The Hawaiian gazette., 1888-04-03
THE LIQUOR PROBLEM VI.

city of Atlanta is situated, voted for
prohibition something over two years
ago. The vote polled was small, and
the majority in favor of prohibition
was only 22S. Two years later, ON the
26th OF last November, the question
WAS again submitted to the people of
the county, and, at an election in
which the vote polled was nearly
twenty per cent. larger, the majority
against prohibition was l,l22. 1t is
plain, therefore, that prohibition was
tried there under exceptionally unfa-
vorable circumstances. Besides the
want Of popular support, the law was
very feeble in It's own terms, according
TO the view Of prohibitienists. With
these facts in view the reader will
please give his attention to the follow
ing quotations from an editorial in the
atlanta Constitution of June p, 1887,
bearing in mind that the Constitution
is not prohibition organ, and there
fore not open to the charge of writing
such editorial matter 81 for foreign con-
sumption: " "In consideration of the
small majority with which Prohibi-
ton was carried, and the large num-
Der of people who were opposed TO
seeing it prohibit, the law has been
maTvelouSly well observed"
"PrOhibitiOn has not injured the
city financially. According To the
assessors books, property in the city
has increased over S2,00O,000. TdreS
hare not been increased. Two streets
in the city, Decatur and Peters, Were
known as liquor streets. 1t was hardly
considered proper for lady 10 walk
these streets without an escort. Now
they are just as orderly as any in the
city. Property on them has advanced
from ten TO twenty-five per cent. The
loss of $40 600 revenue consequent on
closing the saloon, has tended in no
degree TO impede the city's progress in
any direction. Large appropriations
have been made to the water-works,
the public schools, the Piedmont Fair,
and other improvements
''StOres in which the liquor trade
was conducted are not vacant, but are
now occupied by other lines of trade.
According to the real estate men more
labOrerS and men of limited means are
buying lots than ever before. Rents
are more promptly paid than formerly.
More houses are rented by the same
mum Der of families than heretofore.
Before prohibition, sometimes as
many as three families would live
in one house. The heads of those
families are now not spending their
money for drink; are each able
To rent Il house, thus using three
instead of one. WOThingmen who
formerly spent Il great part of
their money for liquor, now spend it
in food and clothes for their families.
The retail grocery men sell more goods
and collect their bills better than ever
before. Thus they are able to settle
more promptly with the wholesale
men,
Attendance upon the public schools
has increased The Superintendent of
Public instruction said in his report to
the Board of Education, made January
l, 1887:
During the past year it has become
a subject of remark by teachers in the
schools and by visitors, that the chill
dren were more tidy, were better
dressed, were better shOd, and pre-
sented a heater appearance than ever
before. Less trouble has been expert
enced in having parents purchase
books required by the rules fewer
children have been withdrawn to aid
in supporting the family; the higher
classes in the grammar schools have
been fuller, and more children have
been promoted to the high schools,
both male and female, than ever before
in the history of the schools. All
these indications point to the increased
prosperity of the city, and 10 the grow
Ing interest in the cause Of education
on the part of the people.
'There has been a marked increase
in attendance upon the Sunday Schools
of the city. This Is especially notice
able among the suburban churches.
Many children have started to the
Sunday Schools who were not able to
attend for want of proper clothing.
1.-The determination on the part of
the people to prohibit the liquor traffic
has stimulate a disposition to do
away with other evils. The laws
against gambling are rigidIy enforced.
4 considerable stock of gamblers tools
gathered together by the police for
-EN Cl III y EltS LJdSlr WIS IEEEuti| uScu
for the purpose of making large bon
IRE on one of the unOccupied squares
of the city. The city council has re-
fused longer to grant licenses to bucket
shops, thus putting the seal of its con-
domination upon gambling of all kinds.
All these reforms have had de-
cided tendency TO diminish crime.
Two weeks were necessary formerly to
get through with the criminal docket
During the present year it was closed
out in two days The chain-gang is
almost left with nothing but the
chains and the balls. The gang part
would not be large enough to work
the. public roads of the county, were it
not augmented by fresh supplies from
the surrounding counties. The city
government is in the hands of our best
citizens"
At later date Col. Grady, the editor
Of the Constitution, said Of the effects
Of prohibition: "In the two years of
prohibition the records showed a de-
III y n.