St. Paul daily globe., 1889-03-16
CHEER FROM IOWA.
The Governor of That State Gives
Glowing Picture of the E ffe CT
of Prohibition

of Prohibition.
Special TO the Globe
HURON, S. D., March 15.-In the con-
stltutional prohibition convention held
here on Wednesday the following letter
from Gov. Larrabee was read, and fol-
lowed by tremendous cheers. A reso-
luton asking its publication in st. Paul,
Minneapolis and other papers circu-
lating in South Dakota was passed.
Below is the letter:
Des MOines. To-, Feb. 16, 1SSo.-Rev.
William Fuller. Aberdeen: Your COM
munication of recent date is athand and
noted. In reply, desire to say that the
prohibitOry law in Iowa has much more
than answered the best expectations of
its former most hopeless advocates. AS
regards the assertion that prohibition
has driven people out of the state, |
think not person has left the state on
account of prohibition whom il is de-
sirable to have return. Many of those
engaged in the saloon and liquor bust
ness. and such persons as are usually
attracted by these interests have
left, aud the state is largely
the gamer thereby. The cheap lands
have induced great many enterprlsing
and valuable citizens to emigrate. indie
pendent of any influence of prohibition.
There has been a steady growth in our
population, and the census of 1890 will
probably show in Iowa at least 2,o0O, 600
inhabitants. The vote at the last cleo
tion shows an increase of 65,329 votes
over the presidential election of 1SS4-a
larger increase than the election of 1884
showed over that of 1880.
As to depreciation of value of real
estate occasioned by prohibition, it is
the sheerest nonsense. Values have,
believe, been sustained in Iowa as we'll
as in adjoining states where prohibition
is not the rule. The same causes that
have affected values elsewhere have un-
dOubtedly had their effect here. Crops
grow, herds multiply, and the markets
Of the world continue open to us the
same as before. and why should bust
ness suffer? Money is now spent for
the necessarieS of life and for legiti-
mate uses. instead of being spent at the
saloon.
The banking business of state is
perhaps as fair a barometer of business
as can be found. The number of banks
in the state has increased from 1S6 in
1888 to PA in 1888; deposits have in
creased from S27, ,251, 1874 to S39, ,935,-
3266S in 1855.
think more than half of the iaiis in
the state are entirely empty at the pres
ent time. There are ninety-eight less
conyicts in our penitentiaries than there
were three years ago, notwithstanding
the growth of the population. Expenses
in criminal courts have decreased very
largely during the last few years. 1
send you with this copy of collec-
ton of letters from the district Judges
of our state. which will show you that
the testimony is overwhelmingly in
favor of the law. More recent state
ments from them would, no doubt, show
still more favorable results.
Tramps are very scarce in Iowa.
There are evidently very few attrac-
tions for them here. Probably more
than 5000 of their recruiting stations
have been closed in Iowa during the
last five years. The wives and mothers
of the state, and especially those of
small means, are almost unanimously in