Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1908-05-08
SAYS PROHIBITION
DOES NOT PROHIBIT

of the Gem OF the Mountain circle last
Saturday. Mrs Hunter headed the dis
cussion IN favor prohibition, and Miss
Flynn took the side in opposition.
Following is a portion of the paper
read by Miss Flynn.
In discussing the question of prohib-
ition and local option an effort will be
made to ignore entirely the theoretical
side of the question, and look at it from
pratical point of view.
In fact the time when the theory of
prohibition or local option can be of
any weight in determining the prob
able success of measures intended to
eliminate tine many evils connected
with the liquor traffic has passed.
Throughout the length and breadth OF
the land different localities have exper-
inented with the question, and have
tried different laws. The only logical
discussion of the subject at this time is
one which looks at the results of the
past, and not one which theories on a
question which is no longer theory.
IL 10 huuuIlOp0 dI bu0 OutoCo bn6p phO -
quor traffic as it is abused has done and
is doing great harm to our nation. The
tmost severe condemnation that could
be brought against the prevalence of
the use of Intoxicating liquors would
be freely admitted in this paper. The
only question, and the disputed ques-
ton is evil Legislation, prohibiting
the sale or use of intoxicants, or the
local option laws, improve the condi-
ton. p
To answer this question we have bnt
to turn our attention to the many states
aud communities that have tried the
remedies, and ask them "Have they
improved your condition.%
We could not answer this question
more effectively than to quote from the
Milwaukee Sentinel of March 3, in
which Rev. Coleman, one Of the found
ers of the Anti Saloon league, and COM
monty regarded as sort of an extremist
: on the liquor question was interviewed
He said Prohibition does not prohibit
and you will always find that there /;
= more liquor drunk in prohibition dist.
riots than there was before prohibition
. was inaugurated.
. In Kansas City some interesting fact'
present themselves Prohibition wa
= enforced. The saloons all closed. Foul
Z hundred choice business locations wer
4 soon vacant Locations that preyiousl,
. brought rental of$60 per month, wen
a tenantless at an offer of SIS per month
= Taxes increased from 1910 in 1904 t
. s.. 90 in 1907. Where there was sur
> plus in the city treasury in 1904 ther
was deficit in the treasury in 1907 Q
y $35, 900.
= 1t is not the argument of this pape
. to say that because prohibition para
. lived the financial interests of Kanss
City 1t is bad thing. II the evils Of th
liquor traffic had been suppressed "
. would say that half of Kansas City wa
a small price TO have paid for the nun
Der TO souls that would have been save'
i The argument of the example of Kal
sas City is that while they were ACCOM-
fishing the wreck Of the financial int
ests of the city, they increased instef
III of decreased the liquor evil.
Ill The records of the city police eou
actually show agrester average numb
of arrests on the charge of drunkene
/ alone, during the years of prohibits
than they did during the years VIII
saloons were allowed to run.
Not only the increase in drunkent
was the result, but every sort of criI
increased. ms, cad of liquor dealers pa
ing license, which went to meet t
expenses OF the city government a
Ill conducting their traffic openly, tn
violated the laws, bought the city off
ais, and paid them to overlook their \
NJ breaking, sold their hquar and ruin
-~S lives as before. The city meanwh
. after losing the revenue, and raisi
taxes as high as the people would sta
> > still had not enough money to run
government as before. The police To-
was decreased. Cunning criminals tc
advantage of the lack of police surve
Ii ance. Murders and crimes of all XIII
- exceeded greatly those of liquor trn
; . days. Statistics show that after the q
D. : ing Of the saloons the sale of liquor
III /. drug stores increaed 400 per cent,
: liquor was sold in violation OF the !
:" . by utbera beside the drug stores
IN . Local Option can acc omplish no q
II . that straight prohibition cant accof
ar i lish, and is more disastrous in its RESI-
. where tried than prohibition strail
y Prohibition enthusiasts concieEeA
)u local option idea because sheY CO
er . secure this reeaSure where they CO
not secure straight prohibition In
DRY it was beautiful. It provides
!. = each community shall vote at each z