The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-04-03
DOMAIN OF TEMPERANCE.
DAKOTA VILLAGE CON-
DUCTS MODEL SALOON.

The city of Lennon, S. D., runs the
only saloon in town, writes the Kan
sas City Star. 1t has done so for six
months and the profits, 81, 900 a month
SO far, go to schools, municipal i'm
proVements and other activities OF
good account. Lennon has turned
the proceeds of a municipal saloon
into the purchase of school and city
warrants, since last July, whereby the
city is kept on a cash basis with the
saloon paying off salary and merchan-
disc warrants as fast as they are
issued, and the holders of the war
rants receiving the face value of the
warrants instead of being at the mercy
of discounting loan sharks or specu-
lative saloonkeepers.
Technically, the city is not in the
saloon business, and the bar-room is
not municipality owned, according to,
information from Ray J. Murphy, an
attorney of Lennon. The saloon is
owned by corporation known as the
Lennon Civic Association, which is
really nOn-diyidend paying stock
company. A membership fee of 81
was charged, and the saloon license
is issued to one member of the asso-
citation. Under the laws Of South Da-
kota, cities are not allowed to engage
in the saloon business.
Since the saloon was opened last
lJuly, the enterprise has made profit
of $6,387.66, with which it has paid off
it's liabilities; taken over $1,000 worth
of city warrants, $500 worth of school
warrants, and has paid 5000 into the
good roads fund, leaving a cash bal
ance on hand.
Aggravated saloon conditions in
Lennon led to the adoption of the
plan by which the saloon management
co-operates with the city. In 1912
Lennon had 1855 inhabitants and
eight saloons. Each saloon paid an
annual income of $500. 1t was a fight
to the death among the saloons for
enough patronage to make them pay.
In the scramble for business ordi-
nances and laws were set at naught,
and the result was that several of the
saloons became the lowest kind of
dives in the effort to make them "at-
tractive."
In 1913 the State legislature fixed
the number of saloons in each city
according to the number of inhabi-
tants. By that apportionment Lem
mon drew two. Another red-hot fight
followed in the granting of the two
licenses. 1t was proposed at that time
that the city go into the saloon bust
ness and the proposition was put to
a vote, and rejected. Two licenses
were designated by plurality vote,
the dry forces carried the matter into
the courts, where it was tied up for
six months while the town was dry
: except for drug stores, which are al
! lowed to sell liquor in that State.
The six months dry period was a
sad time for the "wet' forces in Lem
mon. Most of those dependent on the
traffic had to go elsewhere and when
the matter was released by the courts
few of the original "wets" were left.
Last spring the city adopted the COM
: mission form of government, and by
a large majority decided that if there
must be liquor traffic in that city
it might as we'll be turned to the bene-
: fit of the city.
Thus the Lennon Civic Association
was formed, and the municipal" sa-
loon opened for business in midsum-
, mer. The association included men
of all the different activities of the
city-business men, Prohibitionists,
: and even ministers of the gospel. The
Il for
loon lisa Prohibitionist Only the bar
tenders receive salaries. The man.
ager receives none, and neither does
anyone else connected with the saloon
Certain rules were adopted by the
association at the outset which put it
out of the class of ordinary saloons.
The sale of liquor is not pushed nor
encouraged. The bartenders are so
we'll paid that there is no incentive
to graft
A black list is kept, and persons
whose names are on it cannot buy
liquor in the municipal saloon. They
must go to drug-stores. Patrons who
show a disposition to become intoXi-
Gated are shown out peremptorily, and
known drunkards are not allowed TO
enter. Liquor often is refused to men
; whose families are known to be in
; want, and careful list is kept of
those who cannot afford to buy liquor.
The most important result, prob
ably, noted in the operation of Lem
mons saloon is the general tendency
toward prohibition. Strong predic-
tions are made that the city will vote
"dry" the next time the question is
put to the people. 1T is certain" says
Attorney Murphy, who is Prohibi-
ZIONIST himself, "that if the city votes
another wet period, it will never stand
for another privately owned saloon"
Sisseton, S. D., the only other city
in the United States known to have
tried municipal saloon, went dry
at the end of year. Various reasons
are given for the abandonment, among
them graft, poor management and in
fiuence of discounted liquor interests.
Maybe it was the public conscience.
: Anyway, the city operated its saloon
a year and then gave up the traffic
: entirely. Lennon will have an OPP
portunity to decide for itself soon.
No matter how well the municipal
( plan works out, and how well it
V1Inn he kC In Hwvo nV-o