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About The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 31, 1890)
Kama of Town and Banker Sallna..J. D. Wellington. * P.O. Miller Santa Pe J. L. Kcnnard. . . Sedan. 21. E. Richardson Sedgwlck. H. Goodcll " . . . .B. W. Hall B noca : G. 0. K. Scovllle. " Jno. A. GUchrlet. ' M . . .W.E. Wilkinson. Sereranco..B. F.Harpstor. . . Smith Centre. 8. M. Wilcox " .B. A. Chandler. . . 14 .as.Barrett. . . . Spearerflle . . .J. R. Balrd. . . Springfield . . .J. M. Adams. Stafford Prank Cox. . . . * C.G.Webb. Sterling Thomas Atkinson " J. Hanna St. Pranola..W. B. Lookwood. " . . .H.C. Ewlng . St. John . " . Geo. H. Burr. . . . . Ottolhl . St. Mary's. . . Silas B. Warren. . Stockton . David B. Smyth. . " . E. J.Williams. . . . Sylvia . A. N. Bontz . Syracuse . W. F. Heed &Co. Tescott. . F. F. Scidmoro. . . Thayer . J. W. Forest . " . C.T. Ewing . . . J. W. Thurston. . v " . P. T. Bonebraker . Edwin Knowles. . j P.O. Noel . 1 D. A. Moulton. . Sam'l T. Eowo . . .Win. O. Ewing. . . .J. M. Brier u . . . . Bestor G. Brown. Tribune C. E. Wlghtman. Turon M. H. Potter. . . . . TJdaU H.P.Pontius. . . . " P. W. Smith , Ulysses O.E. Wlckersham Valley Center. H. Q. Dewing : . . . . Valley FallSi.H. 1 > . Butts 41 . .R.H.Crosby " . . Hicks , Gephart Co Victoria P. B. Brungardt. WaKeenoy..R.C. Wilson * . . . .John H. March. . . Walnut..J.M. Goff. Walton JT. H.Taggart. . . . Wainego Trout and Leach. Washington. . J. O. Horning. . . . Waterville..J. P.Tuorno /averly. . . . . J. L. Senior. Weir City James Dennis. . Wellington . . .A. Brnnaman. . Wellsville . . . .E. E. Gaddls. . . WestmorelandA. B. Pomeroy. White City..John Taggurt. . : White Cloud..Geo.Nuzum " . . Alexis Poulet. . . . . Whitewater . E. S. McLain Whiting. L. M. Myers Wichita. C. A. Walker .Fred W. Waller. . .Chas. E. Curtis.- . " L. D. Skinner. . . . 11 R. E. Lawrence. . Willis J. D. Harpstor. . . Wilsoy C. M. Beuchy "Wflson W. P. Westfall. . . . Wllliamsburg.J. R. Finley "Wlnfleld John A. Eaton. . . Wlnona A. M. Gibbon. . . . Yates Center.H. H. Winter " .J. W. Depew Explanation § Simiary It has been persistently urged by its opponents , that the prohibition of the liquor traffic has seriously injured the business prosperity 'of every prohibi tion state. For.the purpose of pre senting the most reliable testimony upon this subject to the people of Ne braska , blanks containing the questions appearing at the heads of the above columns were sent to every bank cash ier in the state of Kansas , accompanied by the following letter : HEADQUARTERS NEBRASKA NONPARTISAN - ) PARTISAN PROHIBITORY AMEND- [ MJSNT LEAGUE. j LINCOLN , NEB. , Aug. 15,1890. DEAR SIR : An Amendment to the Constitution of. the State of Nebraska , prohibiting the manufacture , sale and keeping for sale of intoxicating liquors as a 'beverage , has been submitted to the people. Many conflicting reports are in circulation concerning the effects of the prohibitory law in Kansas. Its effect upon the business of your state Is especially a question of much discus sion. That the truth may be presented to the people , the enclosed letter of in quiry has been , sent to every bank in Kansas. The replies thereto -will be published. Will you please answer the What offcob does the law have upon btulneM generally ? Money spent for Intoxicants Is now spent for bread and meat Good cllcct men formerly bud pay are now good. In my judgment all business Is more profitable. But very little change. * Affects laboring men principally , by saving- their wages ; hence they pay. * A great benefit. Business Is better , safer and more satisfactory in every way. Would favor a high license law and think It would. Adds greatly to sales , and cash sales to the laboring class are u consequence. It keeps our boys from entering the saloons so freely and wo do not have one drunken man whore * wo formerly hod ten. The effect is good. Good. It helps burJness. Very much improved. Not detrimental to business in any way' ; " The effect is good. . It gives greater confidence in business circles. Don'tknow , but business Is good consideringthedry weather. A most beneficial effect : more money IB spent for food and clothing. None that I can see. Cannot toll. Prohibition was hero when we came. An exceedingly wholesome effect. . M It raised taxes. It also checked immigration. Good. Don't think it makes any difference either way. Its effect has been beneficial. ' It makes busnless better aud on a more solid busts. No detrimental effects at least. Cannot say. . If a man does not spend his money for what does him no good , he can spend it forthat which is useful. Improves it and renders it more pleasant. The money that went to saloons now goes to our-buslncss men. Makes it better. Do not think it materially affects general business. Think the saloon adds something to the volume of business hi any community. My impression has been that general business has been im proved. Good. Money that used to go for whisky now goes for dry goods and groceries. The absence of saloons has Increased tax levy , but as a general factor In business prosperity , prohibition cuts no figure. Good , emphatically. Good. Decrease it about one-half. G Ives tone and confidence. Makes no perceptible change. Very little. It tends to demoralize It , A peed effect. Difficult to answer. ' / . None. , " " Wholesome. [ No answer. ] General business Is better. Makes it safer and more pleasant to do business. Cannot see that business Is damaged any by prohibitory law. Very hard tq answer. Business Is certainly very dull. Business greatly Increased after the law passed. So good an affect that business men would not permit the opening of an o. p. saloon. Beneficial. Can see no material change. No effect noticeable in this locality. Very helpful. A grand effect. Men are sober , that were drunken , homes happy that were sad the family gets now what used to gofer for whisky. [ No answer. ] Not much change. It has tended to increase the volume of business. Don't think it has any appreciable effect. Depresses business generally.9 Deprersing. Conditions have changed so much since prohibition went In to effect , no comparative statement can be made , . Makes taxes higher and keeps out Germans. Nono. A good effect. Stimulates business. Think the tendency is to keep away a portion of the foreign element. [ t has improved business by reclaiming drunkards. Drives the liquor dealer into back rooms and cellars , vacates business rooms and depopulates towns. A good effect. A good effect. Cannot see much change. questions and return the same to us with your answers at your earliest convenience. If for any reason you do not answer this , will you please hand it to some officer of your bank who will ? CHAS. A. BOBBINS , Sec'y" Eeplieswere received from 428 officers of Kansas banks. All replies * are published , whether favorable or unfavorable to the prohibitory law. These replies may be classified as fol lows : ' In answer to the question , ' What effect does the prohibitory law have business ? " 417 upon generally re plies were received. Of these 254 state that the law has proved a material and positive benefit to general business ; 17 state that it has not injured business ; 69 state that it has not affected business ; 26 bankers state that they are unable for various reasons , to make definite replies ; and 9 replies are too vague for classification. Eight replies are to the. effect that business is somewhat injured by the proximity of license towns in other states. Only 34 bankers reply that the law is an injury to business generally. 2. In answer to the questions , "How , does it affect the banking business ? Does it affect the savings deposits ? " 397 replies were received. Of these 213 j How does It affect the banking business ? Does it affect the savings deposits ? No effect noticeable. Merchants have found that collections are much bettor than formerly. Have been in "Kansas-about three years so cannot give a comparative answer. The country is increasing to such an extent , I bellovo It would be impossible to tell whether it has any or not. * Not at all. - ' It hi u benefit. Yes. Par better. The laboring1 people deposit more mono } and pay bettor. Do not think wo gain a dollar's deposit by reason of prohibition. General banking business Is prosperous. [ No answer. ] There are no pavings deposits in this locality. What is beneficial to all other kinds of business can not bo detrimental to banking interests. A man whodrinks cannot borrowfrom me. Savings deposits are not made by those who drink here. Betters it. Yes increases them. Not'oxcept for idvantage. Favorable. It surely changes the deposit from saloon to bank. Do not know that it materially affects them. Was not hero until 1888. Small savings deposits , aggregating large amounts are .placed to the credit of people that would other- wlmj find a place in the saloon till. Can/iotsee that it affects here' . Town too small and e/uutry too new for much deposit. Ciumot tell. Same reason. Affects banking only in a general way common to all other classes of business. Does not seem to affect. Savings deposits are as poor as before. More deposits. Cannot get so great per cent , interest for money. Risks not so great. Question not applicable here where everyone uses their money. Same as proceeding. Makes it better , iiargerdeposits. Difficult to determine. Bank organized since law took effect so cannot answer Not hurt by prohibition. Our business improved. Small deposits are iucroased. Makes no perceptible difference. No savings department. Its tendency is to increase deposits In'the savings de partment. If a rnau has saved ten dollars and spends one for whisky he will only have nine to deposit. Have not noticed any effect on general banking busi ness. From information received am inclined to think it affects savings deposits for the better. Favorably. Do not do a general banking business. 1 believe that prohibition has no effect whatever on the banking business. { No answer. ] ncrease saving deposits. It does. Increases. No. Don't see any effect on savings deposits. Not in my opinion. Beneficially. Nono. Not at all. We handle money direct and through merchants that would go to liquor dealers. We feel safer In loaning funds as parties pay more promptly from not using their money for luxuries. Favorably. Increases small deposits and Increases deposits. Men are good for accommodations at the bank who would not be If the saloons were open. Cannot ECO any effect. It Is certainly no disadvantage to the business. Only advantageously. Our deposits never so good as this year. Improves it. Increases savjngs deposits. Banking is safer. Deposits much better , No effect noticeable in this locality. Have had no saloons here since wo organized. Men who hud no credit are now sober and can pay , have good credit and keep a little bank account. Small increase Not much change. It has increased local deposits , especially those of the savings bank. Can't see that it does. Affects banking business by driving out of the state many monied men engaged in the traffic. By keeping out immigration. LNo answer. ] But little savings deposits. See very little difference. Seed , to a certain extent. Has tendency to increase deposits. j Could not say. Don't notice any change. When saloons are ruunlng , banking is more aotlvo. [ No answer. ] Yes. Cannot see any difference. state that prohibition has benefited general banking business ; 106 state that it has not affected it ; 57 bankers state that they are unable to give defin ite repliesand ; C replies are too definite for classification. Only 15 bankers state that prohibition has injured bank ing. There are comparatively few sav ings banks in Kansas ( or any other western state ) , but 59 bankers state that prohibition has increased savings and savings deposits and only one bank er is of the opinion that it has injuri ously affected them. 3. In reply to the question , "How does it affect merchandising , groceries , dry goods , boots and shoes , etc ? " 377 replies were received. Of these , 261 state that the law has resulted in great benefit to all lines of legitimate mer chandising ; 49 state that it has not affected these lines of business ; 30 bankers state that they are unable to make any reply to the question ; and 11 replies are too indefinite for classifica tion. Six bankers state that by reason of the proximity of license towns , mer chandising is injured. Only 20 state that prohibition has directly injured merchandising. 4. In reply to the question , "How , if at all , does it affect collections ? " 357 replies were received. Of these , 217 state that the law has improved collec- < flow does It affect merchandising , groceries , dryv goods , boots and shoes , etc ? Same as upon business generally , Same as preceding. Same answer. No particular effect. Makes them bettor among laboring classes. Many children wear shoes and stockings * , tbatwltl strong drink would go unshod. All agree that it 1 a benefit. Our merchants are u unit in Buying that incrchun dlsiiig Is bettor under prohibition. Do not think we gain any trade by reason of proliibl tion. Among those doing a credit busln < jiles are safer than could possibly bo to a ualoo . tnmizlug put rouagc. If anything It helps them. Do not know. The people spend in necessaries what otherwise would go for the drink. Our drinkers are all credit men. and except atoue or two places cannot buy except for cash. Larger amount sold and more generally paid for. It lu no way is a hindrance tojmy of these. At least two-thirds of thu money that would go for drink , goes to pay store bills. Think it makes purchasers pay that for the goods they buy which would otherwise be spent in dram shops. [ No auswer. ] Every Hue of is benefited the merchandising by prohibitory hibitory law. At least no evil effect. Our town Is growing and im proving more than adjoining Nebraska towns. Cannot tell. Same reason. [ No answer. ] Have no means to find out. Favorably. Money saved from drink is used In better ways. Same as preceding. It makes it better. Effects good. It is a benefit to all merchants ; loss poor accounts and more cash. Not hurt by prohibition. Makes purchasers for cosh of former undesirable customers. Favorably. The money spent In saloon period for driuk is now spent , for Hour , clothinj * . etc. More money is expended 1'or groceries , etc. . and bet ter payments made. The mau who only makes enough money to support his family must reduce the < | uantity or quality of food and clothing by the amount spout for drink. Relieve it has had n good effect upon all tnido. Favorably. Money that went for whisky goes to grocers , etc ' The poorer class drink less and therefore hayo more money for the proper support of their families [ No auswer.l Money expended for whisky under the saloon law is now spent for the necessaries of Jife. About one-third. Gives the merchant confidence to credit poorer classes. A change is noticed from a decrease iu immigration. Very little. Cannot see that it increases sales. Same ; good effect None. Not to anything I know of. Our merchants sell more goods and collect their bills more closely than if they had to divide trade with the saloonkeeper. As parties use all the money they make it certainly must help mercantile trade. All kinds of business are better. Increases caoh sales and makes collections easier. No doubt it is an advantage , as more money now goes for these poods. No answer. ] Not unfavorably. To such un extent that in twelve years we have had but two failures Beneficial to all of them. Affects it very little if ary. No effect noticeable in this locality. For the better. % For good every time. increase purchase of them. Sot much change. They buy more goods and drink less. Has no effect. What affects one class of business will another tfoney is scarce. No answer. ] * Merchants inclined to drink on the sly , which of course damages business. "More money spent for these articles and less for liquor. Parties iu'clined to drink are bettor citizens and bet ter pay. Were There a saloon here , many who now pay their store accounts would spend theii money in the saloon. No answer. ] favorably of course. Merchants have had more business while our saloons were running. . The law is a certain benefit to all branchesof business Jen who spent their money in saloons now pay it for groceries , etc. There are more that buy and pay for what they get than before. tions ; 102 state that it has not affected them ; 22 bankers state that they cannot reply ; and 10 replies aie too indefinite for classification. Only G bankers state that prohibition has injuriously affected collections. It will certainly be admitted by every candid and intelligent reader , that taken as a class , the bankers of Kansas are the highest possible authority upon the effects of prohibition upon the ma terial prosperity of that state. Their testimony- not only furnishes a com plete refutation of the oft-repeated lie that prohibition has ruined Kansas , but conclusively establishes the fact that it has greatly benefitted all lines of legitimate business and added enormously to the aggregate wealth and prosperity of the state. Joints in Days of High License. To those who believe that prohibition will bring joints and that high license excludes them , the following item is of interest. The following places in Lin coln , under the beneficient rule of high license that regulates , hold govern ment licenses for the sale of liquor , but pay no city license and contribute no thousand dollars apiece to the much vaunted school fund for the education of Lincoln children. Here is the list of joints in Lincoln under high license : Fannie Chapman. Jessie Disbrow. 227 South Sixth. Sadie Freeman , 716 L street. Uow , If at all , docs it affect collections ? Collection ! } for the better , Sumo as preceding. Same as preceding. None at all. all.t Same. Helps them very much. Collections are far bettor , i t- Collections would bo oa cosily inniloundcrulicense law , " . Very few losses In trade now. Makes them better. Don't know. Cannot f-ay. A collection against a man who driifks Is generally very nearly valueless. , Collections impr < ved. Not detrimental in any way. \\hen people market crops or stock ami rcatizucaMi forximo they pay their debus because of no opportunity for drinks. It has a tendency to invite the piiyincutof debts of a certain class which might bo t-pout otherwise were there oppor tunity. Have collected faster than wo dcblred. Collections are mmih easier and more satisfactory. See no evil effect. Same. Perceptibly in a uumber of cases See no effect. Makes them better. Easier to collect. Sumo as preceding Same as preceding. .Miikes them 100 per cent better. MuliCri them better. Jaiinot say. Men pay debts with money oth- erwi.so lost on sprees. Makes them easier. Makt > s them butter. Makes them better. > o not notice much effect. .JCo answer. ] t has had u good effect. " ? avorably. % , Do not loan to men that drink. n some branches of hinnll trade It improves collection. ; No answer. ] .t makes them better. lave to sue most all collections. Collections are easier. to material'change. "Jone. " t teems to have no effect. Setter pay. 'copleaieno prompter iu pay ing. t docs not affect them at all. No answer. ] Usually collections are promptly met. 7olection& ! arc better. Alakcs it po-fcilIe to collect debts that under the free whiski-y administration would be un collectible , bosses would be j rcatcr were it not for prohibition. No answer. ] "avorably. Advantageously. Collections are more easily mot by debtor. Collect ions are much better. \o cllcct noticeable in this local ity. No answer. 1 ) ccidedly better on account of prohibition. lelps collections. Xot much chiinpe Collections ; ! little slow owing to poor crops the lust U years. fo cil'cct wliatcvcr. No answer. ] lakes them very hard. ; No answer. ] .iquor bills paid flrst. sone. Collections are more easily made Slakes collections easier. Don't think it would be of ben efit. No perceptible change. Collections are very difficult. Very beneficially. They are better. [ No answer. ] Dora Frazier , 710 N street. , Hattie Hoover , 137 South Sixth. Cora Huffman , 715 M street. Jennie Kingon , 135 South Tenth. Nellie Roberts , 1(128 ( M street. Lydia Stewart. 124 South Ninth. Anna Tripp. 800 N street. - Lincoln Turnverein,900 0 street. If these people do not pay their gov ernment license fee for fun they are selling liquor in violation of the Slo- cumb law and should be arrested and prosecuted. AVill any of the cham pions of the Slocumb law vindicate it by seeing that this is done ? Nebraska Bankers. The reputable bankers of Nebraska are indignantly repudiating the attempt to place them in the light of champions of the saloons and its attendant in famies. In response to u letter sent out by Mr. L. C. Humphrey , of the Ne braska Commercial bank of Lincoln , replies have been received from 173 banks as given below. It shows con clusively that the insinuation that the bankers of Nebraska are for the saloon is a base libel on decent men. * 0fthis number 59 are from Omaha and Nebraska City.