Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-01-04
PROHIBITION IS
BENEFI FICIAL. To
NATION, CLAIMS
Number of Arrests DeCreaS-
ed; Fewer Petty Crimes
Says ChurChman After
Survey of the Country.
(By The Associated Press.)


Chicago, Jan 3.-Fronibition is
eScellently enforced in nine-tenths
of the area of the country and in
the remainder is sufficiently well
enforced to pe a very great i'm
provement over the license S. s.-stem.
This Is the result of an inVesti-
cation covering several months,
through official channels and di-
rect inquiry as announced today
by the DR.. Deets Pickett, research
secretary of the board of prohibit
tion, temperate and public NOR
ais of the Methodist Episcopal
church. The organization Of the
church was used IS one of the
agencies of information, which was
obtained from 10000 heads of
churches and with numerous lead
ers Of the 100000 lay adhercnt0.
The statement includes no figures
not personally verified, DR.. Pick
EFT states.
Arrests Decreased.
The investigation showed that
there has been an enormous de-
crease in the consumption of Ii
quor. a decrease not less than IS
and possibly more than 80 per
cent according to DR.. Pickett.
This has resulted in a very large
decrease in the number of arrests
for drunkenness and in a very con-
siderable increase in the purChas-
ing power of the poor and of the
skilled and unskilled laborers,"
says the report. "In San Francis
co, prohibition decreased arrests
for drunkenness in its first year
from 1884 to 1.S14. In Los An
geles, from 1880 to 2,5S9. In
Boston, it was from 52,682 to 16,-
4S7. In Baltimore, in the last wet
October, there We're 1,165 arrests
for drunkenness and in the first
dry October, 119. We have SINH
lar reports from the heads of po-
lice of Washington, st. Paul. Lin
coin, Galveston, st. Louis and
other cities.
"The fact of increased pUrch2s-
ing power is attested by f:gnad
statements of the secretaries OF
OF commerce, real es-
tate dealers, furniture and musical
instrument dealers and merchants
of many kinds.
There has also been large de-
crease in petty crimes. In Boston,
prohibition brought about a de-
crease in the number of cases of
assault from 2,127 to 1878 in one
year. In st, Louis, petit larceny
declined from 6.167 to 3,5O3.
hINh l, -.
in more serious crimes in many
cities. The wet propagandIsts
have spoken much of a crime wave
in New York. have it on the au-
thority OF the commissioner of 10
lice of the city of New York, that
in 1913, there were 11,611 burg
la ries. and in 1920 only 6,S3O. lie
makes similar statements as to
commissions of crime of serious
nature on other charges.
Even better results have been
obtained in rural and small town
districts.
less Poverty Now.
There has been a startling de-
crease in poverty and financial dis
tress. The hospitals have beeh re-
lieved. In Philadelphia, in six
of the last wet year. there !
were 1,1S4 cases OF alcoholism in |
general hospitals and in the same |
months Of the next year, 276. Sim
liar reports have been received |
from other cities.
1T is frequently stated by alco- !
hol propagandists that there is in :
the United States enormous Illicit !
that nearly every fam
ly makes alcohol. Obviously. this /
IS simply an expression of opinion. |
In America, only a few families of |
German extraction know how to |
make palatable beer Whiskey, IL !
.icitly produced, is so nearly nom
oalatable that only habitual alco-
holics can consume it. Private !
1istillation and brewing, while it |
worries the prohibition officers by |
1ecessitating many arrests, is an
factor.
Prohibition is a relative sue
,ess now, and is on the road to
complete success"