The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-07-14
Cabell's Careless Criticisms Concerning
Statewide Prohibition

whether prohibition the proper way to
deal with the liquor question And, again,
Mr. Cabell declares that ''Dr. Crafts has recently
admitted that Europe stands astounded at the
demonstration in America, that as prohibition
laws increase the consumption of alcohol per
capita increases"
Did Mr. Caben read what Mr.. Crafts wrote?
If So has he Intentionally misrepresented Mr..
Crafts or has he quoted him care)essly? What
ever may be the real facts in the case, DR. crafts
indignantly repudiated Mr.. Cabels interpreta-
ton of his language and wrote Mr.. Cabel n
personal letter. denying that he held the position
/ accredited to him by Mr.. Cabell. Has Mr.. Ca
bell ever published DR. Crafts letter? Is II
rot a fact that he is allowing his speech to be
circulated throughout the State without any
correction in II Of these careless misrepresenta-
lions of DR. Crafts position, without even a
foot mote to indicate that Or. Crafts has repu-
dated Mr. Cabelrs statements concerning DR.,
Crafts position. Mr.. Cabell may have misrep-
resented DR.. Crafts in the beginning through
/ carclessness, but If he has any of the instincts
Of fair play and recognizes the treatment which
/ one gentleman has the right 10 expect at tho
hands of another ought he not to publicly ad-
init that he misrepresented DR.. Crafts, and that
he desires TO withdraw his statements made
concerning Or. Crafts position?
(s) Carclessncss Concerning Maine.
Mr. Cahou declares 1.-THE state Of Maine.
every one Of YOU gentlemen know who have
been in that State. has made itself the laughing
stock Of New England and much of the rest of
! the country on account of its prohibition laws
Mr.. Cabell declares further THE State of
Maine is barely moving forward in population
and complaint throughout the State is that the
State is not developing.
The position taken by MFR. Cabel concern
ing Maine is not the position which is taken
by the governor Of the State. In letter dated
May II, 1914, seven days after Mr. Cabell held
mp Maine as "a horrible example" the governor
of Maine replied to Mr.. Cabells criticisms and
said concerning said criticisms:
! This is in line with all the arguments pre-
scented by the whiskey in every State in the
Union. They tell any kind Of story about Maine.
and then half of the people believe the story
! instead of the denial We have reduced
the problem to two counties now. Fourteen
out of sixteen Of our counties are in good shape
and two In bad shape, and we will be after
them very soon. | expect II will be great
many years before this law will be enforced as
1t ought to be, but conditions are constantly i'm
+ proving"
It really does seem that governor Hanes
should know as much about Maine az Mr.. Cabell
and perhaps "a little more. one two items
concerning Maine TRAY be Of interest in this
connections In the State of Maine. GAS per
cent of the homes owned by the families
living in them. in the State Of Virginia, only
ts.s per cent of the homes owned by the
people living in them. In the State of Maine.
with a population of $4,000 there were 100
State prisoners an average of 9S.3 per cent per
600 OF population. in the State of Virginia.
with a population Of 2.061,000. number of State
prisoners 3295 or a proportion of 1913 per
100000 of population
The opponents Of Statewide prohibition in
Maine declare that Sl,10o 600 goes out of Maine
10 purchase liquor If this be granted, the per
pta cost Of liquor in Maine Is si4S. But the
Average IN the United States is SIS. That is TO
r say, Maine spends only one-twelfth as much
for liquor per capita as the rest of the country.
Maine increased in population from 1900 to
1910. 60 per cent, while Vermont and New
/, Hampshire both neghboring States and both
under license increased only g. and i 6, re-
/. srwtivclv Missouri with her fftytw brew
Sw showed an increase of population of only
4, per ceut--less tina nthat Of despised prohib BIZ
ton Maine.
Kansas. the prohibition neiehbor of Missouri
gained Is per cent, or two and one-half times
: as much Missouri
| The increase in the value of property in Maine
from 1900 to 1910 was from s336,7oo.ooo to
451.780o00, over 33 per cent for the ten years
Total assets Of all savings banks trust com
, ranies building and loan associations in Maine
, in 1900 was s58,S62 600; in 1870 s148,s92, 600
an increase Of $90.03o. 900, over $50 per cent
in ten years
(D Careiessncss Concerning Kansas.
Mr. Caben Calls attention to Kansas, and
, describes il as Poor Bleeding Kansas, and he
gives as his authority Mr. James f, House" q
, writer on prohibition questions Certainly there
Is no doubt Mr. House has written prohfbi
ton questions. but for that matter so has Mr.
Thomas NJ Gilmore. president of the Mode
License league. and also have various other
! agents and lobbyists of the liquor trade And
vet we may be pardoned If a letter from GOV
ernor Hodges Of Kansas, of the date of May
10, 1914. five days after Mr.. Cabelfs careless
! criticism of Kansas appeared, has more weighs
with us than the writings of the unknown Mr.
James Il. House. Governor Hodges says:
prohibition has been unqualified success
. in Kansas and has long ceased to be a party
, question. all for 1t
, Some figures are interesting: Number o.
paupers in Kansas, 1885; number per 100000 Of
a 1851: number per 10000 of population "a. 5
, number of state prisoners in Kansas, 1t444
number per 100, 600 of population, $40; mum
, her of State prisoners in Virginia 1925; mum
Der per 100 900 Of population 59.S. In Kansas
the assessed valuation of property is 81. 10000
coo; in Missouri, the assessed valuation is onl,
: $3.50 100000. and yet Missouri has nearly
double the population of Kansas and is a mucf
older Stae.
The State registrar of vital statistics gives a.
official figures that the suicide rate in Kansas Il
: only 100 In 100000 Of population, while th
average rate for the country at large Is 16 II
! 00,o GOO homicide rate in Kansas is only A.
] per 100 900 against 6-5 per 100000 for the ccun
try at large All forms of violence SO in DOT
against S24 for country at large. The dealt
! rate in Kansas is rs per thousand, the SECOND
lowest death rate in America, and that notwith
standing the great extremes Of heat and cold.