Jefferson jimplecute. (Jefferson, Tex.) 1907-1926, 1909-12-17

dlied by Mrs. i. 4 BENEFIEL6.

& = ~ s = { M LIQUOR con
SUMPTION. :
From National Prohibitionist
The liquor interests have ,,,aua
many bold. rash game II The b;s
tory Of their dealings with the
American people, but seldom on,
holder or rasher than the atten,n =,
to faisify the records and maks
melt defeat Of tha.last twosyaars
it harts,ssiz.. the EfoT defeaE they
lliquor. In the fiscg he frst time,
1.-THE decrease in the consdrmlprfUjH Or
distilled spirits manufactured IN.
the United States was a1most 49,
O00,0O gallons, according to the.
report of the Commissioner of In
ternal Revenue; and the statistical
abstarct improves the cause not at
all. There was, indeed, a slight
decrease in the total consumption
of malt liquors, but so small as to,
be offset by the increase in popu-l
lation and to show a decreased perS
capita consumption
This year the decrease continues
Almost 5000, 900 gallons less Of
distilled liquors than last yearhad
been withdrawn for consumption
at the end of the fiscal year, on
June 80, and almost 2, 500, 600 less
barrels of beer. The situation got
little relief from the Importation of
foreign liquors, The lmportation|
of spirits increased 172, 900 gallons,
but the importation of malt liquors
fell off almost $40, 900 gallons.
For the first time since The max
ers of alcoholic poisons began their
fight against the American people,
they had clear and distinct proof,
in two years of decreased business,
that the fight is going to go against
them.
Of course they are strong yet;
of course uncounted millions still
flow into their Golfers; of course
they will buy legislatures and
bride public officials, and still own
large number OF newspapers, but
the loss of business is horribly
suggestive of what is coming.
To disguise the defeat and thus
escape the tremendous moral in
fluenee thaf-itSLhaue with the
people, it seems that recenvtt
gathering of liquor makers tn New
York City contrived a clever plan.
A, letter was produced from the
Internal Revenue Bureau certi.
flying the amount of spirits with !
drawn for all purpeses' from ID 3
liquor warehouses >Saring the ye
1909, and this tota., which is,
ludes. as usual. loss by leakage
and half score other items which
have no relation to the with
drawals for consumption" was
cleverly placed in contrast with
the Withdrawals for consumpt.
ion'' in former years, Disgusting
the decrease of 5000, 900 gallons
and claiming something like 49,.
100000 gallons increase.
The very rashness of the trick
shows how critical the situation
seems to the liquor makers. They
do not dare to let American
people know ..the plain fact that
they are losing ground.
But losing ground they are.
Even the poor kind of prohibition
which the American people have
been experimenting with is cutting
down the consumstion of alcoholic
drink. In two years time the
death food of the distillery- has,
decreased almost 100000 gal.
Ions and almost 100000 barrels
less of the brewers poisoned swill
was poured upon the people in the
fiscal year 1909.
This means the beginning of the
end. and the liquor crowd knows
it. Such facts placed before the
American people can have but one