The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-02-14

10 FORM an organization tnat VIII
have no connection with the Mich
loan Brewery association. Mem
bers Of the new organization,
which will be headed by John
koerber, an ionia brewer, hint
that the Michigan Brewers asso-
citation 10 secretly aiding the
"drys." with the Idea Of Iessening
composition.
Local option Endorsements continue
TO come from districts where the dry
law has been tried for more than a
year or two. In all parts OF the lower
peninsula where local option obtains.
conditions are said to be much better
during the dry" period than when the
localities were wet" Some or the re-
ports follow:
MT. PLEASANT, Mich, Feb. a.
Conditions In Mt. Pleasant and In Isa-
bella county since the adoption of To-
cal option, nearly two years ago, have
been most gratifying to everyone, ex-
cept those who were engaged in the
liquor business. II Is. indeed, rare
thing TO see a man intoxicated now.
There Is no carousing on the streets
at night, no profanity OF indecent
Aoh6uo6St nOnC Va Tic uTcGt fcbuibS vi
the open saloon. Business men say
that men now buy goods and pay for
them, who always, before local option.
spent their money for drink and got
trusted for their goods. During the
celebration here last Fourth of July
men ate their dinners with their fam
lilies In the parts and IL was at Lne
time commented ON thatesome of them
were never seen here before sober at
a like celebration.
Business has been much better than
before In all lines OF mercantile trade
and employers say they have much
less trouble with their employees, who
formerly spent their time and wages
In the saloons
The savings deposits In the two
banks OF this city have increased since
local option was adopted more than
$z16,000, a large part Of which has
come In small deposits from those who
never had a bank book. The result
of local option, which has been so sue
cessful In Isabella county, has prob
ably been due In a large measure 10
an honest enforcement OF the law. As
a result, there is scarcely any opposi-
ton now to local option.
An effort was made to again submit
the question this year, brt there was
no interest in the proposition and no
signatures could be secured to the Pc
titions.
Business Booms In Flint.
FLINT, Mich. Feb. lift the de-
termination OF the local option ques-
tion were placed In the hands Of the
merchants nj this city tho vote would
be overwhelmingly against the return
OF the saloon to Genesee county in
the coming election. Whatever feel
ings they may have in respect to the
question, personally, II Is difficult to
find a merchant who does not make
the assertion that his business is In
much better condition and his book
debts smaller since the city went
dry" II Is the consensus of opinion
among many OF the best citizens, mac
ufacturers and employers Of labor,
that Flint has benefited by the absence
Of the saloon. The statement In made
by many citizens that they voted
'wet." two years ago, because they did
not believe in local option, but that
their opinion has changed since It's
operation In this city and they are
going to cast their ballot In favor OF
the retention OF the present system.
There is no question but that crime
has decreased. Flint has increased Its
population about 5000 In the last two
years, and the jail records do not show
as many arrests now as there were at
that time, Notwithstanding the large
increase. 1t Is no uncommon thing for
two or three days to pass without n
single Arrest for intoxication, which is
q record never attained In the old
regime. One-quarter Of the arrests To-:
intoxication are due to the proximity
OF Flint to Saginaw county. which Is
wet"
There does not appear to be any
thing on the surface that would indi-
cate the return of this county to the
wet" column. The city gave wet"
majority Of 400 In 1909. but II Is be-
lieved by many who are In touch with
the situation that this majority will
be largely cut down at the vote in
tha anrinR