The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1921-01-14
Many Changes For the Better
Have Taken Place
EMPTY JAILS SHOW
DECREASED DRUNKS
Enforcement Difficulties are Growing
Less
: ENCOURAGED BUT NOT SATISFIED ,

January 10, 1921, marks the end OF
the first year of Constitutional Pro-
hbition in the United States OF
America. What have been the results
of the great experiment" commenced
with the adoption OF the Eighteenth
A m IL IN enta Great and many
changes were involved in the process
putting an end to the beverage liquor
traffic. Great established industries
had to be remodeled Tor the produc-
ton OF other commodities. Different
employment had TO be found by many
workers. Lifetime habits had to be
4. changed before tho people OF the ma
ton could be brought into harmony
with tie purpose OF Constitutional
Prohibition.
Great Progress Apparent
In view OF the size OF the under
taking in proportion to the tine which
has elapsed ii is not possible to give
complete survey or accurately
measure the results of abolishing the
liquor traffic by constitutional law.
However. the apparent effects during
the first year demonstrate beyond a
doubt that the experiment has been a
great, wonderful success whose inn
measurable benefits will continue and
increase in future wears
Drunkenness Greatly Decreased
Although the evils OF moderate
drinking are greater, excessive drink
ing resulting in visible intoxicatiou,
commonly called drunkenness. was
one OF the most apparent evils result
ing from the liquor trafiic Under
Constitutional Prohibition there has
been tremendous decrease in drunk
enuess. In Illinois police figures
from large cities formerly wet show
a falling off of over IS per cent in
arrests for drunkenness. In Chicago
there was decrease Of 10000 during
the first year with saloons closed In
many Illinois counties jais were empty
for the first time in their history.
s.The Keeley Institute at Dwight which
had been treating drunkards since
1870 sold its large building and moved
to smaller quarters Nearly all, if not
all, branch offices OF the Kelley Com
pany i'll various parts OF the nation
were closed. In Chicago the Neal In
stitute and the Washingtonian Home
were also closed. The Bridewell which
is the city Jail in Chicago, lost about
two-thirds of its inmates under Pro-
hibition. The average number OF
women prisoners was quickly re-
duccd from about 800 TO about 80.
Police stations formerly crowded with
drunks every night experienced quiet
times with only few and often not
any drunks in their cells. Jailers,
justices and police officers who for
merly spent most of their time ar
resting, trying, and caring for drunks
had little to do under Prohibition.
Booze Buildings Remodeled
Another of the very apparent i'm
provements brought by the first year
of Constitutional Prohibition was the
appearance OF other business enter
prises in places where liquor was for
merly sold. This change was partic-
ularly striking in large cities like Chi
cago and others in which saloons still
existed when war Prohibition went into
effect. With the certainty that under
Constitutional Prohibition these was
very little likelihood Of liquor selling
again becoming legal, owners of build
ings remodeled their store rooms and
sought tenants i'll legitimate lines OF
trade. Consequently, bakeries, meat
shops, grocery stores, delicatessen
shops, restaurants, book stores, candy
shops, soda fountains, clothing stores,
dry goods stores, and many other
kinds of business were established
The substitution OF these helpful en-
terprises for the open saloons in itself
constituted a wonderfully valuable
Improvement in the community.
Other Great Improvements
1t would take great deal of space
to simply classify the many great i'm
provement resulting from permanent
Prohibition. There is scarcely a
phase of American life that has not
been vastly improved. In schools
many children who formerly by their
!. appearance gave painful evidence of