The national prohibitionist. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1907-1911, 1908-06-11
June II, 1908.

Without the slightest hesitation, and
with full assurance that the fact is as
clearly demonstrated in the history of
the state OF Iowa as any fact of the
states history, it can be asserted that
Prohibition in Iowa was magnificent
Success. In spite of statements made to
the contrary by the liquor interests, the
record clearly shows that the state pros
pered in every material respect, that for
several years the sale of liquor was re-
duced to minimum and that crime al
most disappeared in large part of the
state In short, Prohibition, though adj
ministered by half-hearted officials, did
was it was expected to do, in a very
large degree.
In the year 1885, the year following
the going in force of the Prohibition
law, the people of Iowa elected Will
liam Larrabee governor. Mr.. Larrabee
had been an opponent of Prohibition
and his election shows clearly that up
to that time it had not dawned upon the
people of the state, though they were
by large majority in favor of the
prohibitory law, that the administrators
of the law must be in sympathy with
it to secure good results Governor
Larrabee, however, proved to be an
honest and more thar hirly efficient
administrator Finding the law upon
the statute books he believed that it
ought to be enforced, and watching its
results he became convinced of its value
to the state, and in his letters and state
papers are found some of the most val
liable testimonials of the results of the
law. Two of these statements follow.
On February 16, 1899, Governor LARA
bee wrote:
think more than half of the jails in the
state are entirely empty at the present time.
There are SO less convicts in our peniten-
tiaries than there were three years ago, not
outstanding the growth of the population:
Expenses in criminal courts have decreased
very largely during the last five years. The
wives and mothers of the state, and especially
in favor of the law. The families of laborng
men now receive the benefits of the earnings
that formerly went to the saloons There is
no question in my mind but what the law is
doing good for the people. My views hereto
fore advanced in favor of the law are
strengthened and confirmed by added expert
ence
At another time during his governor
ship, Governor Larrabee made the fol-
lowing written statement:
The assertion that Prohibition has been ruin
to the business interests of Iowa, and that
real estate and values of other property are
depressed, and that people are leaving the state
to escape the blight of Prohibition" is too
absurd for notice. The beneficial results of
Prohibition are observable on every hand
where the law. has been enforced. Moral,
intellectual and material welfare have been
advanced. Money is now spent for the neces-
saries of life and for legitimate uses instead
of being spent at the saloon. The banking
business Of a state is perhaps as. fair, bar
ometer of business as can be found The
number of banks in the state has increased
from 1876 in 1883 to 244 in 1888; deposits
haze increased from $27,s21, 719.74 to $685.
362.6S in 1888.
In 1885 number of the newspaper
men of Iowa joined in an excursion to
the Pacific coast. While they were in
Portland something was published in
one of the daily papers derogatory to
the Prohibition policy of the state of
Iowa. This called forth a statement
which was signed by thirty EIGHT Iowa
editors, headed by C. F. Clarkson, we'll