The Republican journal., 1919-06-05
MIR. Statler's Testimony.

The current number of the American
Magazine contains an article by E. NJ
Statler, who is the proprietor of the IA
nous hotels which bear his name in Buff
falo, Detroit, Cleveland and ST. Louis,
and also the lessee of the new Hotel
Pennsylvania in New York city, on the
effects of prohibition. In Detroit his
hotel has now been dry for a whole year
Mr., Statler says that the soft drinks
including hot coffee and chocolate have
enjoyed an increased SALE Detroit has a
grape juice highball," made of grape
juice and seltzeT, which has found some
popularity. Men are patronizing the soft
drinks more than they used to, but Mr.
Statler cannot say that they enjoy doing
SO. The restaurant business has appar-
emily improved. People are spending
more money. The average check for fo I'd
alone is higher than formerly, even apart
from Increased costs People buy more
desserts. Prohibition, he notes, invariably
helps the candy trade. The theatre busi-
ness, particularly the movie houses, have
had bigger patronage. People want
somewhere to go.
Taxlcab business has fallen off. Mr..
Statler reasons that when man has
taken only few drinks there is certain
him feel more like riding than depending
on his own limbs Hotel guests are easier
to get along with under the new regime
His Detroit manager SAYS the change is
like being transported to heaven" since
the inebriate of the old time has been
nearly eliminated
Ii MIR. Statier had known that prohi-
bition was coming he would have spent
81, 900, 900 less on the new Hotel Pennsyl-
vania, because he believes S160, 600 year
of net income has been cut off, for which
he sees no immediate substitute. The
liquor business had proved exceedingly
profitable. Wine cellar space is good for
nothing except storage. Even the bar
rooms can rarely be utilized for soda
fountains, because the two require differ
ent locations. A good location for the
bar is usually poor one for anything
else, since it should be more or less Sc
Questered.
Nor does Mr.. Statler take much stock
IN the afternoon tea custom. He says
we dine in this country too early to make
that 60, and we do so in many cases be-
cause we want to 60 to the theatre Many
men who would now hesitate to be seen
drinking afternoon tea he thinks will ad-
just themselves to it under prohibition,
Just as they have come to tolerate the
wrist watch. "My prediction" he con-
cludes, ''s that the common run of the
business men will adjust themselves to a
dry world far more easily than they
tn NIX" Mr.. Statler believes not much
business was ever transacted across the
cocktail glasses. The little table with it's
intlmacies will not disappear, because it
meets human need, but not a business
need.
There will be more smoking. Hotels in
prohibition cities already show that A
man who has to change his habits natur-
ally seeks the solace of tobacco. There
will be new influx of golf players. Peo-
pie will spend more time out of doors and
to quote Mr.. Statler's words, "more auto
mobiles will be sold-and probably fewer
will be smashed up"
These are his conclusions:
Il think that in the great majority of
cases men who have been accustomed to
taking a drink will simply learn to go
without. And, basing my prediction on
what has happened in Detroit, it looks as
IT they will eat more food, 60 to the
theaters more, drink more soft drinks,
spend less Tor taxis, take their families
out oftener, and be, on the whole, less
cantankerous human beings than at pres
ent. But for time, at least, it will be a
pretty sober world, in more ways than
one-except that l expect to see good
deal of excitement furnished by the men
VINO drink the crude illicit product and
60 temporarily insane as a result"