The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-02-17
PEOPLES FORUM
How tho Saloons Have Helped Business" In

The prohibition cranks say the saloons do not
hell business. The saloon keepers say the
saloon helps business"
Lynchhurg experienced two years of local OPP
ton, and then went back to the licensed saloon;
to help business See how have helped
business since May !. 1911.
The records OF the police court show that for
the eight months of 1910, from May LIST TO
December 3lst. during local option. the total
number Of arrests for all causes only airs
while for the same period in 1911. with saloons,
the total number WAS 1894. an increase of L.
pS6, about 90 penn cent. The number of ar
rests for drunkenness for the eight months,
with LEGAL option only lie. while the num-
Der of arrests for drunkenness for eight months.
with saloons, was SIS, an increase Of 4O6 or
about 236 per cent. The number of arrests for
disorderly conduct. with local option. was ssS,
20 per cent See how the saloons have helped
business for the police!
The total amount OF fines collected In the
1910. during local option. was only s3,745.0e.
while for the period In 1911 with saloons,
the fines collected amounted to $6,476.sl, an in
of s2130.S5. nearly rs per cent. See
how the saloons have helped business for the
Mayor. besides adding s2.73o.s5 to the revenue
ST the city,
ton, there were in the city JAN only 10 pris,
nners. On December 81, 1911, with licensed
saloons. had In jail 81 prisoners, an m
crease OF SO, nearly 100 per cent Now, as
tho city has TO pay the jaer much per day
for the beard OF each prisoner, and the
taller is supposed to make some profit on the
cost of feeding the prisoners, you Will see how
the saloons have helped business for the
taller
On Decembed l. 19lo when we had local
option. we had only 10 prisoners working on
the chain gang. On December l. 1911, wild,
saloons, we had as prisoners on the chain
| gang working our streets. an increase of 30
men or zoo per cent. So you SEQ how the
saloon helps business for the city in street
improvements ,
kinds of disorders have taken place since the
saloons opened. Early last fall white man
was shot 10 death in cold blood by negro
! under the influence of liquor, near bar room
! on Main street. or course this was rough on
/ the white man and his family, but 1t helps BUS
mess" for the police. the Mayor and the un-
I dertaker The negro tried, convicted ana
! sent to the penitentiary for thirteen years
/ which means thirteen years free labor for the
State,
| A policeman In arresting n drunken negro on
| Twelfth street, was shot. almost fatally. and
| had to be taken to Il hospitai, where he re-
| manned for several weeks under the care of
doctor, This was rough the policeman, but
! 1t .'heped business for the hospital and the
doctor, This negro remained In Jail Tor some
time which of course "helped business for the
tailer. The negro was tried, convicted anu
| sent to the penitentiary for ten years-wnich
means ten years free labor for the state:
! Last fall policeman was shot Tor attempt
| ing to arrest two drunken robbers. who escaped
! after shooting the officer This policeman was
/ also sent to a hospital several weeks, which
| Of course "helped business for the hospital and
| doctor. AS the prisoner who has committed
crime and Is arrested has to employ lawyer
| defend o'''""Ai
"helps business for the criminal lawyer
Since the establishment of the saloons the
liquor business has not been us good as we rad
expe cted. for the reason that during the TWO
years of local option large number OF our pest
patrons have died of Brights disease, cirrhosis
! of the liver paralysis. etc. ana some nave 70,
formed The prohibition cranks nave created
such "a sentiment against bar rooms that great
! many of our customers are now ashamed TO pc
/ seen going In or coming out Of q saloon. OF
| course 1t takes time to coax the reformed ones
! Lack and to teach the young ones growing up
| TO drink liquor! So far. five school boys nave
| been suspended for being drunk In the school
room which shows that the boys VIII learn to
drink II the saloons are allowed 10 exist.
The liquor Christmas trade was dtsappoint-
! ing as a large amount of money was toolishy
snenf in fire works that SHOULD have been spent
| for uouor: but our City Council has since very
I Wisely passed IN ordiflance prohibifffg the sa ~
! OF fire works, which means more money LOT
! Christmas liquor.
| All we ask is that the prohibition franks
| LET us alone; we win help business
" personal LIBERTY"
Iynchburg. Va.