The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1915-04-09

Attorney Frank McKenna Addresses
Gathering and Gives SissetOn Ex-
Derienco

"A good attendance OF citizens was
at the meeting of the civic league
last Monday evening and an inter-
esting program was given. The pro-
ceediogs we're introduced with .
stirring song by Miss Mary Patringes
Sunshine choir, who asserted in .
very forcible and musical manner
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, a review OF
the circumstances and municipal his
tory that resulted in Sisseton going
dry after ha wing 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 would
be a profitable thing to do away with
the saloon waste, and that its busi-
ness men we're more than ever con-
WINGED that the liquor business was
a detrimental to the town, morally,
socially and financially, and he
suggested that what had proved q
good thing for Sisseton would un-
dou ptedly prove a good thing for
Milbank. The following is an extract
from his speech:
1t is my contention that every cert
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 Orera-
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
Nv $4,000. l believe that Milbank
with q larger population in ar older
settled community would spend more
than 90, COO per annum. We will al.
low Milbank $50. OOO for revenue in
the Is years OF their existence. Nov
I hope to prove 20 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. If there .hei
been spent in Milbanx in one Yea
> $40, 600 there has been in l8 years
eighteen times that, amounting K
over 81, OOO, 900. At the present time
e the taxable property in your city is
: over 81 ,OO, 900, therefore | draw tht
: deduction that during the last eie hteei
years for every dollar that has been
| spent tor intoxicating liquors the
same amount if SD mt for improve
, ments would be a permanent benefit t
the city. Your present ate Of taxa
ton is % 9 mills. The tax Of so, OO'
e at the present rate OF taxation upoI
said amount for Is years would raise
the sum S28, S54 90, and you wOult
have in addition to said AMOUNT thu
value of the permanent improvements
There should be a deduction for thu
cost of enforcing the laws relating t<
the conduct of the saloon business
and the business growing out of tn
$ traffic. BY having the saloons yOl
have lost $3.50, 900 10 venue
In Russia, the condition of tn
working people has been improved b!
9 the excluding of the liquor traffic from
. thirty to sixty per cent. If it is goot
. in q war nation, it is good in our ma
ton. Statistics show us that there !
annually lost in the United safes 200
. 700 lives by the use of alcohol
drinks. Therefore, in order to keel
+ up the demand for intoxicating liquor
we will have to teach 0 ,000 Of GU
!, boys annually to indulge in the 8 q
Intoxicating drinka