The Alaska daily empire., 1915-02-24
PRESBYTERIAN PASTOR
 SPEAKS FOR DRYS

JUNEAU, Fob. 2s.-To Che E1ito7;-
 In Sundays Dispatch, there Is given space to Q quotation from an address Of Col D. c. lacking regarding prohi- biton legislation ln tho state Of Utah, and 70 which he Is quoted as saving that to close the saloons of Salt Lake Clgy would increase che Statc taxes in Salt Lake county so per cont ete. md advised against any such radical action on the ground it would seem, that the revenues from the business were still necessary to the Snte as Q safeguard to investment
 Those who know Col Jacklne's love og accuracy and foimess arc dispos- ed to question tho authenticity of theI quotation. They do not Like to in-I terpret .t as an expression Of personal. friendliness toward the iiquor indus try. or think that it was spoken for political purpose&
 Those who know prohibition history know that for the first year or two the Gtatement might be a correct one but for no longer than that is it ever true to the facts. that the poor devil who monthly or daily puts Q large DOE ton Of his earnings into drink and for whom, in part. tho liquor dealer is taxed, under prohibition regime. soon accumulates a bank account ond' taxable property that prohibition in. stead Of increasing taxation simply readjusts taxation and then reduces 1t. For crime. Insanity. disease and poverty are universally decreased where the liQuor evil is removed.
 Look over our own court calendar for the hitle city Of Juneau and vic inity and figure Che cost 4ot the llQuor business to the Federal government Add to this prison expense. expense of poor and sick. and expense Of the increased police force, duo to same. and it comes Go SO many tines all the government gets out Of it that it makes ono sick and disgusted with the silly and insane financial argu- ments that are 20 constantly resorted to to bolster up the business and give it Q eommendable appearance to the public
 Yet do not think that any of us are prepared to admit that wa are any more corrupt than Salt Lake cty Tho fact ot the matter is. this situa- ton provuils everywhere.
 f the saloon is such good thing, it seems to me to be quite unlike Col Jackling or very uaparioHc of him, to be so concerned over Salt Lake county and care so ltle for the Territory Of Alaska.
 Why does he not put in halI dog. en saloons at Thaao2 Because he knows that it would lower the amount and quality of work which he would get out or h's men It would involve added police cost. added court cost. and other expenditures. The govern. ment would be tho loser. tho company would be the loser and the mon would be the losers. He knows an this and have no doubt would frankly acmit it to anyone.
 Those who are employing men sue cessfuliy. and the success of whose enterprises are dependent on tna character of Che work their mon give them. are universally recognizing to- day that liquor iniures a mans wis. ion. weakcns his nervo control. de-. pletes his ability and capacty for work end shortens his period Of ser vice. Statlsticiars. who look further. add that liquor Is the one GREAT cause of poverty to the human race; and. directly and indirectly the one GREAT cause of crime: and further that the offspring Of the drinker is likely to be handicapped. ,ntencctu. ally or physically. so the race .of. life. and made more susceptible tempera- mentally to evil cnvironmen and evil example.
 Statesmen. scientists md daylabor- CTS are together waking up to the fact that this is the one GREAT obstacle in the evolution of the race. And tbc Statcc that have been swept dry dur ing the last few years arc not cn ex- precision of religious fervor or sent. mentelism. or bigotry. or spite but an expression of willingness on the part of the people generally Co wave. their personal feelings or interests. that humanity may be- to that extent. unimpeded in it's approach to un,ver- sal prosperity. health and happiness.
 JOHN B. STEVENS.