The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-01-24
PROHIBITION AS
ECONOMIC ASSET
Figures Given by Anti-Saloon Leaders
and Others Indicate tho Great
Saving the Adjustment OF LII
Quor win Bring.

Boston, Mass, Jan. a3.-Prohfbi-
special advantage to labor according
to leaders of the Anti Saloon League,
who says this has been substantiated
in every state. city and town in the
United States where the people have
enjoyed, even for a comparatively
short time, absolute freedom from the
acknowledged burden of the liquor
traffic. They say that former sl<eptics
have c1ndidly admitted that their
predictions of business disaster and
labor unrest have been blown to the
winds. and that they have found
themselves prophets without honor
even in their own countries or COM
munitieG.
Regarding the advantage to the
public of prohibition. Robert w.
kelso. secretary Of the Massa chusetts
State Board of Charity In a recent
statement said: The total public OK
pense resulting from the immoderate
Use of alcohol is unknown, shut 1T is
possible to indicate certain definite
result of drink These OUTLAWS may
be classed under the policing. crimi-
nal prosecution. iails and houses Of
correction, state institutions. and pub
lie and private charity"
Mr.. Kelso placed the police bill of
Massachusetts for liquor at % per
cent of all arrests and a direct charge
on the public of sS.lTS,400. He said
that 20 per cent of all criminnl cases
in the courts arc the result OF drink.
the bill being slSl,o45. Jails and
of
annually TO take care ar inmates sent
TO such places on account of drink.
1t costs the State of Massa chusetts
sTo9.sso annually to care for those
sent to state institutions because Of
drink, while the State and the cities
and towns appropriate $1.5i4.S1e an
nually for relief to those who have
become public charge because of
drink.
IF we add the several items charg-
BILE to public expenditure to alcoholic
ntemperance." said Mr.. Kelso In con-
clusion. we have a total Of 1920
s94. expended yearly by this Com
monwealth.'
The total amount of all (liQuorl
license fees in 1916 in Massa chusetts
was $3.4S3,321, so that the people Of
the State spend yearly S2,7S2.573 in
clear money for the drink habit"
Mr.. Kelso admits that he did not
include private charities in his sum-
mary but points out that SIS incorpo-
rated charities expended In 1917 the
sum of s17.1S3,5o1, one-fourth of
which he estimates could be charged
to drink, which raises the total for
the state to $7,07s,448. charge OF
not quite 81 on every man. woman
and child in Massachusetts,.
Prof. Irving Fisher OF Yale Univer-
stty expressed the belief recently that
prohibition would increase the pro-
ductivity OF the United States about
10 per cent and add $4,000, 000, 900 to
the annual income. To this sum he
adds almost az much again. which he
claims will be saved by transferring
the money now spent for liquor to
productive expenditures. He reekons
that the United States spends yearly
for liquor oyer $4,000. 100000 to get
back in revenue less than quarter
Of q million.
Therefore" said Professor Fisher.
revenue from liquor is on 4 par with
burning your house down to roast a
pig: a. very costly roast"
on labor. the Ant-Saloon League
leaders point out that in 1910 there
were employed In the United states
100, 900 bar tenders and $4,000 wage
earners in making alcoholic bever-
ages. II is claimed that less than one
fourth OF the latter were actually en-
,ployed as brewers, maltsters, recti-
fiers, and distillers. The remainder
were biacksmiths, carpenters. coopers.
electricians and machinists, all OF
whom Will. it u.s. believed. readily And
employment in other trades.
Mr.. Charles Stelzie Is quoted as say
ing that the money now In the liquor
business II put into any important
industry would make more jobs for
la Dor. for while the combined indus
tries OF the country in 1910 employed
$50 wage-earners OF every million dol
lars invested. the liquor industry en-
ployed only 81 wage-earners for each
million dollars invested"
Rev. J. r. Eggleston Leaving.
Rev. J. r. Eggleston, his wife and
three children. are on their way ia
Mr.. Eggleston's new charge in Nor