Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-06-04
JOHN BARLEYCoRN's TOES.

Most people are noticing that there Is activity in
the region of John Barleycorns toes. Whether the
movement there indicates that he is turning them
up preparatory to total and final death is wig
Cling them before stepping boldly from the grave Is
point much in dispute.
John Barleycorn is not dead. Even the most
ardent prohibitionsts with eyes to and TO
hear admit that Both production and consumption
OF spurious drinks have been reduced, but neither
has been stopped
The liquor question seems to be live topic fer
magazine articles 1t is getting In big national
periodicals, like the Saturday Evening Post, The
American Review of Reviews. Leslie's Weekly and
others. Most of the viewpoints different out
there to be general conclusion that beer and
light wines are having an inning.
Judson c. welliver nationally known news
writer contributes an article to the Review of
Reviews He states the against prohibition in
this language:
prohibition is charged with a widespread
breakdown of national morale with general
disregard of law; with making by-word of the
constitution and joke of drastic criminal
statute; with positive increase In drunkenness
and alarming extension of the drug-using
habit; with making drinking fad of the elect,
and drunkenness privilege of the fortunate
few who meet the bootleggers TERMS with
establishing a community of interest between
traditional criminal classes and the new recruits
whom thirst has made coadjutors and meters OF
crime with imposing q great burden Of enforce
ment costs the public and with depriving
national and municipal governments of immense
revenues"
Then he takes up the rebuttaL He considers the
case of Peoria where converted liquor property has
gained in value. He quotes Willis Evans, executive
secretary OF the Peoria Association Of Commerce as
saying
"The concerns occupying the old distillins
and brewing plants employ more men, and more
money Is involved, than in the old days. Bank
clearances have increased at the rate Of 49,,
100000 each year. Business is not stagnant. /
don't think there is an empty building in Peoria
and we need 500 to 1000 residences"
He takes up the question of crime and shows that
II has fallen off. He cites statistics from Buffalo,
st. Louis, Louisville, Baltimore and St. Paul--from
really representative places Answering the drug
addiction argument, he gives figures to show that
the of drugs is not increasing.
The reported consumption of spirits and wines
the legal sale) has decreased per capita from 22.7s
gallons in 1913 to 3.12 in 1921. In the pre- pronlbi-
tion days. at least 100000 carloads of liquor Were
: distributed annually and Mr.. Welliver regards 1t as
unlikely that such large amount could now be
made and sold illegally. Mr.. Wcllyer believes that
the administration of Mr. Haynes and his associas
Is efficient and effective.
Samuel Hopkins Adams writing in Leslie's
Weekly, Ii not so sure he describes the tidal wave
OF wetness." He believes that more wine made
and presumabie consumed in these dry
United States In 1921 than in any previous year
Of the wet United States history, and that more
wine will be made and consumed in 1922 than In
1921
Mr.. Adams believes that the country is already
on light wine and beer basis, largely without the
law and that that which cannot be altered wouIt
better be formally legalized,
The Chicago Tribune in editorial in the issue
Of May 80 concurs with Mr. Adams main conteE