 1910-1923, 1914-11-20
LENNON MUNICIPAL
SALOON A SUCCESS

Lennon Will realize FULLY $l4, ,OOO
from the municipal saloon in net prof
it's for the first years business If the
present pace is maintained. The aver
age monthly net earnings thus far
has aggregated $1,000. but it is ex-
pected that there will be a decrease
during the winter months.
Every citizen is in favor of the new
plan. There is less drunkenness in
the city than ever before. The city
is more orderly, and the blacklist has
been increased from about SIX to 25.
Former habitual drunkards have been
reformed in great measure through
their failure to get liquor to satisfy
their craving, and laboring men who
could not afford to spend their money
over the bar have been put on the
black list. This is the result of having
the saloon run by men who have no
financial interest in selling man all
the liquor he will buy, irrespective of
the moral side of the question.
In order to-get around the state
law which prohibits q municipality
from conducting a proposition of this
kind, the Lennon Civic Improvement
league was organized, with 81 elect
ors of the city as members. The lea
que was incorporated under the laws
of South Dakota for the purpose of
carrying on a general retail saloon
business.
The bylaws of the league provide
that the proceeds from the saloon
shall be used for the purchase and re-
tirement 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 percent of the net proceeds
each month shall go towards the pur-
chase and retirement of school bonds
in their inverse order of issue;
The remaining 1c per cent shall 90
towards the building and maintaining
of roads in Perkins county within six
miles of the city of Lennon, and
more especially these 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 warrants
at par instead of discounting them 10
percent as had been the custom of
the banks.
The bylaws of this organization are
so constructed as TO meet practically
every point that might be brought up
and are considered exceptionally
good.
The directors elected by the league
to manage it's affairs, receive no re-
muneration whatsoever. They are
George E. Lennon, founder OF the
city which bears his name, Walter
Mowrey and John Rocks,
These directors are subject to recall
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 associa-
ton as a whole.
This association took up the two
licenses which city the size Of Lem
mon is allowed under the 1000 to ~
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.
The saloon Is opened at $3.50 in the
morning and closes at $3.50 every even
ing. Four bartenders are employed,
and the association keeps a special
policeman on duty at all times in the
saloon.
BY this method there is never any
boisterousness, swearing or vulgarity
in the place, the special officer having
full police rowers and being instruct
ed by the league to guard against
these customary evils.
This saloon has practically Q mono.
poly in the liquor business In q SEQ.
Jion of the state 100 miles east and
west of Lennon, So miles to the
south and to the Canadian line on
the north. This accounts for the
large earnings of the place.
The league has profited 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 wor
for it the support of all classes ol
people. and there Is apparently nc
doubt but that the same proposition
will be handled this way again nexI
year.