The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-04-29
SALOONS NOT AN ASSET.
Bristol Editor Does Not Include Them In the "Ad~
yantagcs" OF the City.

Bristol Editor Does Not Include Them In the "Ad~
vantages' OF the City.
(From American lssue.1
On February 20 the Bristol Herald Courier, one o.
the strongest dailies In Virginia very strongly set
FORTH In its leading editorial the material and moral
advantages of the city of Bristol bristol. one time
dry" has recently voted o re-estRbsh saloons
with license s2.5oo each. The Herald-couries
editorial while speaking Of Brstos courthouse. rail-
roads telephone system factories wholesale and job
bing houses. schools churches. said not word
about her saloons. Being struck with this omission.
MIR acat.ster the virginia Anti Saloon League gem
secretary. Mr.. Hersche Dove, editor Of
the Herald Courier. the following letter:
Editor Bristol Herald Courier. Bristol. Va:
Ny Dear sir.-Fridas February Is, 1910 You nad
the enclosed as your leading editorial / notice
setting the advantages Bristol that you said
nothing OF her sixteen saloons Would you MIND
briefly telling me why you did not include them Al
one Of Brstos items Of thrift worth advertising
u think that II would be fair to 10 you that
your statement will likely be published in the lumns
the American Issue Virginia edition and possibly
in Temperance and Book for Virginia
Very sincerely yours,
J. ID. McALIsrER-
To this Mr.. Dove replied follows;
Bristol. va.-Tenn.. March %. 1870
Mr.. ]. j.. McAlster. Richmond Va:
Dear sir-Your question Is natural and entirely
proper one. and l will answer il frankly. Bristoss
sixteen saloons were not mentioned among the citys
numerous ADVANTAGES forth in the Herald
Courier leading editorial Of February IS, for the
son that they were not advantage. On the con-
rary. think that Rristols experience demonstrates
eonelusively that saloons distinct disadvan-
tage. whether considered from moral social cold.
blooded business standpoint. Instead of bringing
greater prosperity to this city. people had
OF the community and make progress In almost any
direction difficult
There have been more murders and accidental
deaths In and around Bristol during the less than
Fix months that have since the saloon returned
than there during the two and five months
of prohibition, which ended last October. and a
, idea OF the effect the community life be
! gained from examination of the police court
cords.
The saloon Is essentially predatory institution.
producing nothing that entities be
! among a city's advantages. But If that
strictly true, doubt II there half dozen
people In Bristol OF the better class who would
have the fact OF the OF saloons here
spcuousy advertised.
have never seen newspaper anywhere
ton saloons when recounting citys business
dusrial assets and pressing Its possibilities upon
lie attention Yours very truly.
HERSCHEI. DOVE.
Editor Herald Courier,
Proven by Statistics.
A brief comparison OF police statistics showing the
effect prohibition in Bristol lis OF order
here:
From October /. 1906 to April /. 1907 when both
E'risols wet. there f33 Of drunken
ness before the recorder. From October 1908, to
April /. 1909. when both BristoIs dry there
were SIS of drunkenness before the recorder.
From October l. 1909, to April /, 1910. with the
gignia portion of Bristol wet and the
enness in the Tennessee portion increased than
( 700 per cent, there l19 OF drunkenness
before the recorder These figures not without
/ Eignficance."