New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-08
DRINKING IN ARIZONA
Some Facts Overlooked by a Pro
hibitionist.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Attacking my account Of the liquor
situation in Arizona, Samuel Wilson, New Jer.
sey editor Of the Anti-Saloon Leagues oHcisl
organ, presents in letter 10 The Tribune ,To
parallel columns of figures comparing arrests
in Arizona towns in the first six month: Of
1914 and 1915. respectively.
Mr.. Wilson naively omits 20 explain why he
compares the first six months OF those years
when figures for the last SIX months are avail
able He also naively omits 10 explain ar
other one or two necessary elements Of the
situation in his haste 70 prove prohibition.
efficacy. Allow me to supply the omissions
For the first six months Mr.. Wilson gives
Bisbec, Ariz., arrests thus: 1914, 5sl; 1915
1854.
For the last six months, which Mr.. Wilson
does not give. tho arrest were as follow"
1914. ~; 1918, pos.
Mr. Wilson suggests that Tie figures ~
gives for the first sis months look very much
like effective prohibition Isn't it equally
fair to assume that tho figures FOR the last
six months indicate the failure Of prohlO'
ton?
But one importan, thing Mr.. Wilson nsiysF
omits to mention. In his overwhelming desire
to claim all for prohibition he omts to re-
mark that the changed situation in TIE SIX
months Of 1915 that he uses for comparison
was not as regards liquor alone. He complete
~ fails to mention that Arizona IS Big coz
per mining state and that prosperity and n'N
times in the copper industry. mines runhhs
full tilt or mines closed down. make re
mendous difference in such state u ne
matter of arrests as well as in other re-
spects. How important copper is 70 Ani0''
can be seen by the fact that Do 1914 this sal"
with a population estimated a. $4,000 tune,
out one-third the total copper produeiion ?.
the United States, having d long lead over ."
other states.
Now it happens that the European v"
paralyzed the copper industry a. hFs' a.
then gave il tremendous prosperity ."
happens shall We say. ty Is COINCIDENCE.
that ;he first six months OF 1918 ina, ~
Wilson uses for comparison were months "
open mines. while tine first SIX mon'p' y.
1919. when there were decreased arres''''e''
months when the copper mining incls''! y"
al a standstil
1t happens also that the copper in'-'|'
began to revive in the sumner OF 1910 WIZ
ing forces again were increased, nine" >.
big pay and naturally began 10 spend H''''
freely
Keeping in mind that there we're ia'',.
saloons in Arizona in 1914, while N lsi' -.
bootlcgger was the only pureyor o. 's's.'
but also keeping in mind that the eopP', ,o,,
dustry was slowed down from August " ' ',,
when the war started. Until about the ~ -.
OF 1915. it would seem that arrest is'',s
both halves Of 1914 and 1915 are 80
much more by copper prosperity '''" "
matter of prohibition or license .,-.
That prosperity is a big factor 10 ''' :,
Der OF arrests is brough, out very io's''.
an analysis OF this in The Bisoee AZ,
Of January (, 1916. Taking for eNS"F''
month. the writer says: x,rs
"In December. 1914, SliO ~ hn's rbsr.
turned into the City Collector. IN D,'' Ger.
1915. the amount was S342 Il can DC .,,,
however that December. 1913, "sS - ne
porous month. and the same per'oS o,he,
previous year WAS the reverse. On w. ~, AL
hand. the saloons in 1914 were Woe VA "A me
the month of December O9l'l inVy'S
closing Of the traffic" o. G.. prohoi ,..,re
There can be no question mat oVV, ,.'son,
ha, been a serious proposition 'n -, ,hs
The recent State Supreme Court d''., .hie
the Arizona amendment cannot pre-. halel
mcnts Of liquor for personal use ',a,, lead.
by A. K. Buchanan and other proh'oo.s a, the
ers as. among other things. p'vH since
bootleggers who have been hour''"'"s
''''''''''''' '"''' INV r NJ GILMORE.
President National Model License Le'''
Louisville, ny, March 81, l!lo'