The Detroit times., 1913-07-17

From Mr.. Pickett TO Mr.. Burke.
To the Editor OF The Times.
| desire. through your paper TO adj
dress the following open letter 10
State superintendent Burke. OF the
Anti.Saloon league:
Mr. Burke, Detroit, Mich:
Dear Sir--ln your addresses dellN-
cred before different audiences in the
state. YOU tell your hearers what vast
areas of our national domain are UNI
der prohibition, and that more thah
half of the inhabitants Of our country
are living under a dry regime You
leave the impression in the minds 81
your hearers that by far the greMer
share Of this benehcent state OF anatrs
is the result OF the efforts OF the or
gant1ation you represent All We care
to say concerning the question as 10
whom or TO what ORGANIZATIONS pe-
longs the credit for the kinds OF pro-
hibition We now have -, do YOU take
credit for Maine. kansas. North pa
kota. West Virginia, Oklahoma, Ten =
uessee, Mississippi, Georgia ana Norta
Carolina? a plain statement, pN YOU
OF the leagues claims for credit IN
these cases would make interesting
There are few questions that are
OF more Importance than the above IN
heurine the dry area in the country
does the A. :. l.. count the vast
stretches OF arid waste IN our western
regions where FOR miles upon miles no
human habit6uon can BE- found Does
II 6gure IN the mountainous regions OF
the vest where a man might traNel
for days without coming upon human
being Are the vast tracts OF swamp
lands in the south, Inhabited only oy
alligatOrs and venomous reptilts' m
cludedo ask these questions IN an
solute good faith without any thousht
OF ridicule or sarcasm.
I nave wondered sometimes " Lakes
Michigan. Champlain, our share or the
Gulf OF Mexico and OF Lakes super
The dry territory? We do not know
OF any saloons in them unless they be
floating ones.
But the question OF most vital I'M
portance pertains TO the increase IN
the consumption OF liquors during this
wonderful growth OF prohibition. Dur
ing the fiscal year. ending July ~
1913, i+2. 300. 900 gallons OF spirits were
withdrawn for consumption, or more
than 1000 .0oO gallons in excess or the
previous wear. and more than p0o,oVp
gallons in excess OF both domestic ana
imported spirits Of any preceding year
During this same period there We1 a
withdrawn for consumption $4,000 90"
barrels or heer, or more than Z,oVV'"u"
barrels IN excess Of the previous year.
and more than a million ana quarter
gallons more than IN any previous ' )
year in our history VIII YOU kindly
figure out for the benefit OF Times
readers. how long II will tals 10 wip"
out this drink curse at the above ray
While no one can tell yet what the
per capita consumption has been. |
can very safely say that II mas neen
more than - gallons. or an increase
OF about one gallon per capita
But 10 change the subject our
predecessor went out OF othce clalm p
ing that Michigan was not Vet ready
for statewide prohibition. YOU step
into ofnce claiming directly the oppo-
site, and II We are rightly informed
YOU are making your campaign Tor az
amendment 10 our constitution -
course. YOU are working In accord with
the national organization for ma
tional amendment.
There are thousands Of earnest
Christian citizens who really beilefe
that this amendment movement IS a
serious mistake. there are other thons-
.auds lust as earnest and sincere. VINO
Will believe that your organization IS
on the right track. one or the othef or
these factions must be wrong both
can secure much larger audiences 10
hear your side II both sides OF the
question are 20 he aired. Most as
suredly the right need nave no Tear
from turning on the light W niie !
am only a private in the ranks ana
Won are on officer ! Will agree 70
find "a foeman worthy % your steel
who Will meet YOU or any capapie eN,
moment OF vour side OF TINS very vital
question In series 81 Joint debates on
this subject. the form 81 the question
TO be settled by the com ha tants.
With as sincere desire To see this
drink question settled ard settled
right as IL Is possible for YOU Or
Very sincerely yours
n VI PICKETT
CAS- Fourteenth-ave.,
Detroit, Mich.