Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1909-10-08
PROHIBITION AT PENDLETON
1t Affords a Frishtful Example. from DIFF
ferent Point of View.

ferent Point of View
That Prohibition fails of its pur
pose through it being radical meas
ure that lacks the consistency of TEN
pcrance and regulation. has Otter
been maintained by ministers ant
clcrgymen Of every religions demon
nation.
Dr. Jesse l.. Rains. practicina
physician of Grangevillc: Ogn., grad
uate of the State University of Ore
gOn. and OF the Jefferson Medical Col.
lege of Philadelphia Pa, man OF
unqucStioned reputation for ability
integrity and reliability, recently
visited Pendleton. for the purpose OF
asccrtaining, by personal inquiry and
observation, the true conditions OF
that city since it came under the
control of the ProhiS, July LIST, 1908
The result of interviews with leading
citizens is. in part, us follows:
W. l.. Thompson. President of the
National Bank, says that the chici
influence Prohibition has had on the
banks of Pcndlcton has been to cause
the withdrawal of large sums of mon
cy by people who are now investing
elsewhere than in Pcndlcton. He
cites also the instance of Il Sheepman.
who at the end of the seasons work
brought in check for $500; this man
drew out $50 and took Il certifcace OF
deposit for 5000; the next day he tel
ephoned from Walla Walla for 800
of the certificate of deposit money:
the day following 800 more; and SC
on, the whole amount lasting about Il
week. The man spent the money just
the same even if Pendlon was dry. y
In the savings department of the
American National Bank there is alb
solutely no increase in deposits over
what would occur in the ordinary
course of business.
j. b. Dickson, Insurance and Ken
also says that there has been not less
than 81 1-3 per cent. depreciation in
property of all kinds. He mentions
the Fraser Opera House property.
which consists of three story build
ing on Il lot 30 by 100 feet and lot of
the same size in the rear This pro-
perty was worth at least $40. 900 be-
fore Prohibition was established, but
the owner is now willing to sell for
$25, 900 or trade for farm lands; this
property now brings rentals of only
$50 per month, whereas before Pro
hibition it was bringing 1925. He
also mentions the Rem Building of
two stories on 10 by 80 foot lot.
with one story building en- % by
% lot. This property before the town
went dry, was bringing $2l0 per
month rent; now it brings $75 per
month. He likewise mentions the
Magnet store building: which rented
for $l20 before Prohibition, and now
for $50.
a. B. Campbell. with Mark More
house Il Co., Real Estate. says there
has been decrease of % per cent. in
the number of rentals of dwellings, in
the past year, and about eighty houses
are now vacant. He says that nearly
every residence in town now rents
for less than before Prohibition. He
says that boys of from II to II years
of age can get all the liquor they want
in Pendleton. The policemen will
not arrest any one for drunkenness
if they know the man, but will try To
get him to go home; they therefore
arrest strangers for the most part.
and as strangers mostly avoid the
town, the number of arrests has di-
minished in the last year.
Mr.. Guy Haden, salesman for the
Boston Shoe Store. says that the
sale of shoes has fallen off consider
ably since last year. He estimates
Il reduction of sales of 80 per cent.
He says that former drinking men
do not buy any more now than be-
fore prohibition.
Joe Ell, Insurance Agent. says
conditions in Pendieton have been
getting steadily worse since prohibi-
ton went into elect; the town has
decreased in population as much as
1900 people in that time; he esti-
mates the number of empty dwell
ings as from l73 to 200; he says that
before Prohibition there were three
newspapers II two daily and one
weekly; now the weekly has suspend
ed, one of the dailies has become a
weekly. while the other daily contin-
ues as before. Mr.. Ell says he built
a residence for himself at cost OF
50, 300 several years ago; at present
he can not sell the property for
So, 800. Mr.. Ell says that drunken
men can be seen on the streets any
day.
Gus La Fountaine, proprietor OF
the Quelle Restaurant, says that Pro
hibition has caused him to lose s., ,00O
up to the present time. He says
that rents are going down steadily,
SO that the people in Pendleton are
glad to rent their properties a. any
price. he owns two-StOry build
ing on a lot 50x200 feet on Main
street, in the heart of the business
district; his business was worth $40,
900 before Prohibition; now he would
be glad to take 500, 900.
George Darveau, proprietor St.
George Hotel and restaurant, says
his business has been dull ever since
Prohibition went into effect. Previ-
Gus to July |. 1908. when the saloons
were closed, he used to turn ten to
fifteen people away three or four
times week, because every room in
in the house was filled; since that
time all his rooms have been full only
during fair or convention. Since
July |. 1908, he has lost from $500 to
$40O a month from rooms standing
idle, which previous to that time,
were always filed. He says he has
reduced his pay roll about $500 a
month. because he has no work for
extra help Mr. Darveau estimates
that there are 200 dwelling houses