South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-05-09
SAYS PROHIBITION
ISPROYING WORTH
General Counsel of Anti-Sa-
loon League Gives Figures
Showing Success.
BY LOUIS LUDLOW.

WARRINGTON. May SIN an
interview today Wayne B. Wheeler,
general counsel OF the Anti Saloon
league OF America. asserted that ma
tional prohibition Is working for the
general good OF the country and IS
every day justifying the adoption as
a national policy. He said
The federal Prohibition law is a
success. It's friends have not been
as active as its enemies, because
they assumed that all law-abiding
citizens would obey the constitution
and the laws enacted pursuant
thereto until changed in a legal and
orderly manner. The same MAORI
ties that won national prohibition
will be increased II they find It
necessary 20 prevent repeal. This
substantial majority Of the Ameri-
can people is less vocal now than the
vets but when aroused will be
more powerful than ever.
Gives some Record.
The results Of prohibition chal-
ienge the support Of all good citi-
zens. The decrease in arrests for
drunkenness In New York was from
3,605 IN the last six months Of 1913
70 /, 627 IN the last six months OF
1919: I'm Baltimore the arrests for
drunkenness in July, August, Sep
TENDER and October. 1918. were p
s96 and for the same four months
OF 1919 were 624; in Washington ar
rests for drunkenness in the first
dry year were 60.4 FER cent less
than for the last wet year; in Phila-
deIphia the arrests for drunkenness
an the first six months OF 1919 (wet)
were 17,114 and for the last six
r,nnfNe Of 1910 fTr,rN vrraro < zoo
All OF these figures were attested by
the police departments OF the cities
named. In addition the news re-
ports detail similar decreases in
Chicago. Boston, san Francisco,
Cleveland. Columbus and nearly ev-
cry other large city.
There IS a marked decrease IN
acute alcoholism in the Bellvue hos
pital. New York city. There were
1861 alcoholic admissions in the
first (wet) six months of 1919 and
S64 during the last six months
dry IN the Philadelphia general
hospital there were only 226 admis-
sions for alcoholism in the last
dry six months OF 1919 and 1854
for the last (wet) six months Of
1913. Similar data for many other
hospitals could be educed
"Let BrOthcrly Love Continue"
"In Philadelphia the total of ar
rests for the wet six months OF 1919
were 1850 and for the dry six
months 28,55O, a decreas OF 40 per
cent. In Baltimore, comparing
July, August, September and Octo-
Der, 1918 (weO. With the same
months of 1919. there was a de
crease in the arrests for assault
from 444 70 ga in October; in ar
rests for disorderly conduct from
1912 TO sos; for disturbing the
peace, from 694 to 1876. and for
drunk enness from 1,165 TO 119."
Speaking Of the economic bene-
fits OF prohibition Mr.. Wheeler said:
Saloon properties have been very
generally rented for other purposes
and frequently at large increases of
rent. Many hreweries are now en-
gagged in ma rufacturing commod-
tiles useful TO the community. Fed
eral prohibition Is not a disastrous
failure-tt is a conspicuous success"
Concerning responsibility for Ii
quor law violations Mr.. Wheeler
said. The lawless liquor dealers
themselves are primarily response
BILE. They have always been law
less. Some officers OF the law con-
trolIed by them are also 10 blam g.
officers who VIII not enforce the
law should be removed from Office
as derelicts."