Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1904-12-19
PROHIBITION AS A BUSINESS
PROPOSITION.

PROPOSITION.
"The Standard" believes that if in
smaller towns and cities campaign
could be waged in behalf of prohibl-
ton upon a business basis, showing
taxpayers the economy of prohibl-
ton as against even extremely high
license, after proper agitation pro-
hibition could be secured. 1t cites
the case of Oregon, ILL.,, small city
of 1000 inhabitants which recently
raised the license fee to 81 900 and
thereby reduced the number of sa-
looms, but put more power in the few
saloons which now exist.
In that small city ten saloons pay
licenses of 81, 900 each. This fact is
suggestive not My of the large profit
that is expected by the saloonkeep-
ers of this comparatively small COM
munity, but of the large amount of
money taken from legitimate trade
channels-in this particular instance
reaching the sum of perhaps $4,000
which might be expended in mer-
chandise, home improvements, farm
machinery, and like necessities.
"The Portland Journal'' recently
published these facts concerning sew
eral cities in the state of Oregon in
which prohibition has been effective
for varying periods:
Ashland, city of $500 population,
has tested both the dry and wet
policy. A merchant testified that,
since the saloons were voted out, he
had a more desirable class of custom
ers, and barber said that his bust
ness was 3315 per cent. better than
when there were saloons in town.
Monmouth is a beautiful town less
than three miles from the saloon
town of Independence. The leading
business firm writes: "With an ex-
perience of ten years in general mer'
chandise in a saloon town and five
years in a prohibition town, I am
thoroughly convinced that the ga
loon is of no assistance whatever as
a means of drawing trade in gener-
al way to town, and that it is of no
benefit whatever to any legitimate
business, but on the contrary is
| positive detriment to business inter
ests from every point of view, social
ly, morally and financially, and the
| greatest menace to trade interest
with which the business world has to
co tend"
Milton is one of the most prosper
Gus towns in Oregon. The Bank of
Milton has capital stock of $50, COO.
It's cashier gives the following testi-
monial: "Milton has not had saloon
for eighteen or twenty years and
during that time the population has
increased 300 per cent. Business is
good in all lines of trade, good pub
lie schools with ten teachers, a
college and four churches. The
treasurer's report at the close of last
year showed the total indebtedness
of the city to be $40, 271.34 and the
city owns its own water and electric
light system. which brought i'll a
revenue last year of $3.50, the sys-
tenn being worth not less than 5000,
on the basis of the income derived
The tax rate is IL mills. Bank depos-
its are $50, 900. AS a rule, our citi-
zens are prosperous. The fact that
the temperance element wins al
every election is proof that a major
ity of them do not care to exchange
present conditions for the saloon."-
Union Signal.
Worth Remembering
THE day retur ns. and brings us tt
petty round of irritating concerns
and duties. Help Us to play the man
help us to perform them with Iawgh.
ter and kind faces; let cheerfulness
abound with Industry. Give US to &
bhthely on our business all this day
bring Us to our re sting beds wear.
and content and undiscovered ar
grant Us in the end the gift of sleep"
RORERT |, STEVENSON