New-York tribune., 1919-06-02
26 Governors
OF Dry States
lndorse 'Drys'
Only One Chief of Police
of l9 City Officials
Interrogated Sees Flaw
i'm Prohibition Conditions
Less Crime, All Declare
Statements Gathered by
Committee Acting for 'Ner-
dict. a Boston Publication

Twenty-six out Of twenty eight Gov
ernors OF prohibition states in inter
views made public by dry" forces yes
terday declare that prohibition has
benefited their states. These twenty
six favor the extension of prohibition.
One Governor, Q. S. Larrazolo, OF
New Mexico, opposes prohibition. The
other one ( the twenty-eigh Will
ian L. harding. of Iowa, did not reply.
The dry" organization which made
public the result of the Interrogation
explained that he was i'll.
The interviews were gathered by 4
committee of Boston prohibitionists on
behalf of The Verdict" dry publica-
ton The members of the committee
were Lemuel H. Murlin, president o.
Boston University; John L. Bates, for
mer Governor of Massachusetts;
George ". Coleman, president of the
Open Forum National Council, and
Henry l. Hartman, former president
Of the Boston Chamber of Commerce.
The Mayors and chiefs of police of
ten large dry" cities were interrogated
also. Washington, D. c., which has nc
Mayor. was one of the ten cities, so
that inquiries were made of nine Ma
yors and ten chiefs of police-ninetee
individuals.
Seventeen of these officials gave
verdict for prohibition. One chief of
police did not reply and one other
chief of police gave verdict against
prohibition. This was Chief F. H. Ian
caster. of San Antonio. He said:
Crime has decreased. but bootleg
ging has increased. Prohibition does
not prohibit in San Antonio The only
solution Of prohibition is stopping the
manufacture of Intoxicating drinks
Excerpts from some of the replies
from city officials follow:
Detroit, Mayor Couzens. - Prohibit
ton has brought decrease not alone
in drunkenness, but in larceny, dsor-
derby conduct, assault and battery.
non-support, vagrancy, etc.-a decrease
in all punishable misdemeanors of 26..
l40 over the previous year. Admis-
sions to the poorhouse have decreased
from 2,214 to 500 Deaths from alco-
holsm have decreased from 90 to II.
Savings deposits have increased over
$4,000 600.
Detroit, First Deputy Commissioner
of Police Rutledge dge.-Drunkenness has
decreased by one-half and general
conditions have greatly improved
recently read 100 letters from manu-
facturers saying they would not go
back to wet" under any circumstances
the general physical and mental CON
dition Of their men was so much better
Washington, Superintendent of Po-
lice Pullman.-Prohibition has brought
good results. Although the law here
was imperfect up TO March /, wher
liquor could be brought in for personal
use, drunkenness has been reduced to
minimum and crimes growing out of
drunkenness, such as assault, disor-
derly conduct, etc, have been greatly
reduced.
Seattle, Acting Mayor Lane.-Prohi-
oit!on Is success here from every
standpoint. Every effort to restore
the saloon has been overwhelmingly
defeated. The Seattle Times" and
many business men who opposed pro-
hioltlon are now convinced by its prac-
tical operation. Business has i'm
proved and crime and drunkenness
nave decreased remarkably.
Seattle, Chief of Police Warren
All intoxicated persons are now ar
rested while formerly many were sent
nome. SO there has not been decrease
IN the arrests Tor drunkenness. Busi-
ness conditions. however. are very
much improved and the business senti-
meht is overwhelmingly in favor of
prohibition.
Indianapolis. Mayor Jewett.-Our
county workhouse has been abolished,
crime reduced and social conditions
improved. Prohibition is success in
Indianapolis.
Portland. Mayor Baker. When Ore
eon adopted prohibition the improve
ment everywhere was so marked that
a year later law was passed making
Inc state bone dry. There was the
asual cry Of running the state. but il
dld not materialize. Portland's bank
clearage. population, building permits
kIdNSdcJlOnS n
creased
Portland, Chief of Police Johnson
froniDit 81 has been success. Hun
oSeds Of representative citizens who
Foted against It are now ardent sup
por'ers- Buildings formerly occupied
oy saloons were rented with very little
DELAY few months preceding the
ADOPTION Of prohibition handled some
i.oVo cases Of destitution, and in prac-
sicai!y every case the head Of the fam
" owed d saloon bill Ten months
"i'er fne adoption of prohibition 7
enecsed seventy-fvc corner grocery
asores in the district where most of
snh oestitution was, and without 81
''hSie exception collections from so
pe' cent 20 75 per cent better were
..epor'ed The year preceding prohibi
w our average daily arrests for
uf0nhenness were twenty-three; the
gar following the average per day was
ssp and one-third
Denver, Mayor Mills. There ~ M
question hut that prohibition has been
great benefit. Money heretofore
epsA' Tor liquor is now apent for fam
- purposes, and the home life baa
.sseA ifnmeazurably benefited. MANI
''Afs are really homes now that n~vcr
were before.
Soldiers Fuv0r