The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-05
Labor Conditions Improved
and Big Enterprises Show
Beneficial Results.
LAW WELL ENFORCED:
CONDITIONS BETTER
Marked Contrast in Criminal
Statistics Showing Falling Off
in Arrests-Not Likely to Re
turn to the Open Saloon.
BY Robert G. Hiden.

STATES and communities which face 4
crisis with the liquor traffic hardly
ask IL prohibition L. right, but they
are intensely interested to know IL 1t
Is practicable and II It pays IA the
long run--ttat is. # the a5ufshmen.
of saloons and o.oseiy restricting the
sale OF liquors for medical and other
purposes exercises curbing efiee. m
the development and prosperity Of
the State, county or city unit SO at
fected.
Several Southern States and saiae,
in other sections have been under
prohibition laws more or LEGS abso-
lutte in their operation, but .Aiaoanla
took long step forward and passed
the most drastic measures OF them
all, 1t Ia probably the dryest State
In the Union. Therefore. cferts To
rid the Commonwealth OF the liquor
traffic for ali time, or at ieas, 10
arrive at an economical solution of
the problem. have attracted more at
tentton and have been watched more
closely than any previous similar
struggle. II has come to the pass
- here - think Of prohibition - 10
think of Alabama. and to think OF
Ala #=a4sss= ss= sast:sk -prehibfsteF
The developments of the situation
have been Of great Importance, be-
cause the effect of the operation of
prohibition In the great Birmingham
industrial district, In the broad
stretches of farming territory. and In
the big port Of Mobile, have been
separate fields for observation of spe-
ctal Importance to almost every COM
r,anity af the country,
Its Eject Upon Labor.
All the nation has been Interested
to know what, tt any. effect prpiai-
bitten has on labor. The HirrninG-
ham district. With lsa many thaus-
ands OF steel aud iron workers. coal
and ore miners. skilled artisans and
others employed by d wide range OF
industries. has furnished the answer
seaports have been interested TO
know what effect. II any, prohibition
would have on shipping, and wheth-
or sailing masters would avoid ports
where their men could not go ashore
and tank up" Mobile has answer
ed that Agricultural sections have
heen Interested to Rao~ what effect
prohibition has on labor generally
OF the type that tiils the soil. The
wide expanse OF the wiregrass sec
ton Of the State furnishes the an
swer. and proves X in many instances
by an experience going as far back
in some cases as twenty-five years.
Admitting that certain amount %
wltiskey is going TO be sold In any
State no matter how drastic the
laws. as long as the stuff is made and
Federal statutes do not prohibit the
shipment Of fntoSicants from wet
State into dry territory. II Is safe and
merely fair 10 say that Alamaba 8
ans ser to the question as to whether
prob bition liz practicable is in the
asarfnr,tiye. Alabama's answer to the
question as to whether 1t pays, Is that
IL does pay---and handsomely at that.
To reach this conclusion this State
only has to consider Its years record
covering the general increase in EN-
cheney of labor in its industries and
agriculture. the reliability of Its
working citizenry, the decrease N
costly accidents on railroads and at
Industrial plants, the lowered pub
lie expense In the detection and pun
ishment OF criminals and In the care
of 9aupers. imbeciles and innaties-
Even cnur ches and other charities find
that their field of work, which was
formerly tax. has greatly diminish
oil The worth of prohibition in the
matter ef prblic morals and its effect
In making the state a better place In
which to live can hardly be reduced to
dollars and cents, but 1t Is one of the
kig considerations.
viii Not Go Back.
As to whether prohibition In Its
present form Is permanent, time alone
can tell. Eut that this State will
never return tc the conditions which
brought about the revolution Is too
patent TO call for discussion. An Inn
psssabl hulwark of business and
moral expedicncy stands between Ala
bania and .he lawlessness and waste
OF the old open saloon system as II
was known fere and as 1t Is known
/ elsewhere.
One of, the most common asser-
! lions, always used as an argument
against It, IL that prohibition does
not prohibit The experience OF Ala
bainn carefully weighed and with due
. allowance fof such violations as are
hound TO exist is that with the proper
| legal machinery backed up by n living
| public sentiment prohibition can be
enforced in such a measure as to re,
| turn great satisfaction. Aiabama's ex'
perienee is that such public senti-
/ rnent grows rapidly as the manifold
| benefits of freedom from the Iiquoi
i traffic become more clearly apparent
/ Several newspapers and magazines
/ have sent special representatives e
| this state for the purpose OF study
i ing the effect Of prohibition. Mosi
OF them were publications controlled
lby interests closely related to the sale
1 or manufacture OF liquor or beer, OF
/ qualifications shat are known to be
! friendly to the traffic The concfu-
sions az most Of these investigators
have been that prohibition is a fall
/ ure.
Wh,s.Sey Ian Be Bought.
Word has gore out that whiskey OF
beer can be bought in a hundred
! places Ar this city without the leas
| trouble. and by an absolute stranger
lie Isn't true No, Tnore -weaaa Il ~
true to say that whsskey and beel
cannot be bought here. There are an,
number OF places In this city whers
III d man IL known and Il reliable
he may bus, what he wishes # he 4,
wIiiing 10 take Il Without the com
k[1ontinue4 "A RAge mi u