The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1919-03-28
Theatcr and Hotel Business Not
Injured; Bootlegging Situation
Not Serious

Some idea of the benefits large wet
cities may expect to enjoy after July
may be gotten from the experiences
OF Detroit under Prohibition.
James Conzcns. the mayor OF De-
troit. recently gave to the United
Press statement showing the effect
OF saloons closing III his city.
Those who fear that Prohibition
will be very bad for large cities
should study the following facts
about dry Detroit as given in the
mayors statement:
Detroit was the first Of the mil
lion class cities to go dry The first
OF May. 1918 saw l 200 saloon Ii
ccnses automatically Cancelled. While
the war days and their abnormal ac-
tivities have tended to obscure the
direct concrete results of Prohibition.
my duties as police commissioner and
mayor have shown me no permanent
damage to the city's prosperity. On
the contrary, have before rle the
data to prove that the city has bene-
fitted enormously.
Petty crime in Detroit has been
reduced by from 90 TO 20 %er cent.
The house OF correction previously
was Overlooking and i'll need OF exc
pansion. Now the commissioners find
their charges number only one-third
OF the former total.
The visiting nurses OF the board
OF health report the improvement i'll
home conditions as beyond their
greatest expectations. Child welfare
has received an impetus which mil
lions Of dollars in appropriations
could not have effected
Detroit merchants report greater
business from the working classes
than ever before, and the banks show
greatly increased number OF de-
positors. There are those who believe
that high wages in war plants have
brought this about, but ii is my per-
sonal opinion as a banker. manuiac-
turcr and city official that Prohibit
ton should have equal credit with
war wages. Collections also have been
improved.
The manufacturers were told that
Prohibition would bring labor
shortage, but this has been disproyen.
Factory records show conclusively
that the elimination OF liquor has re-
duccd hardness, absence and acct
dents IN the plants, to say nothing of
production increase.
The commissioner OF health states
that there is no increase i'll the num-
Der addicted 10 drugs.
"There is bootlegging OF liquor, but
it has not been more prevalent than
expected, and should be reduced to
minimum when Ohio and Toledo
become dry
NO large hotels have gone out of
business. While they felt reaction
for time. they arc gradually re-
cuperating. The majority of the
downtown cafes and saloons OF good
reputation have continued III opera
ton. Several of the largest retain
their cabarets. although they are not
on the lavish scale OF former times.
Real estate values have not been per-
manently affected.
The elimination OF vice has been
aided by Prohibition. Detroit abol-
ished her tenderloin before Prohibit
ton came, but the dry edict guaran-
teed that abolition.
THE theater business has been bet
ter than ever.
THE best indication OF the class
which Prohibition has its greatest ef-
feet among is given by the statement
of the manager OF a taxicab COM
pany. He says that his business was
cut 90 per cent.
Detroit can not trace the harm
Prohibition may have done, but it
can sense the good effects, and the
greatest OF these will not arrive until
the present generation of children has
been permitted to develop i'll homes
unmolested by John Barleycorn."