Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1909-03-27
Booze" and the
County Poor
Supt. Meyer Shows What Liquor
Has Done To Impoverish Some
of Our Citizens.

AS election is drawing near and
voters of Charlevoix County are dis
cussing the proposition OF placing
Charlevoix County on the dry list,
there has come TO me, in my official
position, many inquiries from taxpay-
ers and voters of the county, asking
the conditions existing in the county
poor house; and, as superintendent OK
the poor, l feel it my plain duty TO
place before the electors of the county
report in answer to their questions.
AS superintendents, we deal direct
ly with the poor class, those who have
not sufficient food, clothing and fuel
TO properly maintain themselves.
Every few days l am being called up
on throughout the county to visit
homes where the wife has not sufli-
cient clothing to be seen OH the streets
and the children are without shoes.
and rags or torn socks covering their
feet. In great many instances OF
this kind, this poor class Of people
have been given support at their
home instead of being removed 10 the
poor farm; on the other hand, there
are many instances where removal to
our county poor farm has been de-
manded, and in the majority OF these
cases. L am sorry TO report, that the
cause for placing the individual in
the poor mouse originates in the use Of
Intoxicating liquors. i am sorry 70
report that 10 per cent OF all the paup-
ers in our county, both in and out OF
the poor house. can trace their cOndi-
tions directly to the use Of intoXi-
cantS.
AT present the expense Of maintain
ing the paupers, both in and outside
of the poor farm, amounts u about
SS,O00.00 per year. 10 per cent Of this
expense is incurred as stated above,
by the bad influence Of the saloon; So
we can say that this $6,O0000 Of the
tax payers money Of Charlevox
County goes to maintain those who
are unfortunate in being subject to
the liquor habit or placed in the
county poor house because they were
dependent on some one who was an
habltual drunkard before they were
removed to this county institution.
As understand 1t the county re-
ceIyes $4,000 from each saloon as
compensation for the continuance Of
their disgraceful business. That
being so, "a saloons are required TO be
operated in the county in order to
pay back in form of license money TO
the county sufficient amount Of
money TO overcome this $6,00G.00 loss.
1t is therefore fact that the county
only receives small amount Of mon
ey from the saloon that is not directly
consumed by those who are left in
destitute circumstances on account of
drink.
In looking over the record Of the
county poor farm, we find, for example,
that John Dixon has been there since
the year 1900. and if we are TO be real
conservative and estimate the cost Of
living 81 80 per week, then, he at the
present time has cost the taxpayers Of
Charlevoix County, Sl170 90; Henry
Gray has cost The county Sl040;George
Satin, about $4,000; Mr.. Mccoy,
$500. 90; Mr.. Webster, $3.50 90; Mrs.
Place, about $500 90. Mrs. Place has
never used Intoxicating liquors TO my
knowledge, but the use OF intOXicat-
ing liquors in the family was the di-
rect cause for her being compslled TO
be Ia her present condition. Mrs
Osborn was placed in the poor house,
indirectly by the cause Of liquor.
Mr.. Close and Mr. and Mrs Swanson
are also making their home there at
this time and the latter were them
selves engaged In the liqnor traffic,
and there is Henry Letter who became
an habitual drunkard and deserted
his wife, who therefore became pub
! lie charge, and the county assisted her
to the amount OF Sl35 co. Besides
these We have about dozen Others
who have cost the county various
sums, aud large amounts OF money
have been spent In buying food and
clothing for the families of those who
haye used Intoxicating liquors but In
cases where the husband was not re-
moved To the poor farm. James Ros-