The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1918-08-16
Husky Shipbuilders in Prohibition
Northwest
Who Say boy, Howdy" and Eat
Milk
Lead Nation in Production, Says
Oregonian
STRENGTH is BIG ISSUE
Prohibition Has Been Tested; Is
Beneficial
National Enactment Will Prove
Valuable
Argument of Liquor Necessity No
Longer Has Weight; Test of
Dry Conditions Makes Only
One Wise Decision, Which Is
Against Traffic

Against Iraff1c
The Portland (Oregon) Oregonian
OF recent date quotes the following
from the New York Sun explaining
that the figures were culled from the
testimony given at the hearing OF the
Senate Agricultural Committee:
1t was there shown that there
were in shipyards in dry territory
125,265 workers and in wet terri
tory 20ol57 workers; total in wet
and dry territory, 334,422.
OF the "a ships launched, the
proportion which the 125,265
workers in dry states should have
produced is 374 per cent, or IS
ships, and the proportion which
the 209,l57 workers in the wet
states should have produced is GO
per cent, or SO ships.
But what are the actual figures?
The dry territory, instead of 37.4
per cent, produced 56.4 per cent?
or So ships; /. e., Isl per cent of
its proportionate share. The wet
territory, instead of &c per cent,
produced only 45.6 per cent, or Al
ships; i. e., only 90 per cent of its
proportionate share.
The Oregonian, be it remembered,
was opposed to the adoption of state
wide Prohibition when that question
was before the voters of Oregon, but
after fair test of the law the Ore
gonian recognizes the beneficial eff
fects upon the commercial and social
life of the state and is an enthusiastic
supporter of not only statewide but
of national Prohibition as well. The
shipyards of Oregon have contributed
in making the excellent record of the
Pacific Coast shipyards in. production
and speed which the whole country
has to recognize. In commenting up
on the data quoted from the New
York Sun the Oregonian says:
Statistics alone are not of great
value in shedding light on this
particular subject. 1t might sem
sibly be inquired whether there
was not the coincidence of SUI
perior organization or superior
equipment or superior material
supply in the yards in dry states,
and whether they had not had
available better class of work.
ers. But statistics are subject to
reinforcement. There is this more
direct testimony from Secretary
Daniels:
1.-TWO notable cases were Mare
Island, Calf, and Newport, R. I.
Conditions at these places were
deplorable until they were made
dry by zone order. They were
very important yards indeed.
When the order was issued at
Mare Island there were many pro-
tests and predictions that the
working output would be de-
creased. The men who objected
at first now approve the dry or
der and efficiency has steadily i'm
proved, with the result that we
have secured an increased output.
Recently, since the dry order, the
Mare Island yard established
world record in the time required
to launch destroyer. Also want
to say that not single work.
man has shown dissatisfaction be-
cause of Prohibition. They have
shown themselves just as patri-
otto as soldiers and sailors"
One may we'll conclude that the
argument that liquor is a neces-
sity to maximum ship output has
been effectually disposed of. But
one may also confidently assume
that the stage in public opinion
has been reached when it is not
necessary to meet the arguments
that have done the liquor traffic
service ever since Prohibition was
first born.
We have Just heard expressed
the opinion of well-known Port
land citizen, gained on an ex-
tended journey. He had not only
crossed the continent but had
spent much time in industrial
centers and at the nations capital.
He is one who has viewed use of
intoxicants with degree of toll
erance and therefore cannot be
presumed to be prejudiced in be-
half of Prohibition. 1t is his con-
viction that if national Prohibition
were put to vote today it would
carry by an enormous majority.
Existence of the sentiment is
felt wherever one goes. Among
the so-callcd good fellows in
cafes, clubs and Pullman smok-