The national prohibitionist. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1907-1911, 1908-03-26
THE NATIONAL PRoHIBITIONIsT

blight which the closing of the saloon has
brought upon that city. In his address Sunday
night Mr.. Howard fired dynamite into the camp
of the brewers by quoting from their lying cam
paign posters and placing the facts his investi-
CATION brought out over against them. In part
Mr.. Howard said
| said to a colored truck driver, "Sam, they
are reporting that the town is on the bum; and
that Prohibition has deprived you of your home,
deprived you of your mule, your job and your
bacon How is it ?" Boss he said cts a le
It's depravity at all The 'depravity is all
on the brewers side
1t is amazing that such villanous lying can
find its way into public print. The reaction IS
bound to be crushing blow to the saloon The
whole city is aroused the wicked lies sent
out to save the day for the saloon The answer
of the city directory publishers to the lie that
the population is decreasing, shows an increase
of from $4,000 to over 100000 IN twenty-five
months since the 256 saloons were closed by
Trickett. The lie that the city is bankrupt and
running behind in finances in the absence OF
liquor revenue, is answered by the official
figures in the city treasurer's office, which makes
the remarkable showing of reduction In the
bonded debt for the two Prohibition years of
$41147o, the largest part (S245,ooo) the full
Prohibition year of 1907. The lie that property
valuation has decreased is answered by the tax
department which shows increase in actual
valuation of $4,77S,0OO, and an assessed valua-
tlon representing twenty percent OF real OF
$955 900. The lie that building operations have
decreased is answered by the records of the
building commissioner, which shows the most
remarkable increase in the history of the city,
over 200 percent the first ten months of Pro-
hibtion (19O6) and an increase for 1907
1906 of from 564 buildings to 944, representing
larger percentage of increase in building than
any other city in the United States.
The lie that business is languishing is
swered by the postmaster showing largely in
creased receipts; by merchants who have opened
their books; and bankers who show increase
in deposits for the twenty-five months of Pro-
hbition of from ten to fourteen Million an actual
increase of $3,7s6OOo, thirty-five percent in
spite of financial stringency."
The lie that taxes have been increased is
answered by the official showing of the tax
levies for 1907, which show reduction in the
city tax of twenty cents for each $500 valua
ton The lie that the fire department has been
crippled for lack of appropriation is answered
by the showing that four have been added
to the department and over $4,000 more in money
appropriated than when the saloon revenue con-
trbuted to the Rose administration.
Everywhere there has been gain-except
place-the falling off in the criminal in
dustrv has permitted reduction in the police
force of from eightyfour to fifty, with a
corresponding reduction in the criminal ex-
penses of the city.
The vacant "stores" in the few cases where
they have not been rented for legitimate pur-
poses, represent vacant saloons which were con-
structed for that purpose at localities where
other trades would not thrive. Of the twenty
five saloons driven from Fifth street to Eighth
street on Minnesota avenue, the principal bust
street, only remains unrented!
| interviewed merchants, l talked with mail
who reported the remarkable change on
routes formerly given over to the saloon and
,,,ko~