The commonwealth., 1904-08-18
HOW PROHIBITION WORKS IN
FLORIDA.
We hope they will.

Correspondence to The Commonw ealth.
Otter Greek, Fla, Aug. II, '04.
Mr. Editor Il have just read an
account of a recent wet AID dry elec-
ton in two North Carolina towns,
Charlotte end New Berne. Charlotte
voted out saloons by majority of four
hundred and New Berne has brought
honor on herself by piling up major
ity of five hundred.
It may not be uninteresting to your
readers to learn something of the
effects of prohibition in GAINESVILLE,
Fla, town of about six thousand in
habitants, only a few miles from Otter
Creek. One year ago the 9th OF last
June, the thirteen saloons were closed
by the order Of the people, expressed
in an election in which the drys won
by almost three to one. The vets de-
clared that grass would grow in the
streets and that business would be
;1aralyzed, while blin1 tigers would
lnrk in every fence corner and catch
the unwary and carry them off in the
swamps and there devour them at
heir pleasure.
Well, one year has passed and the
county has not gone into bankruptcy
md neither haye all the business
houses closed their doors. The people
aaye managed to live and seemed to be
veil kept. On the other hand all the
good that was claimed by the temper
ance people, and much more, has been
realized. The two main arguments of
The saloonists have been effectually ex-
ploded. viz The failure Of business
md the blind tiger scare.
l have talked with some ct the most
prominent business men in Gaines
>ile. Since closing the bar-rooms
here has been spent for improve
'nents and buildings $4,000. Both
banks have done much larger busi-
ness this year than under the saloon
regime. The deposits are larger and
The volume of business is greater. The
cashier OF one bank tells me that he
las more than 100000 on deposit
placed IN the bank by men who up to
the time the town went dry never
made any deposits at all. The records
Of mayors court shows decrease OF
arrests Is per cent.
The l9th day of last January l was
in Gainesville where there we're about
1000 people to celebrate General Lees
birthday. There was not a disturbance,
not drunken or drinking person, no
accident OF any sort, thing that would
have been almost impossible had there
been any saloons in the city. There
was few weeks ago Sunday-school
picnic at Cedar Keys. About $500
people attended, over 900 from Gaines
Vile were there, and not disturbance
ct any kind.
But figures can't show tue blessed
effects to be seen in the homes in
which there were drunken husbands or
sons. Some men who were habitusl
drinkers have been sober and respecta-
be for the past year. Our boys can be
on the streets without having a saloon
thrust In their faces as temptation to
drink. Merchants can more easily
collect their bills than when there
we're saloons. One lady says her
'eighbor had drinking husband and
while saloons were in town she never
saw any evidence of love or affection
between them but since the husband
has no saloon to go to he spends his
time at home, and the lady declared
she sees them embrace each other, kiss
as though they were in love and that
he treats the wife of his youth as though
he really loved Ler. Many other things
could be said.
Yours very truly,
W. d. PENDER.