The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-07-30
PROHIBITION IN
WEST VIRGINIA
IS SUCCESSFUL
IMPROVEMENT IN BUSINESS
AND MORALS ALREADY
NOTICEABLE.

Bluefield. w. Va, July 2a.-~With
four weeks of prohibition in West
Virginia under the Yost lave this
city and this section. notwthstand-
ing their contiguity to Pocahontas
with her twenty-one liquor saloons.
are already feeling the beneficient
effect of Statewide prohibition
Last Friday was Norfolk and West
ern payday, and the merchants of
the city declare that i'll the trade
for one day they had noticed ma
terial difference. Cash sales were
generally better, and credit mer-
chants say that there was con-
siderable increase in collections.
This is true, Notwithstanding the
fact that former saloonkeepers were
on hand to receive money due them
on accounts, 1t was generally under
stood that all saloon accounts had to
be paid this month. under threats of
garnishment.
Improvement Wonderful.
A well known Norfolk and Western
passenger conductor, who operates
In the coal fields. declared that the
change is marvellous. He declares
that drunkenness and disorder on
passenger trains has been reduced to
q minimum, and that all the trouble
from Pocahontas. where the people
go and load up with liquor and carry
it out,
Drummers' Opinion
Roanoke travelling man who de-
sires that his name be withheld, re-
turned last night from weeks trip
through the coal fields He was re-
quested to quietly investigate condi-
tons in the towns where liquor was
formerly sold. On his return he de-
clared that he had put the questions
10 all of his trade concerning the
workings of prohibition for the first
three or four weeks, and he invariably
met with the response that ii was
working like a charm. Every mer
chant declared that he had ex-
perienced quite an increase In his cash
trade, while the payments by credit
customers has been better than usual.
The man who made this investigation
IL personally opposed 10 prohibition.
but says the conditions after less than
a months trial in West Virginia are
SO thoroughly convincing that he is
about to change his mind, He de-
clared that he would watch his West
Virginia territory In the future.
Trade Much Better.
Rlueheid travelling men who make
the enai field trade make similar
reports as To conditions. A repre-
sentative Of Il wholesale fruit and
produce house reports that mer-
chants at WEIGH. where they former
~ had several saloons, say that they
now collect accounts from men which
they never expected TO get, and that
there has been a material increase in
trade of fondstuffs, and that many
working men and miners are buying
better class of fruits and produce.
Enforcing the Law.
The law is being strictly observed
here In respect to thu shipment or
whiskey Every person who orders
It on receiving the package must sign
for II In person. A we'll known drug
concern had some alcohol shipped in
the firms name. but could not get It
from the express office, for the rea-
son that the Arm could not appear IN
person and sign for it.
The police and constabulary in
BIuef1eld are right behind the Law,
and are doing all In their power TO
enforce 1t. There seems to be no
doubt that prohibition Is going TO
prohibit In West Virginia. This Is
especially true in this part on the
State,