The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-12-05
Total arrests all offAnsas 1c 62k eA23

Recently the warden of our county jail published figures in our daily pa pers showing that for nine months county prisoners had decreased more than $5,000, about one-third tess than the same period last year. which de- crease he attributes to prohibition. Our Criminal Judges say that capf- tai felonies have decreased under pro- hibltion about 50 per cent, and other cases about 40 per cent.
 The Birmingham Age Herald in . recent issue printed the statement that on account of there being no empty stores in the business portion of our city. the ladies of the South Side Bap- their bazaar in a private home. and an ordinary observer on our streets can verify very readily this condition. Our Building Inspectors books show ham has issued about 400 building per | mits, involving an expenditure of $2,s | S96, ,43S. This is an increase of S367,- 4e6 over the same period in 1907; ana the immediate district has in | creased between $15,000,000 and S20,. l 100000 during 1908, all of which are splendid economic testimonials to the | fact that prohibition at least does not injure the. economic welfare of the Your telegram starts off with the | statement that q move will be made in the early future to have the pro hibition law changed, and an attempt Is made in the article to cause the in- ference that the temperance people are compelled by circnmstanees and condt- tions, to feel that this ought to be done, but we wish to assure you that such is not fact, The ex-liquor men are the ones who want a change made | of Jefferson County and Birmingham | will resist any. effort to change and go back to the open saloon, The pro more for Birmingham these first elev- en months of trial than It's most zeal- ous advocates believed it would. and we propose to give 1t fairer test each It might be. well for us to quote l News, a responsible and reliable daily newspaper of our city This. editorial Before giving the editorial we wish to call attention to the fact that on Thanksgiving Day, 1907. there were eighteen arrests for drunkenness on with open saloons. This year. under prohibition, with all the reported at- tempts at the breaking Of this law, and the numerous blind tigers said to be prevailing. there were only three | We give you the editorial from The News:
 "score Again for Prohibition.
 Thanksgiving Day was marked by 
 Birmingham. Thousands spent most of l the day out of doors The street cars were packed with people. On the downtown ithoroughfares the trafic tional holiday, and business was large | ly suspended. As a result the greater proportion of the people had nothing particular to do Under ordinary con- are apt to be considerable number of l disturbahces, personal alterations or | accidents on the streets of city like The crowds were unusually well be- | haved. There were no disturbances, no accidents. It may be asked by some what is the underlying cause of such a record. The answer IS, prohibition. Since the closing of the saloons, Birm- | tngham has witnessed a marvellous change at times when large crowds as- l semble On the streets and there is more or less reason to look for dis- turbances and accidents. The big Con- 1 federate reunion was case in point Though there were some 50,000 visi- l crowded with people out for a cele- bration. there were no personal alter cations, no trouble. no accidents. The same may be said or election night | when large crowds were on the streets to read the news bulletins. And here 1t is: again. public holiday with thous- ands on the streets. and no trouble. nobody hurt These conditions were never known when the open saloons were turning out large numbers of boisterous, excited men. many of whom were ready to start disturbance of some kind as soon as they got under the influence of liquor. The contra st must necessarily present itself to the mind of the thoughtfuP man as an ar- gument in favor of prohibition. Ever since it went into effect Birmingham has been a much safer and a much better place to live in. If prohibition Is given the chance in this community to which it is entitled as an institu- ton established by law, 1t will prove a potent factor as the champion of the public peace, maintenance of the public safety, preservation of the pub lie welfare"
 We submit these statements with out further comment, trusting that you ] will give them space In order that true conditions existing in Birmingham may be properly set forth to your readers
 Yours very truly.
 c. H. Estes.
 F. M Jackson.
 F. M. Goodau
 James Weisei,
 w. M. Cosby,
 J. T. Morgan.
 J. L.. Yancey ! Ta