New-York tribune., 1917-07-30
Testimony, Dry and Wet
e Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: Under date of July IA Moderate"
has letter to The Tribune giving some very
wet figures to prove that liquor is not a
cause of crime, poverty or insanity Some
of US cannot be thus convinced, as We have
quantities of material, to US just as official,
to prove quite the contrary.
have before me a long list Of extracts
from letters from Governors, Mayors and
police heads in states and cities which have
become dry, showing the contrast between
the old and the new regime. Although |
believe it would be permissible to publish
the names, yet, not having had that permis-
sion, copy few quotations without names,
and refer any one interested in getting the
originals to Sebastian S. Kresge, Detroit,
or to the American Issue Publishing Com
pany copy of July 14), Westerville, Ohio.
From Governors:
"We have lost the liquor traffic and we
are glad. Crime reduced; bank deposits
enormously increased; public morals on
higher plane"
"Twenty-one per cent more children at
tending school; bank deposits increased 100
per cent; building and loan association
stock increased $50 per cent"
1.-TWO thousand new savings accounts
opened in one month; collections in depart
ment stores brokeaall records; credit men
report many overdue accounts deemed un-
collectible paid up; crime reduced greatly"
Marked decrease in commitments 10 prison
and state hospital; needy families percepti-
bly, decreased"
Wealth per capita greater than any other
state; fewest tenants, most home owners OF
any state"
"Never such beneficial results from any
measure in so short a time; B chief Of
police and four policemen dismissed because
no longer needed; city and county iails
empty; savings bank deposits increased; ac-
cidents decreased"
Business has improved; arrests decreased;
insane commitments less; savings bank de-
posits swelled."
arrests reduced 40 to so per cent;
mitments to state hospitals greatly decreas,-.
demands on poor fund much reduced
From Police Chiefs, Commissioners, etc:
Drunkenness and other crimes reduced
so to rs per cent"
"old soaks going to work; public market
receipts increased 25 per cent"
Grimes reduced so TO rs per cent"
Retail clothing wall paper, hat stores,
etc, have taken rooms OF saloons; R.
Brewery changed into packing house"
From Mayors of dry cities:
Gambling, red light districts practically
gone; we would not return to wet conditions"
"New store business in vacated saloons;
thousands who voted wet now convinced Of
success of dry policy"
I'VE have saved enough by reduction in
Police Department and poor fund 10 Offset
loss Of S5l 900 revenue, besides big savings
in the courts and prisons"
New buildings replacing shacks where ss-
looms were; men buying necessities for home
with drink money"
collections better; bank deposits in
creased million dollars a month; building
so per cent more; 1900 more in schoolsi
prisoners reduced nearly l00 per cent.
voted wet, but was much mistaken"
Many other officials testify similarly.
Now, either these statements are true of
they are untrue. II true, many of us VIII
accept them as convincing 10 be thrown
aside as vague generalities. II untrue, then
these prominent officials either did not know
what they were talking about, or they pre-
varicated Which will we have IL
INTERESTED.
Princeton, N. j., July II, 1917. u