Perth Amboy evening news., 1916-11-17
THE PROHIBITION WAVE

of both of the great political parties
great deal of concern. Well 1t may
as one-half the United States Is now
dry territory.
At the last election four more
states voted to abolish the saloon
These states are Michigan, Montana
south Dakota and Nebraska. At the
same time dry" governors were
elected in Utah and Florida where
the legislatures had previously pass
ed prohibition bills. but they were
vetoed by former governors. There
are unmistakable signs everywhere
that the prohibition movement Is
growing. 1t is no longer a strictly
moral issue; its economic value Is
now realized, and once the people
are convinced that prohibition pays
no matter what way it is looked at
it Is bound to be accepted.
For several years the large corpor-
atiors have been making it more
difficult for men who use liquor TO
hold their jobs. The railroads have
been most strict in this respect. One
of the latest concerns to take such
action Is the Ferris Engineering
Company, of Johnstown, Pa. This
concern now offers a bonus of five
cents an hour to all workers who stay
on the job and keep sober. The
Ferris company says the five cent
bonus is one of the best investments
it has ever made.
One of the interesting effects Of
in Colorado is found In
he complaint of the Engineering
Record, which calls attention to the
act that the supply OF convicts
AVAILABLE for road work has de-
,reased since the state went dry" In
other words, with no liquor on sale
'ewer arrests are made and the jails
Ire practically empty. This same
DGCll lcICA Co W III ~
gard to Kansas and other prohibition
states, where the grand juries in
some counties have not made any
for several years.
The distillers and brewers try to
)ut on a bold front and say that
when a state goes dry it does not
mean any less liquor consumed. but
hat the consumers In those states
must get their wet goods in some
,ther way-by mail or express-in-
stead of going to the local liquor
store as before. But the fact is that
in Michigan, for instance,
which gave majority of $4,000
lgainst the saloon, will put out Of
business eighteen breweries in the
,ity of Detroit alone. 1t is a we'll
,nown fact that as long as the stuff
s manufactured 1t will be drunk, but
S state after state goes dry. more
nd more of the places for mansac-
uring the liquors are closed, SO that |
.radually the supply is being narrow
d down, and eventually the industry |
will be stamped out completely.
Here in New Jersey we are still
lighting for local option. In Middle |
ex, this year, we have elected two
who are known to |
avor local option. Essex county has |
lected a senator who openly advo- !
ates local option. These only show |
he tendency of the times. The New |
FORK diocese of the Protestant Epis- |
opal church has passed resolution !
avoring national prohibition aud |
otal abstinence. The march is all iE !
ne direction. The experience Of the |
european countries in the present
var in regard to liquors has made a |
,reat impression on the world
No wonder, then, that the political |
eaders are giving the question much |
oncern. 1t is apparent to all that |
has got to come. The
question is, which party is going to
ecure the benefit?