The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-06-11

against the prohibition movement and
the article contains nothing stronger
or more conclusive than the follow
ing: 1t is claimed that II .OOO. 900
people now live in nominally dry
territory.
II We were TO seek evidence as
10 the actual 'dryness' of these re-
sions, statewide or local, We should
get devious testimony according to
the bias of the reporter. There is.
however, so II seems TO me. a source
of conclusive evidence that lies en-
tirely without the bounds of personal
prejudice. This is found in the bald
statistics of the liquor production and
consumption in the United States.
These statistics are unequivocal. So
far as they err at all they underesti-
mate the amount of liquor through
not being able to include the prod,
ucts of Illicit stills.
Now, what are the facts OF linuor
production for. let us say. the past
twenty years, during which time the
prohibition movement had made such
spectacular advances?
In 1890 the amount of liquor con.
sumed in the United States aggregat.
ed less than a billion gallons the per
capita consumption being 1853 gal
Ions. In 1907 the amount OF liauo
consumed had risen above the two
billion gallon mark, the per capita
consumption being 1888 gallons.
And this, be i recalled. is the
very decade which the prohibition.
lists point to with such enthusiasm
as witnessing the rapid spread Of
local option.
1t may be worth while TO illus
trate on a wider scale the futilitv of
the temperance movement, as hitherto
prosecuted. in checking the consump-
ton of alcohol. The figures are no
less than appalling. and should com.
mand the attention of every we'll
wisher of the race, whatever his
temperance proclivities. It arpears
that in 1880. AT the time the frs
ereart prohibition movement was lust
gaining headway. the annual percap-
ita consumption of alcoholic beyer.
ages in the United States was 4.OS
gallons. In 1860 it had risen TO 6.43
gallons; in 1870 to 40 gal ons; in
1880 to 1908 gallons in 1890 to
15.53 gallons; in 1900 to 176S gal.
Ions; in 1910 to more than % gal
Ions
1T appears. then. that the aggre-
gate net result of sixty years OF
temperance legislation is that the
average American of today consumes
almost six times as much liquor as
did the average American of 1850.
To me at least it seems obvious
that the only thing which has kept
the prohibition movement before the
people OF the United States is the
simple fact that prohibition does not
prohibit. Prohibition that did inter.
dict the sale of liquor over large ter.
ritories would quickly sound the
death knell of the prohibition move
ment as national issue
In his article DR.. Williams ex-
plains the fact that this tremendous
increase in the consumption of al.
coholic beverages has largely con.
sisted Of an increased consumption
of malt liquors on the part of the
American people, but he says that
this tendency is altogether towards
the consumption of the more con.
densed end, therefore, the higher a.
coAolic beverages, such as whisky.
brandy etc.
This, then is the result of the
great campaign of the Anti Saloon
League, aided by tine churches. which
has spread over a period of about
seventeen years, and which has cost
this country hundreds of millions of
dollars, and which has done more to
disturb the peace of communities
and to destroy the standing of the
in the minds of the people |
than any other movement that ever
passed over the country.
This is the result of losing faith
in moral suasion. in example, in re-
lisious teachings. in personal liberty
and in the individual sovereignty .
Of man This is the result of depart.
ing from the admonition of Christ 10
90 and teach mankind It is the re.
suit of an effort to compel men not
o do things that they have right
10 do.
III prohibition would wipe out in
emperance and save our nation from
he evils that follow excesses in the
lse of alcoholic beverages and in wip-
ng out intemperance in the use of