Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-01-29
ON PROHIBITION IN TEXAS
Personal Observation as to How
Laws in Lone Star State
Deal With Question.
Not Vacant Store in the Tow.
shortly After the liquor
Houses Closed Their
Doors

w. II. Berdau. general agent for rhs
North British and Mercantile Iusur-
ance company, whose office Is at IS
william Street New York, IS watching
the developments of the present agita-
ton for prohibition I'm Utah with
great degree Of interest. Mr.. Berdsp
last night stated that he recognized all
the ear marks. as he had been on the
ground both subsequent and prior 10
the successful introduction Of prohibi-
ton in Texas
Does prohibition prohibitg The
friends Of the saloon say that IL does
not was suggested 90 Mr.. Berdan.
Well" he said, with a smile III il
does not why do they set Up such
squawk?"
What about this statement that IL
Utah adopts prohibition salt Lake
city and the state generally win be set
back, rents and values will 20 down
ana a general commercial slump win
be in order?' was the next question.
Let me tell YOU was the promp,
response, Il was On Texas when tn,
temperance agitation was at It's height
j resided there for ~ months and Ayar
there when the local option bin PASSED
ana became law. Am the same old are
guments that are being used here were
used them. On an sides I heard the tcg
rihie cry that the state would 20 To the
everlasting boW-WOWs. I was living iu
the town of sherman when it went az,
ana the pessimists insisted that ever,
tlins would go 20 the dogs when tha
law went into effect there were about
30 saloons closed up. Naturally there
were go vacant store rooms for rent.
Just apout thon I LETT the town
NOT A VACANT STORE.
% went buck six months later There
was not vacant store in the place
and the county certainly was not in ths
slough OF despond.
Let me tell You how local optiou
worked In Texas. one county would
vote for local option and the law would
80 into effect. Tho result was that the
undesrables arose and moved into tho
adjoining county where they could Ett
their drink. In due season that count
would take note of its undesirable new
citizens and the increase On crime and
then that county would arise ana vote
for prohibition and the undesirables
would arise also and move. In this
way Texas voted for prohibition.
What II prohibition does not pro-
hibit. There is less liquor sold when
IL Is I'M force; there are no public drink
ing places; the working man does NOT
nave 10 pass saloons on his way 90 and
from work and 60 eliminates the youna.
men and boys nom the drink eva cu-
tlrely. 1 don't care where you go BOO
any prohibition state. you have vet tu
near or a case where liquor has been
sold 20 boys I'M a blind tiger blind
ugor' absolutely win not sell LIQUOR 20
boy, for IL is too risky Ga the frst
place"
This conversation took place IN a To-
cal Insurance office which carries the
agency for AR. Bcrdon's company Mr.
Eerdan az the time had no idea thai
Doe was talking for publication. II
would not have anyone think that I
was going around the country preach
ing prohibition" he said when asked
for au interview Tor publication. II
was asked for my opinion on the sub
ieCt and gave g."