The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-07-17
Dy Joseph Detar

MTO can tell with certainty Just how
u groat would be the disaster that general
prohibition would entail. There Is moth
ing IN the pas: by which to accurately gauge 1t.
out we d. have certain statistics Of the people
employed AID money invested in the liquor
business from which to forecast results.
II nationwide prob ibition came. the present
business depression would be but small
in cosnparIaou with it. Unemployment in the
Industries directly and indirectly affected would
be greater, beyond doubt. than we have ever
seen IN this country.
There has been some attempt among Pro-
hib;tionists to liken the present movement to
that against slavery. There Is this essential
difference, from financial standpoint, between
the slavery and the prohibition movements that
must be kept in mind. The abolition OF sav'
cry, while It worked change in the economic
conditions Of the laborers. making them free
men instead of slaves, did not wipe out as
whole their employers. There was just as
much work to be done when slaves were set
free when that great change was first pro-
posed.
With the Prohibition movement it is an en-.
s.rely different matter. Not only is the coun.
try's fifth largest industry to be destroyed
bodily, its assets to be wiped out or deprecated
10 fearful extent, its employers and employees
thrown out of occupation, forced to seek other
lines of industry and compete with those al
, ready there employed. but at the same time
one-third Of the total revenues OF the National
Government to be given up, and the other
industries of the country must shoulder TINS
great annual tax OF one-fourth of a billion dol
lars and must do while absorbing the unem.
ployed labor Of the industry wiped out ana
competing with the employers and employees OF
that industry who seek other avenues Tor the
investment of what capital they may have lett
after they see their physical assets put upon
the auction block and the good will! OF their
business ruthessly destroyed.
Put as briefly as possible, the different enects
OF nation wide prohibition may be stated as
follows:
Abolition OF business representing a captali
xation estimated at from $3.OOo,ooo.ooo TO so''
600, 100000.
Absolute loss of 4 largo proportion OF the
assets of this industry and tremendous depre
citation in value of the remainder.
Closing up OF over 2,400 plants manufacturing
distilled, malt and vinous liquors, having
capital. by the 1909 census, of 1881 900 ooo, pur.
chasing raw materials valued at Sl69oooooo
annually and turning out a product Valueu at
over $3.50 600, 900 annually.
Closing up Of over 100000 retail liquor estao'
lshmen1s with an investment running UP INTO
many millions of dollars.
Bankruptcy for thousands of these manu-.
facturers, wholesalers and retailers who Will
find themselves facing tremendous loss on
property the value of which is either wiped
out or greatly deprecated and a large proper
ton Of whose debtors in the same line OF bust
ness will be unable to meet bills due
Switching of thousands Of these dealers to
other lines of industry, where they will come
into competition with their brains and what IS
left of their capital with manufacturers and
merchants already in those fields.
Loss to railroads Of the country OF revenue
on traffic running up into millions OF dollars
netting them considerable percentage OF their
income from freight. According to the United
States Statistical Abstract for 1913. the total
movement of manufactures OF the wine, Wits
key and beer industries In 1912 amounted TO
over 100000 tons, or 2h per cent Of the
total traffic of all manufacturing industries OF
the country. This does not take into considera
ton the shipment of grain and other raw ma
terials to the distileries, breweries and WINE
ries nor does it take cognizance OF by-products
like dried feed which. when shipped away.
represents from 90 to 40 per cent of the bulk
Of the grain going to these plants nor does 1t
take notice of shipments between wholesalers
and retailers and retail dealers and customers.
Loss Of billions of dollars to wholesale gro
crrs hotel owners, restaurant keepers. drug
r!~ts both wholesale and retail, most OF whom
ordinarily are not classed by the public With
lNc liquor industries