The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-01-16

tional Model License League, by
It's president, T. NJ Gilmore, today
issued statement in answer to
claims made by the Anti-Saloon
League regarding the progress of
the prohibition movement in the
United States. the statement being
as follows:
Recently the press of the coun-
try reported a speech by the Rev.
Purley A. Baker, head of the Anti.
Saloon League, in which Mr.. Baker
was quoted as doing some tall
Dragging about the success OF the
dry movement and in this connec-
tion we wish to submit facts based
on figures contained I'm reports
of the United States commissioners
of internal revenue and which
prove that the prohibition move.
mcnt Is ridiculous as temperance
factor.
"Mr Baker made the statement
that the production of alcoholic
beverages is decreasing. on page
I of the commissioners report for
1909 il table showing that in
twelve years the production of dis
titled spirits from materials other
than fruits has increased more
than 100 per cent. the actual fig
ures being as follows:
Year ending June 30. 1897, go.
iG5.6i7.S gallons.
Year ending June 30, 1909. 133,.
450,7511 gallons.
Increase, 7O,9S5,lO3 gallons.
Tax paid Withdrawals of spirits
for beverage purposes for the same
length OF time also show an enor-
nous increase as follows:
Year ending June 3o 1897. 81.
Gel ,03S.5 gallons.
Year ending June 80, 1909, 11i,-
693 .57S.2 gallons.
Increase, i6032 ,5397 gallons.
Figures obtained from the com
mlssioner's office show that the
bcer industry has thrived with the
spread of prohibition. In the last
twelve years the tax payments have
increased as follows:
Year ending June 30. 1897. l.l0l,
539.OOS gallons.
Year ending June 80, 1909, /,
sol ,7l1.S72 gallons.
1t Is true that during the hard
times. resulting from the panic o.
the latter part of 1907, there was
marked falling off in the produc
tion, as we'll as the consumption, o.
alcoholic beverages as compared
with those of more prosperous
times. but the report shows thai
for the last fiscal year there wa
. an increase of 6,46i,015 gallons il
the amount of distilled spirits pro
duced.
1T is also true. as can be dem
? onstrated by even casual obseT
9 yation of the fluctuations in pro
ductions and Withdrawals, that th'
liquor business, like other buSi
. nesses, suffers or benefits accordnl
to the varying financial condition o
the country.
"Thc decrease in tax payment
on alcoholic spirits for the yea
ending June 30. 1908, was light a
compared with the decrease in otl
er lines OF business, as may b
seen from the following tabulatioI
5 taken from the government II
. ports
\ Decrease in distilled spirits. 10
). Decrease in coal production. l3.
. Decrease in pig iron. ..,,.., 3s'
Decrease in steel ............. 30.
. Decrease in sugar imports 23
Decrease in bank clearings o. 10
The liquor business is now II
>, fleeing the improvement in gener;
business conditions, as is show
by the comparison OF the flr
, five months OF the current fisci
: year with the first five months {
d thel ast fiscal year. made by th
= commissioner of internal revenue
=. his current report, covering u
! first three months (page - an
= by supplemental reports, compa
:. ing the collections for the month
of october and November 1870
with the collection of October an
November 1909.
v There was an increase OF 3,9l;