Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-11-19
all RUSSIA GOES "1hY''
Absolute Prohibition Declared in EN-
pirs by Ediet Of czar-Puts End For-
ever to Vodka Business That Melted
Government Enormous Revenue.


Government enormous Revenue.
Petrograd, Nov. 1s-There is prohi-
bition in Russia today. prohibition
which means that not q drop of vodka,
whisky. brandy. gin or any other
strong liquor is obtainable from one
end to the other Of territory popu-
lated by $50, 100000 people and covering
one-sixth Of the habitable globe.
The story Of how strong drink has
been utterly banished from the Rus
sian empire was related to the Assoc
ciated Press by Michael Demitrovitch
Tchelishen, the man directly RESPONSE
BILE for putting an end to RUSSIA
great vice, the vodka habit.
Whore Prohibition Prohibits.
It should be said In the beginning
that the word prohibition In Russia
must be taken literally. Its use does
not imply a partly successful attempt
to curtail the consumption Of liquor
resulting in drinking in secret places,
the abuse Of medical licenses and gen
eral evasion and subterfuge.
It does mean that a vast population
that consumed $1.0Oo,0oo.ooo worth OF
vodka q year, whose ordinary. condi-
ton has been described by Russians
themselves as ranging from a slight
degree Of stimulation upward. has been
lifted almost In q day from q drunken
inertia to sobriety. The nation has
been compelled, virtualfy-oveEnight, to
abandon fts7 enormous daily consump-
ton of vodka, a liquor that y almost
pure alcohol and become abstemiou'
to the exsenteof letts5k no liquor pasi
the lips.
Causes Change in People.
on that day when mobilization OF
the Russian army began special po-
licemen visited every public place
where vodka was sold. locked up sup
ply of the liquor and placed on the
shop the imperial seal. Since the man
ufacture and sale OF vodka Is gov
ernment monopoly in Russia, 1t Is not
a difficult thing to enforce prohibition.
From the day this step was taken,
drunkenness vanished in Russia. The
results are seen at once in the peas
antry: already they are beginning to
look like a different race. The marks
Of suffering, the pinched looks Of illness
and improper nourishment have gone
from their faces. There has been also
a remarkable change in the appearance
of their clothing. Their clothes are
cleaner, and both the men and women
appear more neatly and better dressed
The destitute character OF the homes
of the poor has been replaced with
something like order and thrift.
In Petrograd and Moscow the effect
of these improved conditions Is fairly
starting. On holidays in these two
cities inebriates always filled the po-
lice stations. Things are so different
today that unattended women may
pass at night thru portions Of these
cities where it was formerly. dangerous
even for men, Minor crimes and mis-
demeapors have almost vanished.
Credited With Miracle.
This miracle has been virtually ac-
complished by NJ. Tchelisheff, a peas
ant by birth, house painter. then
mayor of the City of Samara, and nov
a. millionaire. Physically he is giant
standing over six feet four inches ant
of powerful build. Although he is 5:
wears old he looks much younger
His movements display the energy a
youth, his eyes are ANNA ed and his
black hair is not tinged with gray.