The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-08-18
CRIME DECREASES Is
PER CENT IN NEW YORK

The New York Tribune summarizes
the effect Of partial prohibition in that
city with statement that the police
reports show a decrease of Is per cent
h, crime as compared with July, Of
1918, and show less drunkenness. 1t
declares that there is no gain in trade
volume apparent 1t also says that
drug addicts are using more narcotics
but fewer inebriates are acquiring the
drug habit. 1t must be remember
that New York city is by no means
bone dry. The saloons are selling beer
OF alleged ATS per cent alcoholic con-
tent and it is also conceded that many
of these beer saloons are selling strong
er liquor surreptitiously The Tribune
says with reference to the crime situa-
ton:
There has been less crime. The
records of the police department and
some of the larger detective agencies
show decrease of per cent in crimes
CT all kinds as compared, with July. OF
1918. A decrease is said to be particu-
larly noticeable in crimes of violence.
Arrests for ntoxication are fewer. In
July. of 1918. the daily average for
this offense was twenty -four. In July
of 1919. it was fourteen.
The Salvation Army hotel at 225
Powery reported no change in the
number of DRINKS that had to be eject
Cd. the only apparent result of prohi-
bition being the growing resentment
or the part OF moderate drinkers. In
Union Settlement it was said that only
one saloon in the city had closed and
there was no evidence of improved
conditions An officer of the Society
for Prevention of Cruelty to Children
caid complaints of parents who were
habitually under the influence Of LIQUOR
came in as regularly as ever.
The Tribune does not give sum
mary Of the official police court records
hut merely the bare statement that
these reports show decrease of Is per
cent in arrests.
1t has been freely predicted by the
nnti-prohibitionists that there would
be a marked increase in the use OF
narcotic drugs with the advent of war
prohibition. For several months the
New York city papers have given much
publicity to this sort Of argument.
, tt this that people everywhere have be-
come acquainted with the fact that wet
New York city was harboring more
drug addicts than any other section in
America. This drug traffic grew to
tremendous proportions under a liquor
license system. The New York Tribune
o. August ! says:
The first month Of prohibition has
produced slight increase in the de-
mand for narcotics. This Is chiefly
noticeable among the addicts for
whom the city is causing at the clinic
on Worth street. Physicians with
private practices agree that within
their knowledge persons addicted to
dring have not shown any particular
inclination to turn toward drugs as a
substitute: But DR.. Royal s. Cope
land. health commissioner who Is
looking after several thousand fairly
representative addicts said yesterday
he believed there was an appreciahle
augmentation OF the craving for drugs
as the result of the withdrawal OF the
liquor from the market. He is quoted
as saying:
"A month is short period to
judge by. but we have had several
new patients who stated in filling in
their registration cards that they pre-
viously were alcoholics. ! would not
go so far as to say the difference Is
conspicuous, but believe II will be-
come more and more noticeable as
time goes on"
Thus another fallacy Of the booze
interests is being exposed.
Tho Tribune says the real estate
men Of the city who notice any ef-
feet at all from prohibition declare
that that effect is beneficial. Some Of
them declared that in the districts in
which they conduct their business
there is no such thing as prohibition.
that just ~ much liquor Is being sold
as ever. However, the Tribune quotes
Mr.. Schierloh. a prominent real es-
tate man. as saying:
Prohibition. such as It il, hasn't
harmed the real estate men in this
district and will prove q real beneiit
to thsm ~ time goes on.