Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1916-09-01


What is Washington's 1919
record?
1t is we'll known that conditions in
Seattle are more adverse than in the
state as whole. However. the King
county auditors records show that
six months importations for home
consumption totalled 66,672 gallons
This is less than three-eighths of a
gallon annual per capita for the 375.-
600 population of Seattle and King
county. Only 2-3 per cent of Amer
lean average
This comparison fails to consider
the stored-up" liquors from 1915
and the increasing permits each sue
cessive month. Let us therefore use
the climax month of June. The rec
ord shows 11,717 permits issued for
1 importation of 18,4S6 gallons of
/ beer, 1853 of whiskey, 81 of wine. 33
of brandy, AZ of alcohol, 23 of gin,
four of rum and three of vermouth
or a monthly total of 21,232 gal
Ions. Multiply this maximum month S
record by u and the annual total
would be 254,784 gallons for a
population of $4,000. This figures
two-thirds of a gallon annual per
capita, or three per cent of the 1914
average.
Even if we add the June total of
importation permits of all the drug
stores of Seattle and King county
amounting to 14,2S2 gallons-in-
Guiding all medicinal and mechanical
supplies of liquors and alcohol, as
well as for possible illegal sales, the
combined annual supply would be
426, 16S gallons for personal, home
consumption and all drug store pur-
poses, This figures LA gallons per
capita, or only five per cent of the
American average.
Note that the June record showed
acquisitions for more than seven
times as much beer as whiskey. Even
with the liquor demand reduced to
only three to five per cent of the
average under former saloon condi-
tions, this remnant shows a seven
times tendency toward beer rather
than stronger liquors, completely dis
proving the contrary statement ar
gued for Initiative No. "a.
The Washington prohibition law
has proven % to 81 per cent efficient
in cutting out the demand for intoxi-
eating liquors, using the most un-
favorable figures and adverse condi-
tions of Seattle and King county as
the basis of comparison. Don't
weaken it,
Assertions that four per cent alco-
holic beer is mild, wholesome, A"
Notwithstanding; that its home
manufacture, cheap sale and con-
venient delivery to the homes of our
people will be "a positive step for
ward in good morals, health and true
temperance statements in be-
half of Initiative No. "a fly in the
face of comm on knowledge, scientific
authority, economic experience and
governmental action based on broad
est investigation.
The modern temperance movement
everywhere contends that the only
safe line of prohibitive legislation
is that which absolutely excludes any
alcoholic property from beverages
manufactured for general sale and
use In efforts to satisfy the mod
crates" it has conceded limits of / 70
or two per cent alcohol expressed in
the prohibition and tax laws of sew
eral American states; also of Canada
and Europe.
Such an utterly illogical, unscieu-
tific and dangerous expansion of the
alcohol limit to four per cent has no
precedent in temperance" legisla-
ton. 1t is brewery legislation.
avowedly in the special interest of
condemned business. Sincere mod
crates and radicals alike must resist
this menace.
The ordinary beer manufactured
and sold here before the prohibition
law was advertised as mild, whole
some drink" containing only three
or four per cent alcohol, but the in
toxication resulting from its use, its
stimulating tendency towards strong
er liquors, and its train of social. eco
monte, political and moral evils-all
this is vivid memory. and no Elusive
argument should tempt Washington
citizens to invite its return.
The "home industry" plea for ini-
tiative No. "a is Elusive and falla-
cious. Most of the few breweries of
Washington are already adjusted to
new conditions and the others will do
so when finally convinced that the
people of Washington mean business.