The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1915-04-09
CIVIC LEAGUE MEETING
Attorney Frank McKenna Addresses
Gathering and Gives SissetOn Ex-
perienc0


A good attendance of citizens was
at the meeting of the civic lea que
last Monday evening and an inter-
estlng program was given. The pro-
ceedings were introduced with 4
stirring song by Miss Mary Patringes
Sunshine choir, who asserted in q
very forcible and musical manne Z
that the time had gone by when the
brewers spanking team of horses
could run over them.
Dr.. Pay and Wesley Thirsk each
gave an interesting and appropriate
reading, and Attorney Frank Nc
kenna of Sisseton, presented in q
plain, matter-of-fact way, review of
the circumstances and municipal his
tory that resulted in Sisseton going
dry after having one year of munic-
pal saloon. Mr.. McKenna's remarks
were of a practical character and
clearly showed how Sisseton had
come to the conclusion that it wouli
be profitable thing to do away with
the saloon waste, and that its busi-
ness men were more than ever con-
vinced that the liquor business was
detrimental to the town, morally,
socially and financially, and be
suggested that what had proved q
good thing for Sisseton would un-
douotedly prove good thing for
Milbank. The following is an extract
from his speech:
1t is my contention that every Ger {
of all the money that is spent for in :
toxicating liquors is wasted. /
base this fact upon figures taken from
the municipal saloon while in opera-
ton in the city of Sisseton from July
1913 to July 1914. During that time
there was spent in the city Of SfssetOn
for intoxicating liquors approximate-
ly $4,000. l believe that Milbank
with larger population in an older
settled community would spend more
| than SO, COO per annum. We will al
| low Milbank $5O,O for revenue in
the l8 years Of their existence. Now
[ hope to prove to you that during
that time that the city of Milbank,
would have invested $3.50 600 for i'm
provements equal to the revenue re-
ceived from the saloons. II there has
been spent in Milbanx in one year
81O,OOO there has been in l8 years
eighteen times that, amounting to
over 81 ,OOO,OOO At the present time
the taxable property in your city is
over 81 ,O0' 900, therefore | draw the
deduction that during the last eig hteen
!, years for every dollsr that has been
spent tor intoxicating liquors the
same amount If SD mt for improve
ments would be permanent benefit to
| the city Your present rate of taxa
ton is p mills. The tax Of so. 900
at the present rate of taxation upon
said amount for IL years would raise
the sum S2s, So4 90, and you would
have in addition to said mount the
value OF the permanent improvements.
There should be deduction for the
cost of enforcing the laws relating to
the conduct Of the saloon business,
and the business growing out of the
traffic. BY having the saloons you
have lost $3.50, 900 in revenue.
In Russia, the condition of the
working people has been improved by
the excluding of the liquor traffic from
thirty - sixty per cent. IT it is good
in q war nation, it is good in our ma
ton. Statistics show US that there 10
annually lost In the United States, 100
zoo lives by the use of alcoholic
drinks. Therefore, in order to keep
we will have to teach 3OO, 900 Of our
intoxicating drinks.