Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-10
By WILLIAM f. CURTIS.

were used for the manufacture of dis
titled and malt liquors
The value of the corn crop last fall.
according to Secretary Wilson,: eStl-
mate, was $3.50 100000 while the value
of the corn used by the distillers and
the breweries during the year is esti-
mated to have been from S2O,Um,ooO to
$21 100000.
Mr.. Giovannoli. chief clerk of The in
ternal revenue bureau says that :3, a.
500 bushels Of corn were used last year
for the manufacture of distilled spirits.
That includes not only whisky and
other beverages. but the larger proper
ton was for alcohol and other spirits
used in the trades and arts.
Mr. Giovannoli explains that the bu-
reau does not compile the returns con-
corning the amount of corn consumed
in the manufacture of malt liquors. but
it is much less than for distilled liquors
because hops. barley. rice and other
grains are used for beer rather than
corn.
The internal revenue bureau. therefore
confirms the estimate of the Department.
of Agriculture that only an infiniteslmai
percentage of the corn crop Is used Tor
tilleries and all the breweries were closed
the farmers would never suspect 1t SO far
as their market for corn is concerned.
Government Liquor Licenses.
have also been asked by several people
the number of liquor licenses granted by
the government since the prohibition wave
struck the country. In reply Mr.. GiOvan-
noli, chief clerk OF the internal revenue
bureau, says that the returns show an in
crease of about 500 wholesale licenses and
about 1900 retail licenses during the first
three months Of the present hscai year
The returns also show an increase of
100000 gallons in the consumption of
tell, ~, @{cff lla1
increase of about S12. 10000 in the reve-
nue. collected upon distilled and malt
liquors over the previous year.
1t should be understood that every per-
SON who sells liquor for any purpose
every druggist who keeps it for medicinal
purposes and sells 1t upon the prescrip-
tons of physicians. every grocer who sells
brandy whisky. wine, beer and other
preparations containing alcohol for cook
ing or table purposes-is required to obtain
d license from the national government.
This increase OF licenses for retail trade
includes all such dealers, which is about
the usual annual gain. But wholesale
licenses are not granted to anv one ex-
cept those who deal almost exclusively
in strong drink and. as 1 have said.
the increase was 500 last year.
1t is not possible to tell whether there
has been any falling off in the number
of licenses in the new prohibition states,
because the returns are not in for the
short time since the prohibitory laws
went into effect. Last year there were
los wholesale and 429 retail liquor deal
ers in Georgia and 6S wholesale and
74S retail dealers in Alabama. including
druggists and grocers which cannot be
distinguished from saloon keepers In
Kansas last year there were ~ licenses
granted to wholesale liquor dealers and
1853 to retail liquor dealers. No one can
tell how many of these were for salons
There has been no perceptible decrease in
the revenues from liquor licenses in any
of the prohibition states for the last few
years. which is explained on the theory
that the number OF druggists and grocers
selling for medicinal and other purposes
has Increased as rapidly as the number
Of saloons has decreased
Nor has the enactment of prohibition
laws decreased the revenues of the gov
eminent from the manufa cture and sale
of liquor. This Is accounted for OH the
theory that the use of distilled spirits
in the manufactures and the arts has
increased more rapidly than their con-
sumption as beverages has decreased.
The Prohibition Wave
The prohibition wave seems to be re-
sistless. and people who are giving close
attention to the subject predict that be-
fore the adjournment of legislatures now
i'm, session several other states will he
added to the dry list. You have doubt
less noticed the recent action of the state
senate of Ohio in passing county local
option bill, which. it is said. will be con-
Cured in promptly by the assembly.
There has been municipal local option in
Ohio for several years. and it is esti
mated that more than so per cent of the
towns have prohibited the sale of liquor
But the other 20 per cent still allow sa-
looms because the foreign element and
many of the working classes want whisky
and beer. The enactment OF the pending
bill. which allows everybody in the county
I
situation. for the farmer vote will be
almost unanimous in favor of prohibi-
ton. 1t is confidently predicted that
when this law goes into effect CuyahOga
(Cleveland). Franklin (Coumbus) and
Hamilton (CmcinnatD are the only coun-
ties in Ohio In which liquor will be sold
But Lucas county (Tnledo) is doubtful.
The legislature of West Virginia has re-
Gently adopted a resolution by vote of
sixty-seven to twelve for the submission
of a constitutional amendment prohibiting
the manufacture and sale of liquors as
beverages in that state and it is asserted
that the heavy vote in its favor is a fair
index of public sentiment. The constitu-
tional amendment will be submitted in
November: it has been Endorsed by both
political parties and will be carried by an
overwhelming majority.
This will make seven prohibition states
Maine. Kansas. North Dakota. Oklahoma
Georgia and Alabama. Prohibition cam
paigns are now going on in Mississippi.
North Carolina and Texas. and the for
Iner state will certainly be added to the
list before the end OF the year. while The
other two are probable.
The prohibition movement i'll Missouri
and Indiana is gaining great Roadway.
and the legislatures of those states are
expected 10 take action within another
year.
There are now thrty-siX local option
states in which from one-half 10 two
thirds of the counties the sale of liquor
is prohibited by the vote of the people.
In Tennessee liquor is sold in only four
towns and in North Carolina in only two.
Enforcing Prohibitory Law.
Mr.. Charles s. Gleed of Topeka told me
the other day that there has recently been
a decided improvement in the enforcement
of the prOhibtory law in certain Kansas
towns-notably Atchison. Leavenworth,
Kansas City and Wichita. II do not
know il there is much difference any