The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-12-07
SURROUNDED BY WET STRONGnOlDS WEST
VIRGINIA PROHIBITION nevertheless SUCCEEDS
Leading Bankers Testify Laws Benefit Business and Mining Seconsre
Fall Grocery Business Banking Accounts Increase Number -
Size; Empty Are Quickly Filled.

A first-hand investigation conduct
ed by the temperance society of the
Methodist Church in all parts OF West
Virginia reveals bankers, wholesalers.
retailers and business men Of every
class heartily favoring the dry policy
as "a great business asset.
The quarters formerly occupied by
the saloons have been turned into at
tractive places Of legitimate business"
declares Mr.. Howard Hazlett of Hsz-
lett Il Son. investment brokers, Wheel
ing. Some of our breweries have
been converted into cold storage
plants"
Mr.. l.. j. Ashworth. president OF the
Twentiet, Street Bank of Huntington.
also testifes that the voting out of
sa locns WAS not disastrous to the real
estate business. for. while thirty bust
ness rooms were vacated. today. four
months later, all. with one exception,
are occupied by other businesses"
The few vacant store rooms fast
filIed up with businesses more valu-
able to the State" says Mr.. W. 4.
MCCorkle, OF Charleston.
Former Vets Are Now Dry.
Il am personally. acquainted with
quite a number of former drinking,
men who have reformed since prohi-
bition and are now sober. aggressive,
good citizens says Mr.. f. J. Taylor,
president of the Citizens Bank of
Pennsboro, and Mr.. kyger. cashier.
as well as Mr.. Floyd. president of the
Central Banking Company. Hunting
ton. say that careful inquiry among
our patrons who were wet shows that
without exception, they are thorough
~ convinced that business has not
been hurt by prohibition
II have the first business man yet
to hear speak Of the prohibition law
except to say that 1t is great help to
business and a great .,elp in many
other ways" says Mr.. Amos Bright.
President OF the Home National Bank,
If Sutton.
Many New Bank Accounts and Old
Ones Grow.
There has been a wonderful in
crease IN savings accounts throughout
our Commonwealth" says Mr. o. jay
Fleming. cashier Of the First National
Bank of Grafton. and he continues.
Hundreds and thousands of the
laboring class who were in the habit
of spending their all across the saloon
bar. leaving their families in want,
have started savings accounts"
Men who formerly spent sheir
money for drink save 1t now and put
il in the bank" declares DIR. A. S.
Grimm, president of the Pleasance
County Bank
our bank has opened up approx
n.ately 800 new accounts since july j,
a very large per cent of which came
from the laborsag class who formerly
spent their money for intoxicants.''
asserts Mr.. r. NJ. Snyder. of the Bank
Of Mount Hope. Deposits are more
tina for this period las. year and more
Industries are being installed or con-
teinplated." says Mr.. Fl. L. Rowe, of
TIE First National Bank. Anderson.
There are many having bank ac-
counts now who never had one be-
fore says Mr.. jeremiah Thomas, OF
the Bruceton Bank. The drink money
is finding its way into savings ac-
counts says Mr.. John L. Rudd, of the
Clarksburg Trust Company.
Mr.. A. G. Mathews, of the Bank OF
Grantsvtlle testifes that whereas
many Of their customers formerly
were in the habit Of ordering liquors
from nearby towns and paying with
personal checks. 'our cashier informs
me that since the prohibition amend
ment went into effect but few checks
have been drawn in payment of
whiskey bills. and the former whiskey
buyers naturally have larger ball
ances."
Fuller Testimony From These Bust
ness Men.
The SIS, 600 per week that went to
the support OF the saloons in our city
now goes to other lines of trade
Merchants report better collec-
tons
Real estate men report better col
lections and a demand for better
houses
Banks report an increase in small
deposits and all the factories in the
city are busy.
Gambling is reported as not pro-
fitable any more.
Vice aud immortality are on the
decrease.
children are better clothed and
better fed.
Taxation on account Of no licenses
has not increased. Real estate has
maintained its usual increase. Mr.,
L. J. Asnworta. president Of the
Twentieth Street Bank Huntington.
II the matter were submitted to
West Virginia voters again since we
have seen he results, the amendment
would carry by an Increased majority.
Conditions everywhere are better
Mr.. John J. Bender, president of the
Burnsvillc Exchange Bank.
"A drunken person on our streets
is a novelty. The city workhouse has
been practically abandoned. Many
men who were in the habit OF taking
their dram when the saloons we're
open tell me they are more than salts
ned with present conditions and would
vote for prohibition" MFR. Howard
Hazlett, OF Howard Haziett e. Son.
Wheeling
The effect Of prohibition has been
fane. The volume of business is dis
tinctly larger. Prohibition has been
Of enormous benefit to the city of
Charleston and to West Virginia. This
Is the consensus OF opinion everywhere
In the State. MFR. w. a. MacCorkle.
of Chiffon, MacCorkle & Chiffon, OF
Charleston.
The financial interests of the entire
state are showing very decided inn
provement because OF prohibition 49,
Reese, Blizzard, Citizens National
Bank, Parkersburg.
apart from the great moral ups
lift. there was an appreciable inn
provement in business until the great
European war set in. One of our
leading bankers here remarked to me
this morning that the change for the
better In our community. morally and
in business way. since prohibition Is
most marked. He said that he re-
eretted having voted against the
amepdment."--Mr. f.. NJ. Giikeson,
Wood County Bank. PArkersburg
- H.