Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-03-28
BOTH SIDES OF THE PROHI-
BTTION QUESTION
Conditions at Jacksonville.
BY THE PRESS COMMITTEE, OF THE
NIL PIP OIL RIrIQN IzEAGI-E

IBY THE PRESS COMMITTEE, OF HE
ANTI PROHIBITION LEAGUE.I
Conditions in Jacksonville since that
city, by reason of being in two town
ships, with a considerable farming
population voting in each, became anti
saloon territory, are the subject of|in-
vestigation by the Peoria Star. Here
are some of the results of the inquiry:
William \. Hairgrave, attorney at
law, was interviewed and consented to
tell Of the effect of local option. He
declared that real estate values in
of a million dollars; rents have gone
, down 25 per cent, and there are by
actual count 147- empty dwellings in
Jacksonville.
Mr. Hairgrave argued this way: ''If
business that would occupy 80 store
buildings in your city were knocking
at your door and promised to put S25,
, 600 annually into your city treasury,
your Business Mems club would break
their necks to get that business. That
is what the saloon business meant to
Jacksonville, and now that it has been
voted on, you can imagine the effect"
! He said there was general protest
/ against the special vehicle tax pro-
posed by the council. but that it would
have to come to get the revenue.
Many Boodeggcrs.
Mr.. Hairgrave declared that he had
reliable information from former pc
/ lice official who knew whereof he
spoke, and this official assured him
that there were nc less than 30 boot
leggers in Jacksonville who were do
ing business on the quiet. He also
u, declared that the drug stores were
selling whisky with small amount of
glycerine mixed in it, and that large
number We're buying it.
! The express companies business has
increased until it is almost doubled.
/ Mr. Hairgrave, while not sanguine
about a new vote if the entire district
or township voted on it, declared en-
phatically that if the city of Jackson.
vile got vote on the proposition,
the saloons would be voted in.
He declared that while in general
business men were not making any
complaints, he knew from what he
had been told that it was no better
than before and in many cases there
was falling off.
There is more whisky being con-
lsumed now than ever, and less beer.
Whisky is more degrading and the
effects will soon be felt in this city
Grocer Says IL Hurts.
AT Miller Bros. one of the leading
grocery houses CT the city, the same
story was told. while it is yet a lit
tie early to tell just what permanent
effect the closing of the saloons will
have on business" said Mr.. Mathew
Miller, I'VE do know this, that many
who formerly came to Jacksonville to
trade. do not come now. That they are
going to other nearby towns. and that
we are the losers. | do not think that
local option is good for any town, and
especially net for a city of this size.
further think that many voted for 10
cal option under a misrepresentation
The wording of the proposition on the
ballot fooled a great many, and know
I of number who were fooled. If the
vote We're to be held again l am sure
it would be different
Mr. Miller voiced the sentiments OF
many merchants and expressed regret
that the citylshould find itself SO soon
under the necessity of levying a spe
cial tax TO get the money to run the
city on. He thought the vehicle tax
would cause trouble, and advocated a
general poll tax of 81 or IS for each
voter to help out the city.
While business conditions were moi
greatly disturbed, he believed there
would be if the supreme court should
uphold the law ana all the saloon
+ buildings be vacated.
, 1t would cut rent in two and cause
), business depression at once. He re
, ferred to the number of empty house.
|, as compared to a year ago, and de
clared that never in the history o
the city had there been so many va
/, 'cant dwellings
/ PRESS COMMITTEE ANTI PRoHV
BITION LEAGUE.