New-York tribune., 1918-05-06


proceeds of my Inventions Mr.. Thomas
Edlson. our greatest inventor, derives
ms solace from tobacco, while | draw
my ideas from another source, name
~, alcohol. obtained from fine old
Bourbon. ! am absolutely temperate
however, not exceeding my portion OF
sixteen ounces per day in the past
twenty years. l do not drink wines
beer or ales, confining myself to
whiskey solely.
At the age of sixty-hve l am in
perfect health, physically and mentally
never requiring the services of ply
ycian. JAMES PICKENS.
Booze, Business
And Bank Clearings
How prohibition has worked in the
State of Washington is described as
follows by Mrs. M. C. Munns, of
Evanston, ILL.,, who until recently
lived in Seattle.
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: The proof that the alcoholic
liquor traffic should be abolished lies
in the effects which follow prohibition
thousands of "antis" have been con-
verted by having an actual demon
stration Of fact before them. One of
the most notable instances of this is
the conversion of Major Clarence B.
Blethen, editor Of "The Seattle Daily
Times" Writing in "Collier's Week
~" year ago. Major Blethen said of
himself:
"Personally have never been pro-
hibitionist. Instead I have been a
leader of the vets. say as a
doesn't have to be discussed from the
moral standpoint though any halfwt
knows there is no excuse for a saloon.
1t may be discussed from the stand
point of business, commerce., bank
clearings."
After presenting certain irrefutable
statistics gathered from police records
bank statements, real estate dealers,
merchants, etc, Major Blethen said:
eve (the wets) said certain things
would happen; they did not.
adopted by Washington is an unouali-
fed business success. Crime
has been reduced almost one-half. The
money formerly passed over the bars
IS almost entirely spent for better liv-
ing, benefiting every person it reaches
efficiency in all lines of busi-
ness has been greatly increased.
1T is visible in the records of industrial
accidents, now cut to less than half
the average of wet years. It appears
on the docks. where full days labor
tically none, and a full days labor is
had Tuesday instead of the former half
1t shows up in every business house in
the large cities in the efficiency and
contentment of clerks and workmen."
After prohibition in the State of
Washington had been in effect ten
months the number of prisoners COM
mltted to the state reformatory was
129 fewer than for the corresponding
ten months of the previous year. The
number of prisoners in King County
reduced from 292 to sc. The number
OF suicides was reduced one-half. The
president Of a large shoe manufacture
ing company declared that after ten
months Of the dry regime the sale of
children's shoes had increased so per
cent, and an increase of SO 1-3 per cent
in drygoods sales was reported. De-
posits in savings banks increased;
practically the entire press of the state
came out in favor of the dry law; the
mayors of all the leading cities cited
posed the brewers efforts for repeal.
The two United States Senators, the
Governor Of the state and practically
every candidate for office declared for
the law and against any measure to
weaken or destroy it. and the two meas
ures proposed by the brewers to re-
store the manufacture of beer were de-
feated by most overwhelming majori-
ties; in one case over 10000.
hn
enced the good effects of prohibition
BY their own ballots they elected pro
hibition to remain the law of the state
They did not have prohibition forced
upon them; they deliberately chose it
at first and reaffirmed their choice
later. During the recent wet and dry
hight in New York the editor of "The
binghamton Press" wired Mayor Han
son of Seattle the following message
Big posters displayed here by the
wet vets allego bad conditions in Seattle
, under dry conditions. Please wire
your Judgment as to the good or bad
eHects in Seattle" Mayor Hanson re-
sponded with message in which he
declared that prohibition had been p
great benefit to the CITY, He asserted
that while Seattle voted wet bv Is 00C
IT would vote dry by $4,000 If the oues.
ton were TO be submitted to the voters
tomorrow. He told of improvements
IN business and moral conditions in
the city and ended by declaring that
"prohlbition is the greatest forward
step city, can take for the benefit OF
all people"
Shall the camouhage Of misrepre.
sentation avail against the adamantine
wall of facts? s'''s
MRS. M. @. MUNNs.
Blames Saloon for
Most Evils Of Alcohol
A contributor in Spring Lake, N
j., sends the following denuncia
tion of saloons, whose abolishmenr
he favors, while defending the con
sumption of light wines and beer:
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Every respectable man ant
woman in our cities is without doub
in favor Of closing UP the low clas.
liquor saloon-the hotbed of crime
misery and want to the working class
| deCradinr to the vounC tho rosort a.