The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-01-02
Revoked One License
Others Are Retained


Al the close Oh StoThiy Scos'"n'
during which verbal brickbats few
thick and fast. among the attorneys.
ministers. councllmen and ether city
o.fic ials inside the railing. while the
crowd outside at times grew IRE
pressible. and burst into laughter or
applause. the city council late yes
ter,lay afternoon voted to revoke the
saloon license of John C. Hagen. but
to allow Frank J. Mettler and Frank
! G. lorenz TO continue to operate
their thirst parlors.
The Hagen license was revoked
by vote OF three TO two, Mayor
Meyer and Councilmen Bradley and
Lack voting for the revocation and
Councilmen Gerlich and Lamm
against II.
| The Mettler license had narrow
escape. Councilmen Bradley and
Lack voting 10 revoke II, with the
mayor and Councilman Gerlich and
I-amm on the other side.
Mayor Drank Water Freely.
The mayor. being the last TO vote
on each roll call. had the deciding
vote In case of each of the above
mentioned licenses. Each time be.
fore his vote the vote stood two to
two. Before his stood a large pitcher
OF ice water and a tumbler. This in
nocent beverage he imbibed freely
and some think Il may have render
ed him more favorable to the cold
water side of the question than he
would otherwise have been.
There was a unanimous vote
against revoking the IJorenz license.
Rev. w. II. Kelsey, who has been
one of the most strenuous leaders In
the fight that the ministers Of the
city have made against the saloons.
! desired during the taking of testi.
mony to relate on the witness stand
a conversation that he had had with
Mayor Meyer in regard to the saloon
that Hagen and Lorenz used to run
together.
Attorney 6. b. Wilson, who appear.
ell on behalf OF aHgen and Mettler.
objected to such testimony The
mayor sustained the objection.
Well there Is another day COM
Ing" said Mr.. keesey, as he re-
tired from the stand.
There was an uproar. Mr.. Wilson
said Mr.. Kelsey could take the
stand and preach a sermon IL he
wished to do so.
"Mr Wilson," exclaimed Mr. Kee.
sey. ..yCu keep your place as an
attorney and will keep mine as q
minister. am ready to meet any of
these attorneys single-handed."
What Mr.. keesey Would Say.
Mr.. Keesey after the meeting ex-
planned that what he had wished 10
bring out In his testimony was that
the mayor In recent converse.
ton with him stated that while Hag.
EN- and LorenZ were partners In the
saloon business they had given him
great deal of trouble.
'xr. Wilson owes me an apology
for talking as he did," said the
pastor to Free Press representa-.
} tive.
Although this testimony was not
given at the meeting. the mayor him.
self stated that he had had trouble
with Hagen In previous admins
tration.
, MIR. Wilson In his closing address
on behalf of his clients bitterly
+ scored the minister for the remark
about another day coming"
, How can a minister threaten a
mayor. when the mayor Is conduct
Ing judicial proceeding?" he ex
claimed. Has he no respect for his
, ministerial profession? II a man
should threaten a judge as tine
mayor was threatened he would be
sent to JAIL
Attorney Ivan Bowen in his
address to the council scored the
witness that had testified on be
, half of the. licenses. Frank Mettler
has said he was not guilty. hut the
records OF the district court con.
+. tradicted him. Dan Coughlan had
admitted that he rarely went into
the Mettler saloon. yet he testified
as TO the manner In which Il was
. run. Fred Heinz had testified that
, he rented building to Mettler. SO
!. he of course had an interest i'm the
ease. Chief, Klugherz had said that
the only complaint made by the
Z police was In the Lorenz case
[ although there had been nine In
l dictments. Nicholas Peterson was In
the bottling business and OF course
: he wanted to keep the Mettlel
: saloon going. Mr.. Bowen declared
r that the city officials had beer
!. elected to enforce the law. They
should do so or stay out CT Office.
!. Had Been Punished Enough.
e Attorney Wilson argued that hi:
y clients on being fined $3.50 eacl
e had been punished enough. There
had been no evidence to prov,
e that there had been any such con
n tinuous violation the law a.
o would warrant the revocation of thei
d licenses. One conviction each wa.
net enough to warrant the forfeiture
The ministers. he said, forgot tina
:. the licensees were men of families
hA