The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-06-10
The big man who kicked the little dog te
death ought to hear from the S. r. c. A.
CURRENTCOMMENT
Facts We. Opinions.

open saloon brings prosperity to the community.
and that prohibition of the liquor traffic creates
commercial depression In other words that the
open saloon with its accompanying vices, gam
bi4ag the brothel and an open Sunday with base
p"4i OF other forms OF amusemenc assure COM
mercial prosperity. The people who argue this
put commercial prosperity above. morality and
good order in the community. They oppose clos
ing saloons because to do so would depress trade
and increase taxation These arguments or as-
sertfons, based not upon actual facts nut
merely upon opinions of those who favor the
saloon What If a few saloon keepers and their
patrons should leave community that has driv-
en- out the saloon? What If the gambling dens
ana brothels should be closed along with the
saioonsY The saloon gives them their chief sup
port and these three natural allies
But is the saloon, with its accompanying evils,
q commercial advantage to a city or community.
1t is Well To have some facts, not vague theories,
on which TO base an argument Since saloons
were closed in practically all the rural districts of
Virginia, there is greater feeling of security
among all the people and particularly among the
women and children in such communities than
was ever known while the saloon existed. Land
values have increased from the time the saloons
were closed down. In one community within the
personal knowledge of the writer the criminal
expenses under the saloon were greater than
those of any other district IN the county, and
practically all of Thorn resulted from the use of
strong drink After the saloons were closed.
criminal expenses in the district merely
nominal.
from Virginia but from other sections of the
country TO refute absolutely the contention that
lhe SAIGON is commercial advantage any
community. Among foreign countries, Mexico.
Spain and Cuba are the most distinctly wide
open. Here. If anywhere should be found veri-
ncation of the claim that, the saloon, with its
accompanying ills is help the community.
Compare spain. once almost mistress OF the
world, with England. Mexico with Scotland Cuba
with Canada. Place Madrid by the side of Lon
don. Havana with It's seven day saloons by the
side of Toronto and Mexico City with Edinburg.
that stately aud solid city, in which religion il
honored in the ordinances and observances To
come back to our country. compare New
Orleans controlled largely by mixed foreign
population. not as great factor she
was prior to 1850, and practically ignoring sun
day with saloons, theaters, gambling dens, wide
open every day In the week, with Liverpool,
and almost exactly opposite conditions and IA
nous for her great commercial prowess. The
city of Savannah Cfa. boasts of her open dis
regard or prohibitory laws, which her sworn
officials make effort enforce. while she
Is making practically no advance commercially
and Is not in the with Atlanta seeking to
enforce the anti saloon law and progressing by
leaps and bounds in commercial and business
fnportahce. In fact, Atlanta under prohihi-
ton, has prospered beyond her former rivals,
Memphis and Richmond, In both Of which the
saloon interests seem to control.
The figures of the iast census are not with
out significance in this connection. In the en-
tire country the three cities making the largest
percentage Of gain all prohibition Cities two
or them IN Oklahoma and one III Alabama, Ok
lahofua Clty. without saloon and in dry
State. increased $40 per cent; Muskagee In the
same State gained 400 per cent and Birrnng-
ham. Ala, also dry State, gained a4S per cent
IHere has been no business depression In either
Of these cities and grass grows in their
streets, according to tho claims Of saloon ad-
yocates for dry cities.
Another claim made by friends OF the saloon in
that where there are saloons property depre-
ciates in value. and the rate Of taxation In
creases. II is a little surprising that they do
not also claim an increase Of moral deprnv.ty
as q result Of getting rid Of the saloons Ger
fanny III the light of recent events no Roanoke
man would venture TO make that claim for
Roanoke, with all the saloons and their accom- :
panying evils has been shown to be about as
low In the scale of lnoralit& and tndecency az
a city can well be. But do not rely upon
Roanoke to show that property values decrease
ana the tax rate Increases when the saloon f.
driven out Nor II be shown that the
presence OF the saloon ia this city has contr-
buted to any Increase in values. On the con-
rrary' that section Of the city to which the 40 =
F.! looms are practically confined IN the least de-
srable Tor business residences because OF
their presence, and there has been little II any
appreciation in values
knoxville, Tenn, the first large CITY In
the South TO vote out the saloons Last wear
/ lhat city spent twice much money for pub
/ lie improvements as 1t ever spent before in any
one year, and the tax rate without the reyenra
from the saloon licenses liz five per cent less
on the 300 of valuation than 1t in 1907 while
the saloons We're in operation. This la yery sig
n1hcant II the claims Of saloon advocates are
/ correct. the presence of saloons should prove a
very attractive asset In any city and the more
fsaf them the better. Bat did not any one eyer
know a city that advertised its saloons az an
attraction for Industries to locate in II or as a
valuable asset which helped to create a low
tax rate or increase population Roanoke Even
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