1910 The Stevens Point Saloon Cases

Searching the Stevens Point Journal for articles mentioning John Korda-2's name, I came up with the following mention at the regular July meeting of the Stevens Point Common Council:

Stevens Point Journal

9 July 1910

THE COMMON COUNCIL MEETS

An Uneventful Session Devoted to Minor Miscellaneous Business.

...The monthly schedule of claims was allowed, as per report of the controller and finance committee...
...An appropriation of $5 was made to John Korda-2 for his services as interpreter during the trial of the saloon cases...

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This sounded interesting enough to pursue. I found a few articles that give us a sense of the politics of Stevens Point and the tactics used by the Christian Women's Temperance Union (C.W.T.U.) to enforce the regulation of saloons.

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Stevens Point Journal
9 April 1910
THE COUNCIL MEETING

Ald. Abb Delays Action in the Saloon License Cases on Legal Technicality.

All the aldermen except Hodsdon were present at the meeting of the common council Wednesday evening [April 6, 1910].

[...]

The formal complaint in the matter of the revocation of licenses in the case of several saloon keepers who have pleaded guilty to selling liquor to minors and posted persons was filed by Mrs. Carrie Howard, Mrs. Laura Burdick and Mrs. Ida Stratton, representing the local W.C.T.U. The papers in each case occupied several typewrtitten pages. After the clerk had waded through three of them Ald. Pagel moved that the rest be introduced by title and let it go at that. Ald. Abb called for the city attorney and because of his absence moved that the complaints be referred to the city attorney for further consideration and to take the necessary legal steps. Ald. Scribner thought the city attorney should be called for at once but failed to make a motion to that end. Mrs. Ida Stratton, acting as spokesman for a group of about a dozen women from the W.C.T.U., who were present, stated the law in the case and appealed to the council "on behalf of the mothers of Stevens Point" to enforce the law. Ald. Abb, assuming an unctious attitude, assured "the ladies" that the aldermen desired to be perfectly fair to both sides, but as it was a very delicate matter, requiring legal advice, it was deemed best to postpone action in the case until the city attorney could be heard from definitely as to the proper course to pursue. Ald. Redfield moved to amend Ald. Abb's motion by referring the matter to the city clerk to secure the advice of the city attorney at once and act accordingly. Ald. Abb withdrew his original motion and Ald. Redfield's motion prevailed, the only alderman voting no being Scribner.

The saloons against which complaint was filed are operated by Peck Bros., Strong Bros., Ritski Bros., Aug. Kotlewski, Sheppreaux & Nowak, and Klish Bros.

[...]

At this first point the city attorney came in and the previous action on the licenses was reconsidered. A summons was issued to the saloon keepers interested to appear for a hearing next Tuesday [April 12, 1910] evening at 7:30 at a special meeting of the council.

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The Gazette

(Stevens Point)

13 April 1910

TWO ADDITIONS TO CITY

Plats for McKinley park and Sellers' Additions Offered to Council -- Saloon Keepers to Appear

The common council met in adjourned meeting on Wenesday evening last, Mayor Cashin and all members except Ald. Hodsdon being present...

...At this time complaints were read against Anastasia and William Peck, Frank and Nelson Strong, Jr., Julius Ritski, Aug. Kotlewski, Paul Shepreaux, John Nowak and Albert and Geo. Klisch, all saloonkeepers, who operate six different places, charging them with having sold liquor to minors. These complaints were signed by Mesdames Howard, Burdick and Stratton, officers of the local W.C.T.U., and duly certified to before court officers, asking that the licenses of the above named parties be revoked. After they had been read, Ald. Abb wanted the matter referred to the city attorney, but as that officer was not present, the alderman thought that he should be sent for that he might give proper advice. Ald. Scribner was also of the opinion that the city attorney should be present and Mrs. Ida Stratton, secretary of the local temperance organization, cited the law in the case, saying that the ladies who were present at this time, numbering between 12 and 15, appeared on behalf of the mothers of Stevens Point. Ald. Abb replied that he wanted to be fair in the matter and for this reason wanted to proceed according to law and place the matter in the hands of the city attorney. Others who joined in the discussion were Ald. Schenk, Cook and Redfield, and the latter made a motion that the city clerk be guided by the advice of the city attorney and issue summonses for the saloonkeepers to appear for examination according to law. This motion was carried, but later rescinded, when Attorney Owen arrived and stated that the council had no authority to delegate this matter to anyone, but must follow the law, which plainly states that the clerk shall notify liquor dealers complained of to appear for examination in not less than three days nor more than ten days. Ald. Redfield made a motion that the summons be made returnable for Tuesday evening, April 12th, at 7:30 o'clock. As City Atty. Owen, however, was necessarily obliged to be absent from the city yesterday, the members of the council were notified on Saturday that the date for the hearing had been changed until tomorrow evening.

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...more to come...