The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1908-02-21


large majority of the professional
men and other intelligent citizens.
Bank Deposits Increase.
II can show you letter from tn,
President of the Home City banl
saying that his business has increas
ed 46 per cent as result of the en-
forcement of the prohibition law. H,
says that when people are not per
mitted to spend money for a ba(
purpose they will invest it for a goot
purpose. Mr.. Atkinson, vice presi
dent of the bank at Armourdale, one
of our suburbs, says their business
has increased SO per cent. The pres
ident of one of our savings banks
has written me that not only has Its
business increased so per cent, but
that rs per cent of the new custom.
ers are of the class that formerly
spent all their money for liquor
"One of our business men who was
asked his opinion, wrote to friend
saying: I have been in business in
Kansas City, Kan, for seventeen
years and there are more houses and
good houses being built; more peo-
pie are buying homes, and seeking
investments than in any year since
| have lived here Like most of the
business men of this city, in the past
! have believed in high license and
local option. Now | am in favor
of closing the saloons and keeping
them closed. Drinking is not neces-
sary; 1t is only a habit
The people who objected to the
enforcement of the prohibition law
continued Mr.. Trickett, said that it
would destroy the property of our
city; they said it would stop the cree
ton of buildings, but the official rec
ords show that during the year after
the closing of the saloons, from July
l, 1906, to July 1, 1907, Kansas City
Kan, showed an increase of 2O9.7
in building operations, the largest of
any city in the Union. The next
largest gain was n per cent. Three
times as many laboring men bought
homes in our town last year than
ever before in it's history.
Crime Decreasing.
The effect upon crime and dis
order has been similar. The closing
of the saloons has reduced our court
expenses $25, 900 year, which was
formerly spent in the prosecution
of criminals. During the time the
saloons were open there was never
a term of court that did not require
from six to eight weeks to try Grim
inals. Since then no term has been
more than three weeks long and one
term we did not have single GRIM
inal on trial. This month the same
court opened its session and it took
only three days to try the criminal
cases on the docket. Before the
saloons were closed the city fathers
were wondering where to get money
to build an extension to the Jail. To-
day its doors hang idly on their
hinges; we have no use for the Jail
we have.
II have letter from the mayor of
a city where there were only two
arrests last year, and those were two
men who got drunk at Independence,
Mo-, and took the wrong road to get
home. | have a letter from the police
Judge of our own city showing that
day after day goes by without
single arrest in city of over 1907
300 people. Fifty thousand people
gathered in the heart of the city
during carnival week last fall and
there were only four arrests. The
men IN charge stated that it would
have been impossible to have had 1t
had the saloons been open.
Il have here letter from the
commissioner of the poor farm stat
ng that there has been a wonderful
reduction in the sending of old peo-
pie over the hills to the poorhouse
Their sons and daughters are TAX
ng care of them instead of making
hem subjects of charity.
Il have letter from the secre-
AIRY of the Associated Charities of
our city stating that for the first time
n twenty-five years the Associated
Charities had not burden greater
han 1t could bear.
81 have letter from the director
IF the Orphans Home stating that
turing the time the saloons were
open the average number of children
hey had to care for was fifty-six
Today they have twenty to care for,
ess than half the number they had
when the saloons were open.
Every saloon was closed July 3.
l9O6. Less than three months after
hat our schools opened. In former
'ears we had to employ from six to
light additional teachers by reason
II the increase in population, but
here was such an unusual demand
or admission that we had to en-
hoy eighteen new teachers. / went
o the teachers and said: Whence
omes this large demand for admis-
ion to our public schools?' The re-
ult was list of 800 boys and girls
rom twelve to eighteen years of age
Who attended the public schools last
ear for the first time. And they
rave as a reason why they had not
.ttended in former years that they
lad to assist drinking father to
arm a living for the family.
Three wet" Towns Left.
Nor are these improvements and
onditions peculiar to Kansas City,
KANSAS" said Mr.. Trickett In con-
fusion. They have been duplicat-
d In every city of our state in which
he nrnhihifion lou, ho, 49,