The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-06-27
EFFECTS OF FIRST SIX
MONTHS OF PROHIBITION
IN ARIZONA IS SHOWN

cleaned from interviews with mining
employers show similar benefits to
empiency Of labor. Banks savings
accounts increase nearly 100000 the
hrst six monthA and the deposits or
all banks in the State increased near
iy 100000 up to September of 1918,
compared with the preceding period
Of 1914. There has been \ complete
recovery from the financial depres-
ton OF 1914, and Il 10 directly trace
able to the thrift of laborers. Ari-
zona's manufacturing industry, the
production OF copper. and its mining
industry, returns nothing to the State
| except what labor gives, for the pro-
tent the wealth. So, II labor is
thrifty and more efficient the State be-
comes greater in wealth, prosperity,
efficiency and happiness. A loss of rs
per cent in efficiency where there Ia a
possible monthly pay roll Of several
large mines of 100000 means that
the State has lost $1,000,000 in
actual money. That prohibition has
promoted temperance and efficiency
j there Is not a shadow OF doubt 1t Is
apparent in every camp In the State
to a greater or less extent according
to the standard Of men employed.
In most camps OF the State the
greater number of men are sober and
Industrious, and the illustrations Of
increased efficiency are applicable
only to individual cases In each camp.
There is no reflection upon labor as a
whole in making such comparisons,
but where large groups of men are
employed, there Is always a certain
percentage ineff1cient under liquor
conditions. 1t is such men who have
been benefited by deprising them of
! liquor.
| Delegates of labor unions who visit
members each shift of the day were
! interviewed. and they are unanimous
IN the assertions that laborers are
more constant their homes better
| provided, their children better fed and
clothed. and the trouble that was
! formerly Of serious import to dele
gates in finding many Of their men
| missing from work days after pay
day. has completely disappeared.
/ These delegates. known in the unions
as walking delegates, perhaps have a
better insight into general conditions
than any one else. for they come in
| daily contact with their men.
| Hotel men report very little trouble
with help, and contractors all over the
STATE are impressed with the change
! that has come in labor conditions.
Those who have observed living con-
ditions amongst the Mexicans have
| discovered hundreds of individual
cases OF marked Improvement.
Cattlemeh declare that the cowboys
do not care any more for carousals
in town. Sheepmen. many OF them
who opposed prohibition. now en-
phatically commend 1t a. an agency
for promoting temperance and In
creasing efficiency.
An effort was made to secure the
food stuffs shipped into the State for
the first six months of 1915 compared
with 1914, but due TO the abnormal
financial conditions of 1914, and the
improved conditions setting in soon
after the first OF 1915. such COM
parison was found to be unjust. All
stocks were reduced and buying cur
| tailed In 1914 due 10 this depression.
Some merchants did but so per cent.
of the business of 1918. The depres-
sion extended to all lines of trades.
and the railways found that the
freight receipts had fallen off con-
siderably. When in 1915 prohibition
came and the Improvement began to
set in. the comparisons month by
month with 1914 were soon aban-
doned because OF the abnormal con-
ditions of that year. It must be
borne in mind that during 1914, while
this depression was on. stocks OF IL
quor were being replenished in the
State and there was no decrease In the
number OF saloons A half million
dollars worth of liquor was brought
into Arizona that year, which the rail-
roads have now lost. yet the total
shipments handled will not allow a
Just comparison with the frst eight
months Of ls1s. In other words the
I loss OF liquor shipments has been
made up by foodstufss. General
Freight Agent Hallmark. of the Ari-
IONA Eastern, has found this to be
| dus of his line, and the general I'M
proved conditions extend throughout
the State.
The increased attendance of boys in
the public and private schools Of the
State In very marked, showing that
many boys heretofore compelled to
work to help their fathers support the
OF educational institutions. There has
been In increase OF about 1000 in
school attendance over the State.
Summary of Six Months Prohibition
The result OF prohibition leaves alb
solutely no question OF the marvellous
benefit that has come to Arizona IN
this brief period. The effect of pro-
hibition upon municipal government
shows that tax rates for 1915 were
based not upon actual profit together
with loss, but upon loss OF revenue
alone The counties in making up
budgets. estimated. without reason,
when they concluded nnes would be
less. Instead they have increased from
$1o.36i.95 for tho first six months Of
1914 to $l2.se1.1o for the first six
months Of 1918. The actual expendi-
lures OF the sheriff's ONCE of ten
wet counties the first six months OF
1al4 aggregated 31l2.si7.2s, while for
the same period under prohibition in
1915 1t amounted to but Sl0s,b84.s7.
Superior Courts for the frst six
months of 1914 cost ssi.3a6.as, and
for the same period under prohibition
| In 1918 they cost but SS5.456.47. JUS