The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1916-05-12
SEE WHAT DRINK DOES
Who Makes Paupers? If the
Saloon Is Not Guilty
Who Is?

County poor houses of Michigan
universal evidence that liquor is re-
aponsible for more than half OF
poverty.
Statistical tabulations showing the
effect of the license and no-license
systems in individual counties OF
Michigan are Of little value as evid-
ence. Many inmates OF infirmaries
are permanent occupants, whose entry
or exit bears no direct relation to
social conditions. A lapse Of years,
possibly of whole generation, would
be necessary TO produce any radical
change in pauperism as class follow
ing the abolition Of saloons.
Two facts stand out: One is that
the authorities and citizens In dry
counties are unanimous in their
opinion that from the standpoint Of
the county poor the dry regime is far
superior. The other fact Is that many
counties report officially that about
three-fourths Of the poverty which re-
quires county aid to individual or
family, Is due to the use Of alcoholic
beverages.
Omcial statements written by gu
perintsndents Of the poor include the
following:
This county is In the dry column,
and we hnd that while the cost OF
everything Is much higher the sup IT.
visors are not called upon TO furnish
US more money now than they did
while tho county was wet."-C. G.
Hallsnbeck, Eaton County.
We are pleased to inform you that
there are 80 few cases IN this county
which srs receiving relief that have
been caused by alcoholic beverages
we have clear slate, are now dry
and expect 10 remain 500. O
Frtsk, OseoAa County.
"hSAlaaA County has been dry eight
years and people like it. Tive old
timers u all we have left In the
county home whose condition Ia due
to drink. - X. Mckay, Midland
CouAty.
CONFIDENTIAL statements TO the same
effect, are as follows: Drink Is the
almost universal cause Of poverty
while for temporary assistance 1t il
probably the main factor In at leas
one half the cases. In my best judg
ment about so per cent OF poverty In
this county can be attributed to the
use OF drink If not more. In fact
nearly al the crime we have can be
laid to the same cause.
II am quite sure that three fourths
at least are caused by the liquor
traffic.
Following are a few more definite
statements:
Alger County: About rs per cent
Genessee County: about 70 pei
cent from liquor directly or indirect
ly."
Huron County Most Of the In
mates Of the county farm here have
come to the institution because Of in
temperance and the use OF liquor"
Mason County: "35 per cent di
rectly and 20 per cent indirectly, OF
So per cent of al poverty in our coun
ty is caused by alcoholic drink"
Iron County: "Ten years as poor
commissioner leads me to say tha
fully SO per cent of male inmates a
our county farm have come here
either directly or indirectly because
of liquor"
Kent County: "Of 500 families
helped during the year ending March
l, 1916, liquor was the direct cause
OF poverty in twenty five families anC
an indirect cause in ffty-three fami
lies. OF 1913 persons in Kent County
Detention Hospital last year, at leas
one half were caused by imtemper
ance. In Kent County Home were
1876 persons, of whom IS per cent car
easily be traced L. intemperance as
direct cause."-L. De Payter.
ITO the best OF my judgment,
would say that so per cent Of the
poverty is caused by alcoholism. II
would be number OF years after 1T
passage before we could get the full
benefit Of state wide prohibition. The
effects Of the past years would stay
with US until the rising generation
took it's place"-V. II. Billings.
Montmorency County: -Four Of
the six men In our poor house were
forced TO come here on account o.
drink"
Oakland County: 40 per cent OF
more Of the cases here ara due n
drink. We are going through the
second dry time and we find 1t helps
very much. l hope for state wide
prohibition"