The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-02-26
THE LICENSE QUESTION
No License Means More Money Spent
at Home

Union OF NOIlH DeuulHBtOH'
Respectfully yours,
Mrs. w. r. White.
The article is as follows:
Let us see how the liquor trade
works out as business proposition
in small village of 5000 people
Counting the tributary country folk
with fou saloons. AS the average
per capita expenditure for drink in
the United States is over $40 year,
on that basis, this village would
spend 100000 annually for liquor.
But. to be conservative, we will cut
this in two and make it $4,000.
For every four dollars that goes in
to any one Of those saloons, three
dollars never comes out again to do
business in that town; the grocer on
one side loses dollars trade, the
market Oh the other side loses dol
lars trade, and the merchant across
the street also loses dollars trade,
for every hour throughout the year
But there are other financial charg
es against the saloons, to say nothing
OF tears and heartaches Consider just
a few of these: A dozen cases Of sick
ness at least annually due to excess
sive drinking, causing large expens-
es; a death from consumption caused
by drinking; a divorce with cost OF
court expenses brought about By in
"a mil N
upon the public or private charity OF
the town by drunken fathers; a thou
sand days Of labor lost because work
men went on sprees Ga loss Of $4,000
year at leasU; one drunk arrest
ed every week, adding TO police and
court EXPENSE; half dozen crimes
committed for which liquor is large
ly or wholly responsible. entailing
heavy expenses upon taxpayers for
prosecution and upon friends 10 de-
fend the accused--and these are only
some OF the more obvious financial
losses-much more than enough to
wipe out the $500 put to the credit
of the saloons, leaving the 100000
paid over the bar as a dead less
What Could Be Done with the $4,000
On the other hand, let us see what
could be done annually for the com
munlty with the $4,000 worse than
wasted.
For free village library $4,000
For free district nurse - 1900
For a course of free lectures 500
For building good country
road ........ ........ ..... 5000
For keeping six young men and
women in college. 5000
For a free industrial night school
for girls and boys. ..... 1000
For village band giving free
concerts 49,. .~.,,. III. 1000
Fer boys club and summer
camp ... ... ... 1000
For day nursery .........,. 1000
For athletic field and sports 1000
$4,000
All this will read to some people
like fairy tale But It is the state
ment OF just wha. could be done to
bless any village, with the money ac-
tually spent for drink in many small
place. Without taking any account of
the community pleasure and the
wholesome enjoyment which the en-
terprise Just named would bring 20
the people. with no thought of moral
and intellectual betterment which
would be brought abou. by them, It is
evident thai by 4 different expendi-
ture OF that sum Of 100000. business
advantages of great value would ac-
crue TO such village.
Vote for the saloons TO help ousl-
ness? Whose business? Tho bust
ness OF the undertaken and the grave
digger. Whose business? The bust
ness of the policeman and ialler?
Whose business? The business OF
the brothel, The asylum and the poor
farm Whose business? The bust.
ness OF courts respecting divorces,
criminals and neglected children !
Whose business? The business fore.
ed upon forsaken women. who wash
and scrub to support the suffering
family Whose business? The bust
ness Of the charity worker, who tolls
to help the mothers in the homes
made desolate by drunkards.
Vote for the Saloons to Help susIness7
But that vote VIII make taxes high
er, accidents more frequent. and la
Dor less skillful. Vote for the saloon
TO help business? But that vote will
tend TO keep the laborer from having
bank account. from owning home,
and from sending his boy to college?
But that vote will send out of town