The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-03-28

wholesale Misrepresentation of condi-
lions In Kansas under prohibition made
by enemies of prohibition. under the
Inspiration of the national liquor in
Eerests, Governor Arthur Capper has
uet issued over his own signature a
positive denial of such alleged facts.
particularly attention having been
given a publication by Royal e, CRbell.
BIZ Richmond, Va, entitled Facts about
Kansas"
Additional emphasis has been given
the enthusiasm of Kansas for prohibi-
Ion by the passage at the recent SEES
ZION of the Legislature. by unanimous
vote. of a resolution strongly denounc-
ng the Misrepresentation of the
State made by the liquor interests and
putting the Legislature on record as
favoring national prohibition.
Governor Cspper's Letter.
Governor Capper's letters Is as fol-
ows:
The National Wholesale Liquor Deal
Frs Association Is circulating much
literature throughout the country,
which IL SO distinctly misleading and
harmful that prompt and forceful re-
quotation of its contents is impera-
tive.
The liquor interests do not fight
Fairly. they resort to false hood and
nnaendo and subtersuge. What else
. left to them? Can they defend the
gambling. the resorts they own and
use TO retail their poison? There Is
bne thing. and one alone that the
iquor Interests can do, and that ~ to
wade into the statistical masses OF
the census, trusting to the confusing
bow ~ OF twisted figures TO make black
appear white in the eyes of the average
man.
The ilator interests have declared.
n effect, Ghat the Legislature OF kan
has has lied: that more than zoe edi-
tors OF Kansas have lied; that every
political party of Kansas has He'd that
every minister and school teacher OF
Kansas has lied; that the president
BIZ the Kansas State II. tallers Associa-
HON has lied: that the president OF
khe State Bankers Association and le6
bankers of Kansas have lied; that the
president of the State Medical Society
has lied. that the president of the
Commercial Clubs Of Kansas has He'd;
that the Governor OF the State of Kan
kas and many state officials have lied;
that $1,000 people who piled ma
1ority on the wet candidate. Mr.. Bill
lard, in the last election. and thereby
endorsed prohibition. have lied.
Cah~Ii'M -Factx Ahaat Kansas"
Just at present the Wholesale Liquor
Dealers are circulating an article by
Royal T.. Cabell on Faces About Pro-
hibition in Kansas" Dir. Cabeh says
that Kansas death rate figures are un-
reliable, for Kansas Is not In the regis
tration area" go he takes the death
rate OF Kansas cities and compares
them with the State death rate Of
license states, and makes no explana-
tion that the rate In the latter case
II dragged Down bg rural statistics.
SInce Mr.. Cabell first wrote his article.
Kansas has been admitted 10 the regis
sration area. but the liquor people are
uttll industriously circulating the state
ment~--'Kansas figures are not accepted
10y the United states government"
Cabell infers that Kansas has rate
of death by violence, excluding suicide,
pf I2a. In 1914, according TO pr. j. $.
Crumbine Secretary of the Board of
Health. the rate of violent deaths in
Kansas was sos. including both ac-
cidents and homicides MIR. Cabeii has
taken the figures for leading cities
and compared them with the figures
Towering both cities and rural districts
In license States. He infers that the
rate OF suicide in Kansas Is 20 to the
100000. According to the figures of
Dr. Crumbine, the rate of suicide In
Kansas in 1912 was t2.2.
IT, in this literature. issued BY the
iiQuor men, they want TO set forth
facts on which Intelligent opinion may
he formed. why does II not say In this
connection that the death rate In KAN
has In connection with all of those
causes of death in which alcohol
prominently figures is. In nearly every
lease, below that OF nearby States and
n In every single case below that Of
The registration areas Why, for In
stance, would 1t not illuminate the
nfobIem to say that while the death
rate In the registration area from cir
rhosis OF the liver was ~, in Kansas
In 1919 1t was only Z? Why not say
that while the death rate from violent
deaths In the registration area was
81. In Kansas II was CO.'S? 1t might
sven be well to bring out the fact
that while the death rate from homi-
eide In the registration area was 60,
th4 homicide rate In Kansas In 1912
was 49, II undoubtedly would he In
structtve 10 say that the death rate in
the registration area from suicide was
ia, and in Kansas In 1912 was 12.2.
fhe deah rate from Bright's disease
tn tbs Registrations area was SIS, and
in Kansas only 55.4; for pneumonia in
the registration area sac, and In Kan
pas In 1919 It was 45.6.
Mr. Cabell does not say these things.
They contain 1.-The whole truth" and
thu whole truth would be fatal to Mr..
Cabelrs cause.
Divorce.
Mr.. Cabell figures that Kansas has
divorce rate OF 2S6. but the latest
available reports from the United
states government. was Jos mot 1850
Divorce statistics are so chaotic and
SrA affected by such varying conditions
/ lat Il II not possible TO make a res
asonabte comparison. but when Mr..
esbeal makes an error Of III to the
| ioe.eOo considerably more than doub-
~ n Kansas rate Tor purposes u