The copper era and Morenci leader. [volume] (Clifton, Ariz.) 1911-1929, 1914-10-23

sumption being ID. So gallons. IL
1907 the amount of liquor consumed
had risen above the two billion gallon
mark, the per-capita consumption be
ling rs. 80 gallons.
Throughout this period there had
been a steady increase both in the ag-
grecate quantity and in the per-capita
consumption. And this, be it recalled
is the very decade which the prohibit
tinnists point to with such enthusiasm
rs Witnessing the rapid spread of local
option.
In 1905 and 1909, however, there was
a distinct decline from the high mark
of 1907, and it did appear that the
Ilong7awaited turn in the tide had
come. But when the new statistics
for the fiscal year ending June, 1910,
came to light all the hopes aroused
by the statistics of the previous two
years were rudely shattered. For it
appeared that the recession of those
two years was only a momentary eb-
bling of the tide as if to gather new
force; and the flood of alcohol now
rose again close to the high tide of
1907.
! In the past twenty years, then, the
consumption of liquor has more than
doubled in the United States. In
1890 there was omparatively little
territory under prohibition laws; in
1910 about half the territory of the
United States is under such laws. We
are forced to conclude either that one
half the territory of the country now
consumes more than double what the
entire territory consumed twenty years
ago, OF else to make the alternative
concession that the dry territories
are far enough from being dry" in
Iany literal sense.
In point of fact, the conclusion
seems forced upon us that the passing
of Statewide prohibitory laws, and the
great accessions to the locally dry
territory in the wears 190S-9 did for
the moment restrict the sale of liquor
in these territories; but that only a
few months were required in which to
establish new channels of Illicit distri-
button, after which the traffic went
ahead with renewed impetus.
In the figures just given have pur-
posely limited the view to the most re-
cent epoch because the period in ques-
ton has been marked by steady and
III rid progress of the prohibition move
ment. 1t may be worth while, how
over TO illustrate on wider scale the
futility of the temperance movement,
Jas hitherto prosecuted, in checking the
consumption Of alcohol. The figures
are no less than appalling and should
command the attention of every we'll
wisher of the race, whatever his tenn
rerance procilivities. 1t appears that
in 1850, at the time the first great
prohibition movement was just gaining
Roadway, the annual per-capita con-
sumption of alcoholic beverages in
the United States was 4 .OS gallons.
In 1860 it had risen to 6. 43 gallons; in
$40 to z 10 gallons: in 1880 to 10. O8
IN, - ero1 in
1900 to II. 68 gallons; in.1910 to more
han % gallons.
1t appears, then. that the aggregate
net result of sixty years of temper
ance legislation is that the average
(. merican of to-day consumes almost
six times as much liquor as did the
average American of $780, The re-
deeming feature of the case is that
the average man now drinks vastly
more beer and relatively less spirits 4
but this change is not one for which
prohibition can be responsible. 1t is
obvious that in an attempt to evade
prohibition laws the more condensed
spirits (being easier to handle, ship
and conceaD will tend to take the
place of the more bulky ones; hence in
so far as prohibition has affected the
relative status of distilled spirits and
beer its influence must presumably
have favored the former. In point
of fact the consumption of distilled
spirits alone in the year 1896 lthe
year in which Kentucky passed the
local-option law as just noteO had
fallen to L. 10 gallons per capita. But
now the consumption of spirits again
increased, year by year. and in 1907
it had risen to /. 63 gallons per capita.
The Case of Maine.
If we turn from this general presen-
tation of the results of prohibition to
consider an individual instance, the
case selected would naturally be that
of Maine, which is known as the ban
ner prohibition State. 1t is extremely
difficult to characterize conditions
where the elements of political parts
anship and temperance fanaticism can
not well be eliminated. The situation
in Maine was, however subjected to
most careful and candid investigation
by the Committee of Fifty almost 20
years ago, with results that were far
from inSpiriting to the friends of tenn
perance.
Mr. Holman Day, himself a loyal
resident of the State and a member of
the party which for so many years has
dominated the political situation there,
summarizes the conditions that until
existed in Maine by declaring
that for more than twenty years there
was practically no disturbance in the
open disregard of the
prohibition law. THAT is to say"
Mr.. Day writes, every hotel in the
State of Maine had practically an open |
bar. There were, for instance, in the
city of Lewiston, of some $4,000 inhabi-
tants, one hundred to one hundred !
and fifty saloons that were practically |
open saloons" The authorities paid |
no attention to these saloons except |
to raid them at regular intervals of |
about six months and impose a fine. |
The defendants paid this fine without |
protest, and continued to sell liquor |
without further molestation.