The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-08-14

Opponents OF wartime prohibition
are making a great fuss about the
effect such a measure would have
upon banks. A New York banker ap-
peared before the senate agricultural
committee and said that many bank
ing institutions had loaned money on
whiskey in, bond as security and that
war -tiA.e prohibition would jeopardize
these loans The brewers who had
previously disclaimed alliance with
the distillers Immediately seized upon
this statement and have commenced
Ia campaign against prohibition
through the banks
Any banker who ha sIoaned money
on any class Of liquor security Stnce
the passage of the law prohibiting the
use OF foodstuffs in making distilled
liquors, operative since September IL,
last. knew that 1t was taking q gam
biers chance. rather than exercising
a bankers precaution.
Now the liquor interests are plead
ing to protect the banker who has
speculated with his depositors' money.
The plea will not appeal to the pa
triotic people of this nation who have
been pinching and saving while the
breweries go on every day wasting
grain. enough every year to make
6, 900 900 one pound loaves OF bread
Bonding companies long ago caught
the vision OF the liquor frames doom
and refused to longer carry these
risks. as was illustrated in a circular
issued April 10. 1917. by the Fidelity
& Deposit Company of Maryland. con-
tanning the following prudent state
nent:
THE rapid growth OF the prohibi-
ton sentiment throughout this coun
try the increase in the number OF
dry states, the recent decision of the
supreme court of the United States
the possibility that Congress may
shortly enact prohibition amend
ment to the federal constitution and
the likelihood OF its ratification by
the requisite number of states. al
have combined 10 render us very ap-
prehensive OF this character of busi-
ness. and have forced us to the de.
cision that we will write no more Of
these bonds. This action has been
taken only after very careful and ma
ture study of the situation.
Mr.. Frank A. vanderlir. president
OF the National City Bank of New
York, the biggest bank in the coun.
try, voices the sentiment of the pru-
ueuk -StStIiks Dd~tbScS hA1SA IA AAS
plea for wartime prohibition, In
which he says:
II strongly favor complete national
prohibition. 1 believe we are facing
a serious test OF our national charac-
ter and efficiency, and am firmly con
WINGED that a national prohibition
measure would be Of transcendent i'm
portance In its effect upon the national
spirit In conserving and increasing
our food supply. and in raising the
efficiency of the nation.
The man power released from the
liquor Industries could be directed into
productive channels where the need
for labor will be acute and thus be
readily absorbed The needs of the
agricultural and Industrial situation
viii make this n peculiarly opportune
i, time to put through a national prohi-
bition law with minimum shock to ouI
economic machinery during the re.
adjustment. The business interests
involved should he fairly dealt with
but many of the plants can be readii,
converted to important industrial
uses"
The banker who deliberately and
biindly made loans accepting liquor
securities. aftere the many warming
that have been issued. admits that HI
did not exercise sound Judgment