Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-04-01
JUGGLING WIN STATISTICS.


II Is NOT The purpose Of the Jour.
nal % criticize the work of the Ply
ina squadron Or 70 defend The liquor
sraffle. We bcIlcse, however, tha,
the Rev. Charles n. Sheldon would
serve his cause better ~ dealing
more fairly with his audiences
Mr. sheldon bases his conclusions
on statistical comparison. Like the
ehilds box o. letters. statistics may
be Used 70 spell anything. The com
parisou between the degrees " pros
perity - prohibition Kansas and wet
Missouri may De accurate, but the
conclusion thnt the difference. favor
able te Kansas. Ia due 10 prohibition
Is open - challenge.
For example. Kansas has no large
city within ~ borders while Missouri
has iwo Kansas population IL large
ly rural. that n Missouri largeiy ur-
ban Everywhere IN The world the
percentage Of poverty is FER higher
IN great ceniers Of population than
Ia rural communities.
Another difference Is that. accord
Ing 20 the census, more than three
times the number u negroes live In
Missouri than live IN Kansas.
let " take another comparison,
DR. sheldon says Che pr cuplin
wealth u Kansas - ereaier than
that 81 any other state except dry
North Dakota According 70 the 1919
Statistical Abstract his stsiemen, ID
correct. beeansc The total wealth Of
south Dakota slion MAS given ~
teaz.7zg,5sv apportioneu among 4
population ~ $4,000. md kansas
vaa given az worth 1885. 900. 900
appprtloned among i,ss0ei7. A. viii
be seen BY little figuring. the per cap.
ia difference slightly faYofs Kansas
nu IN 1919. the taxable valuation
OF wet South Dakota vas raised Ia
about ffsa00,0o0, 900. and the popula.
ton cannot BE- more Than 100000
therefore. Il VIII be seen that South
Dakota is far ahead OF both Kansas
una North Dakota. according to the
only available statistics. the tax rolls,
hut these statistics are practically
worthless. from he fact that Kansas
and North Dakota tax returns are
probably too low. white those u South
Dakota represent Az nearly exact val.
uea aa possible as under fhe new law
there Is little chance to hide any
thing lasablo
II % pointed ont by the prohibition.
lets that Norih Dakola'H population
has Increased ln more rapid percent
age Than South Dakota. That possibly
4 True hut the fact that three trans-
continental railroads cross North
Dakota, while until four years ago
South Dakota had no through line.
may have had something 60 do with
THE difference
Also Il - true that south Dakota
has lesa crime than Kansas. Ia pro.
portion 10 population, and less insan-
~, aid The people Of that state own
larger percentage OF automobiles
aud have moro money in the banks
per capita. Tor exactly the same rea.
sen that Kansas is ahead Of Missouri
IN THESE particulars III larger per-
eentaee o. south Dakotas population
Is niol Buy North Dakota has a
smaller perccntagc IT crime than has
South DAKOTA ana q smaller percent
age Of insane ALSO Tor the same real.
son.
Another matter on which the Rev.
Mr. sheldon should use caution is his
statement regarding grand iurics in
Kansas Being a clifton Of Kansas he
knows That certain OF the county and
city tudseH have the power of com.
hitting direct 10 the district courts
for trial Just as the district attor-
neys. Ia many states. now NE direct
inf8rmstienH
4 viii be recalled that until Moyor
waa assaulted at Hancock. Mich,
during the strike war grand Jury
had not been called IN noughton
county Tor thifty.four Years. II was
nat laek II saloons OF bach OF crime.
but the machinery OF Justice that
had made the calling Of Grand jnrles
there unnecessary.
Russia. France and Great nntain
are furnishing strong examples for
citation bg the prehiblilonlstA The
Russians are sustaining the war,
since vodka WAS prohibited. and
France is making far better show
ing Ia she world than Great Britain
has been aI,le 20 make iIoyd-George
says 81 EnFlands three powerful
enemies. Germany. Austria and drink,
The drink enemy N the most formida-
Bile which is prohahit true.
There is 10 cause 50 good As to JUS