Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-03-18
c1gure and Pauperism

lSVo 30
1910 80
lsU' So
r1gure and Pauperism.
In Michigan. license state there
are 300 paupers for each 100000
population.
In Maine, prohibition state
here are but 163 paupers to each
10000 population.
In Kansas, another prohibition
state, A out of the LOG counties do
not have . single pauper In the
poorhouse.
Nashville, Mich, March S. 1903.
Mr.. C. 1. Goodwin. Ionia, Mich.
Dear Sir: Replying to your recent
inquiry In regard to the working of
local option In this place. l believe
that almost every man will hold up
his hands for local option. 1t Is as
great an improvement over the IL
cense system as noon Is over mid
night. Business, morals, religion and
manner Of living is much improved
the law Is being enforced here-63
out Of SO business and professional
men signed the petition against the
Ormsbee bill which would have re-
pealed the local option law.
Sincerely yours,
ALFRED WAY.
st. Johns, Mich, March 6, 1909.
Hev. Arthur Trott, Portland, Mich.
Dear Sir: BY request of Mr.. Pink
ard, we write you In regard to the
effect OF local option In ST. Johns as
we see 1t.
First, the influence in our shop is
such, that we have raised the wages
Of our workmen this season, and still
are getting our work done at much
less per hundred pieces, and much
| more satisfactory. Last week, un-
| solicited, the men In our factory
with one exception signed a petition
to the legislature, to not change the
present local option law.
Our business men, including sew
eral OF those who bitterly opposed
local option. report an increase of
business during the past year, over
the previous year, also much small
er per cent of bad debts, making a
much better showing of net profits.
AZ . whole, considering that the
largest factory here has been prac-
ticaIly closed by financial conditions,
We have more than made good In a
business way, and rents have not
been materially effected. There are
only two business places vacated by
the saloons, now vacant, and they be-
long to the brewing companies.
Yours respectfully,
r. c. MASON & co.
Local Option in Indiana.
On March 3, 1909, the Indiana
Brewing association at Marion, Ind,
closed It's plant, because the local
option law had made Its territory
dry, and II could not sell It's pro-
duct" That looks as II prohibition
Iprchibits.
Local Option and Taxes in Barry
County.
The tax rate In Barry county In
1907 for ell county purposes was
1875 cents on each 4100 valuation.
The rate In 1908 (local option) was
21.3 cents on each 800 valuation.
In 1907 the county received $4,-
$3.50 az It's share OF the liquor tax
yet In 1908 the tax rate was 2.46
cents on each 800 valuation.
The Banker.
Mr.. Herwig, the banker at Cole
nan, Mich, said: A merchant came
nto our bank the other day with a
yroad grin on, remarked, he had
just collected a bill that he never
would have been able to collect If
local option had not been passed in
Midland county
Another Banker.
The public statements OF four Pom
tiac banks showing an increase OF de-
posits alone for sixty days of over
$4,000.
From the Merchant.
Mr.. Green, a grocer at Pontiac,
says that bis business since local OPP
} ton went into effect has increased 40
! per cent.
mother Merchant.
lI d. W. Walton, Of Lake City, says:
! l Am q business man here and run
. general store. Will say that local
! option II . boom for business and a
bigger boom for many families who
nov have money, but before had only
kicks and curses"
i From the Farmer.
"Yes. have been q drinking man
for ysars and spent altogether too
much money for liquor. used to
lgo from my farm to Holly. sell my
! produce, then spend most all my
money for booze. but since Holly
voted the saloons out, / have been
saving my money. am paying the in
, terest OF the mortgage on my farm
I and when the next interest Is due my
I wife and I will make a payment OF
, 5000 on the mortgage. i am mighty
glad the saloons are closed"
From the Sheriff.
III The st. Joseph county sheriff re-
ports give the following data: From
May / TO November 1, 1907, with sa-
} looms. there were forty-eight crimi-
nails OF all kinds confined In the
county jail, thirty of whom were for
drunkenness. The first six months
OF local option there were only ff-
teen criminals confined, only Ave for
| drunkenness.
I'll Another Sheriff.
David w. Walton, sheriff OF Mis-
ssukee county says: 1--WE had an In
] crease OF drunkenness seemingly for
a time because they were picked up
and run In, but at this writing. De-