The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-08-20
BY j. s. DEJARNETTE,
dent Western State Hospital. Staun

ton, Va
SIS per cen. more persons gent TO Western
State hospital from Staunton during the wet
period than during the dry
100 per cent. more put In Jail In StauneoR
during the wet period than during the dry.
1t has been well said that whiskey in its
fight with mankind never fought a draw
lost battle and it seems puere to argue that
there Is moro liquor drunk in a dry town than
in wet one. The usual argument Is that the
blind tigers take charge Of a town when the
saloon goes (most any would ra Their have
two blind tigers after bim than hat
see) With saloons beautifully Efnled and
the liquors highly colored, displayed in tho
most attractive style, cold beer, fresh Ice sugar
and expert to do the mixing, to make any
one believe that the men who drink behind
he corner out Of n bottle would dirk more
whiskey Is simply unreasonable and unbe-
lievabe.
Moreover. Il more whiskey were drunk IN
prohibition territory the manufacturers would
do their best keep the states in the prohi-
blton list. as to sell more OF their product;
but instead, the liquor interests are working
and doing their best to make barrooms ma
merous
Or. Mcclure OF Richmond says in his
tcle on Statewide prohibition. las 2 man look
ing to the good Of the State at heart I REV
with apprehension and miseivings The passage
Of tho enabling act and see bitter and acrimo-
nious political contest etc, These bitter and
acrimonious contests have been going on
throughout the State under local option condi-
lions, in some cities repeated every two years
SO that the doctors apprehensions and mis-
givings will! certainly he more distressing than
they have been
Danish the absurdtty OF calling the county Of
Rockingham dry while the city Of Harrison
burg is wet Stopping the above condition
am sure VIII soothe the doctor to some extent as
ii would. al least, be consistent
7 have just examined the tail record for
Staun~on during the wet and dry periods. and
find during the month of April. 1913 while the
city was wet there were thrty-three persons in
tail In April. 1914. while dry. there were
eighteen put in jail In May 19f3. city wet
there thirty-three put in Jail In Nav
1914, city dry. there were fifteen put in jail
The town went dry in March 1914
This shows 100 per cent more persons Jailed
under liquor license than under dry conditions
feel sure that other parts Of The state will
ret aa good results here in St8unton With
fifteen fewer persons in jail per month. we
would have $50 less per year, and at this rate
we would be justified in expecting there would
he at least 1000 fewer persons mt in iar in
Virginia during the year. aud il one drunk
man out of every ten Is put In jail and drunk
cnneFs is reduced in the same proportion. we
would have 10000 lAss people drunk in the State
during the the year. There was NO incraa se
Of admissions TO the Western State hospital of
drug habtues from Staunton during the years
when the town was dry. During the two years
prior TO the time Staunton went drv there were
admitted TO the Western State hospital from
, stanton sixteen patients whose insanity was
caused by alcohol. During the two years fol-
lowing there were admitted to the Western
State hospital from Staunton two patients from
the same cause During the following two wet
wears there were admitted 70 the Western State
hospital seventeen patients from stanton whose
( Insanity was caused by alcohol This shows
rs per cent more insanity from alcohol in
Staunton under the saloon than when dry
If we had any disease destroying the health
happiness and efficiency OF our peoplc to the