Middletown transcript., 1917-10-27
FINE TEMPERA NCE ADDRESSES

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privileged to hear in the last week, twt
of the finest temperance addresses evel
given here-one last Saturday evening
in Cochran Square by Mr.. James H.
Hughes the well-known attorney, OF
Dover, and the late Democratic
candidate for Governor; and the other
Wednesday evening, in the Opera House
by Rev. Clarence T. Wilson, of Portland
Oregon. Both addresses We're plain,
matter of fact talks dealing with con-
ditions in their dry communities as the
speakers had for years witnessed them.
Mr.. Hughes first spoke of the great
prosperity that had come to Kent and
Sussex, town and country, since they
had voted dry. He told how all classes
of business has improved, banks and
trust companies showing greatly increas-
ed deposits, new banks started, etc;
and how his own town Of Dover had
been markedly benefited socially, fl
nancially, morally and everyway since
going dry.
'Ten yeaas ago we in Kent had 48
indictments on the trial docket of the
Criminal Court; this year only 26 des-
pite our gain in population.
Mr.. Hughes pade a strong presenta-
tion of the many benefits flowing from
saloonless counties and towns, his own
high standing ard reputation in our
state powerfully enforcing his argu-
ments.
Refuting the untruthful "wet" yarns
about "the grass growing in the streets
of Denver" ETC., he recounted what
attorney Frear, of Dover, who ten years
ago went there for his health, told him
of Denver's wonderful transformation
after Colorado went dry. Mr.. Frear
described the great prosperity which
had come to that city with not one house
for rent, nor any office building empty
etc. "We are infinitely better off every
way, and so far from business being
hurt, it has been bettered.' -
Rev. C. T. Wilson, D. D., made one
of the most convincing, unanswerable
temperance speeches the writer ever
heard-a simple, quiet talk buttressed
at every point with facts-facts gained
from his own personal residence for
years in Portland, Oregon, both before
and after the state went dry
Portland with its $50 saloons and
breweries and a hostile press, was lost
by IL votes. The Oregonian, the city's
biggest paper. and hostile to the tenn
perance movement, six months after
Oregon had voted liquor out, sent 20
of its reporters to investigate busines SIS
conditions, especially to see the fate of
al, these closed saloons.
They found that not single building
formerly used in any connection with
the making, storing or sale of Beer and
liquor, was now empty, but that evety
one had been turned into some form of
useful business, such as shoe manufac-
turles, dry goods stores, groceries etc
The largest brewery in the state,
Winehart's, employing % men was
turned into a manufactury of the fam
Gus Logan berries, and now employees 1875
men The farmers had made a profit
of one cent quart on these Logan ber-
ries now this ex-brewer makes them
a profit Of 10 cents quart
Mr.. Wilson hit the "revenue" claim
of the liquor interest crushing blow.
He showed that in five diffe ent states,
where the license fees average $1,000, =,
taking 10 saloons in each state, the sa-
looms had received S28 for every dollar
Of "revanue" they had paid the state
And what is more this one dollar "reve-
nue." was after all, only the peoples
own dollar out of S29 paid back to them!
Mr.. Wilson gave some of the start :,
ing facts about "poor, God-foasaken"
Kansas of 36 years ago when it went !
Try. 1t now has the lowest tax rate in
the country; the highest per capita
wealth. $3.50 assesslble property for
every man, woman and child in the
state; jails and poorhouses by the scores
closed for years, etc He told the story
Of tramp caught after taking an over
coat. whom they had to carry 160 miles
to find a Jail to keep him irf :
1t was truly marvellous address, off,
hand and quiet as friendly chat, but
as powerful as an avalanche. :