The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1914-09-24
SALEM, OREGON, ENJOYS PROSPER
ITY BECAUSE 1T HAS NO SALOONS.
Prohibition Has Greatly Advanced
the Business Interests of The City.

the following:
In spite of the fact that business con-
ditions have been disturbed all over the
country on account of political changes
IN the East, condition of things ex-
listing at present called hard times"
Influencing Salem as well as Portland,
the state and the country at large, that
city has held her own in splendid style
In spite of the fact that fifteen business
houses (saloons) were voted out of ex-
istence by the people of Salem just be-
fore the beginning of the year, an oc-
curence recurring some time for the
readjustment of conditions in a city of
less than 2O,00 people. progress steady
and sure has been the record. Not only
has the city held her own, but an ad-
vance firm and true is noted.
The three largest stores in Salem re-
port their business in this year to be
better than any year previous, and two
OF these three have been compelled to
improve their establishments by re-
adjusting and remodeling the interiors,
requiring investments of, in one case
$5,000 and in the other, SO, 600 to meet
the demand of an increased trade. The
bad business predicted if the saloons
were voted out failed to appear in these
business places, but instead, heavier
trade followed. Many other stores re-
port better business than they had last
year, while some state their trade con-
ditIons to be ''just as good as last year"
Since the town went dry a $4,000
brick building has been erected in which
public market has been placed and
$40, 900 brick insurance block is now be-
ing constructed. Last week the build
ing permits totaled $4,000. These
things do not convince the observer that
BUSTING the saloons has resulted in a
setback to progress.
Considering the building permits, a
comparison of the year 1913 with the
present dry one is suggestive. For
the last wet year the building permits
from January to August, inclusive total
ed 1888, 925, and for this year for the
same period, less half of the present
month S415, 0S5 showing an increase of
S26, $50. The average per month for
1913 was for the first eight months,
1915, and for this year, for the first
seven and one-half months, $55, 344
showing fine increase. | cannot see
that lack of saloons mean lack in build
ing. 1t would rather seem that lack of
the liquor places meant progress in con-
struction, if the records in the city
engineers Office are to be relied upon.
New churches have been built. The
Capital Business College, an institution
of twenty five years standing, is pre-
pairing to move to larger and more ex-
penslYe quarters to meet the demands
now made upon 1t, and Willamette Uni
versity is now looking forward to the
coming years school work, beginning
next month, as the greatest year in her
history; while the public school facilities
will be brought to the top notch by the
expenditure of several thousands of
dollars.
The arrests for all causes during the
above mentioned periods fell from five
to one. We were told that the number
of arrests would increase.
In the matter of arrests; for drunken
ness in 1913, for the first seven months
there were 254, while in the present
year for the same period there were
but AZ, showing ratio of six to one.
We were informed that there would be
more drunk eness under Prohibition than
under the license plan, but it fails to
. work out that way apparently.
How does the dry policy affect Sa-
lem? Listen! here are a few items
from the many finding their way to this
newspaper office A leading school
man states that last year some boys
and girls who attended the institutions
with lack of books and clothing will this
year be equipped with both because
their parents are not spending their
wages over the bars of the saloons,
which they did last year when the city
had the rum selling places. The con-
tractors of Salem states that last year
with saloons number of his men were
insufficiently shod and clothed, the
money needed for this going into the
saloons. whereas, this year these men,
without saloons tempting their coin, are
now wearing good wooden shirts and
other articles of clothing and are well
shod, this fact showing the influence of
the lack of drink resorts in which places
they spent the money needed for these
articles.
Where the saloon loses the merchant
and others profit. A woman last year
was compelled to ask some of the saloon
keepers to refuse her husband drink on
the ground that the home was without
firewood, food and the necessities of
life, and was in great need of the
money her husband earned.
Now, with the saloons out. that home
is supplied with the comforts of life and
conditions have improved in every re-