Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-01-16

30 per cent. fewer cases Of .jags.' ar
rests reduced one-haK and q mini
mum Of cases Of alcoholism being
reported from the hospitals.
Thomas w. White. State super
visor Of Administration. Of Massa-
chusetts. reports that as a result Of
fewer cases many small courts which
are now costing the State 100000 a
year can be eliminated by one-half.
Milwaukee reports a shortage Of
labor at the House Of Correction.
The decrease in cases Of intoxica-
ton there is officially given as 20
per cent. during 1919. Two thirds
Of the Cincinnati workhouse is to be
abandoned, effecting a saving Of
$4,000 annually. because Of the recent
decrease in occupants.
Sheriff Blodgett Of Penn Yam. N.
T.. announced that never before in
the history of Yates county have SO
few persons been confined in Jail. We
used to have an average Of $50: to-
day we have S. In the Connecticut
state prison year ago there were
567 prisoners. Now there are 120 va
cant cells and 1t may not be neces-
sary to build a new $1,000. 900 prison.
Captain W. ]. Dempsey Of the New
York Central Railroad detective lorce
says the hobo has been forcea 20 go
to work because there is no longer
such a lure Of the free lunch, the
booze and the saloon stove
Charles r. Buchanan, jailer, at
Hannibal. Mo-, whose position used
to pay him $l75 by reason of his
feeding prisoners at 20 cents a meal,
has returned to his old job Of cigar.
maker because prisoners are so few
that he cannot make it pay. Middle
town, N. Y, which has been dry
now for more than a year. reports
unusual prosperity. some of its for
mer 80 saloonkeepers having become
successful merchants. Sheriff Joseph
E. Davis Of Nassau county informs
us that he has only So prisoners in
Jail and only four Of these are ho-
boes. Prohibition has reduced the
number OF prisoners so per cent
BIRD S. Coler. commissioner Of
Charities. said that the alcoholic
wards in the Kings county and Belle
vue hospitals are nearly out of bus
inesS. Wood alcohol is claiming a
few cases but ambulance calls have
fallen off Is per cent A. c. Gaker Of
the Bowery Mission said: The war.
better wages and prohibition have
virtually eliminated the bum and the
bread line. 1t used to me that you
could bet 1000 snow shovelers by Wis
iting a few Bowery saloons. Now
you. couldn't find 40. Men who former
ly came to US for beds are now pay
ing their own rent >"
Commenting on the fact that As of
the 4S states had ratified the 18th
amendment New Jersey. Connecticut
and Rhode Island being the only
ones not to do soy Mr.. Anderson said:
IAN important thing to remember is
the fact that, while no referendum
on national prohibition was taken for
the reason that there was no way
one could be held, the dry amend
ment was ratified exactly as all 9TH
ers have been. Nine-tenths of the
area and almost two-thirds Of the
population Of the United States were
dry under state and local action be-
fore prohibition became part Of the
nations organic law.
THE false charge is made that
prohibition was put over on the
country while American soldiers
were fighting in France. The truth is
that in December, 1145. the question
was voted on in Congress and receiv-
ed a majority in ire lower House but
not the necessary two-thirds requir.
ed. That fact made 1t an issue.
Then. in the elections of 1916. more
than six months before an American
soldier had gone overseas. Republic
can and Democratic candidates COM
mitted to prohibition were elected in
many cases by these soldiers t. Con-
greSs.
Prohibition was contaminated by the
moral element Of American citizenship
including the business element, which
recognized that alcohol. even when mod
erate1y used, lessened efficiency The
railroads were the first to recognize
this. and as early as 1890 the Reading
Railroad ordered the dismissal of en-
gineers or firemen who frequented sa-
looms. The Lackawanna and other
roads adopted similar restrictions later
Life insurance actuaries in their mortal.
ity figures for moderate drinkers