The New York herald., 1922-01-10

which included these violations
would be somewhat misleading il
taken as a guide to whether prohibi-
tion had reduced or increased crime.
THE New York HERALD CORE
spondent i'll Indianapolis puts the mat
ter thus:
1T narrows down to the point OF
view on crime So far as arrests are
concerned records show that these
have been approximately the same in
Indiana under the volstead act as be-
fore it was put in effect, but the na-
ture of the crimes has differed. Bank
robberies have increased and murders
have decreased. Bootlegging arrests
and convictions have increased sew
eral hundred per cent. Qndiana was
dry before the Volstead act passedD,
but convictions for drunkenness have
decreased several hundred per cert.
In indianapolis there is an average
of six arrests daily for violation of
the liquor laws"
Major Crimes DwindIe.
The correspondent in Harrisburg,
Pa, finds somewhat different situa-
tion:
Five deaths from poison whisky,
four fatal automobile accidents at
tributed to whisky and twice as many
arrests as in 1920 in Harrisburg on the
charge of drunkenness. tell the story
OF prohibitions effect here. In 1921,
1870 persons were committed to the
Dauphin county prison. half of them
for being intoxicated In 1920, 2,514
persons were committed to jail"
But this correspondent adds:
"Major crimes. such as murder,
rape, arson and forgery, however
have dwindled in this locality since
the advent of prohibition
California is wet: it ranks second
only to New York on the list obtained
from enforcement officers in Washing
ton. THE NEW YORK HERALD corre-
spondent in San Francisco reports
that city rather more than moist He
says:
"A survey shows that arrests for
drunkenness have been steadily on the
increase during the last two years and
that twice as many people were jailed
for intoXication during 1921 as in 1920.
The San Francisco police attribute the
increase to laxity on the part Of the
Federal agents."
Jails Less Crowded.
But like the man in Harrisburg he
adds:
"The survey shows that there are
on the average 1000 fewer inmates of
the city Jail each month than during
the wet period. Almshouses and chari-
koH~ l. fx.e-t t,tttr III
siderable falling off in population"
Some of tho figures contained in this
dispatch are well worth considering.
They follow:
1916. 1921.
Arrests for drunk
enness 1o,106 $3.50
Arrests for disor-
derby conduct. 1926 2167
Av'ge popule tion
of jails. .......... sa5.4os s21.Soa
Av'ge population
city prison. 80. 3,9S4.0S 2,50S.S3
Av'ge almshouse &
county hospital. 703.S3 $3.50
Av'ge children as
public wards. 1896 406.s 81
Av'ge State peni-
tentiaries ;2). 290.50 23S.50
In every case it will be noted, in
really wet territory, there has-been a
sharp improvement, even though at
the same time there have been many
violations of the liquor law. usually
resulting in fines.
1t would be possible to give similar
facts and figures for nearly every
State in the country, for, with very
few exceptions, the reports received
show the same general conditions.
There are variations in degree, just
as there are variations In the compar-
ative. "dampness" OF the States. but
the condition regarding major crimes
and prison and almshouse populations
appear TO have improved substantially
In The last t~o years.
Prohibition Gain Onset.
In order that this statement may
not be misunderstood IL should be
said that t!e crime" of violating The
liquor law. wherever the territory is
wet has very nearly offset the gain to
society made with reference to other
crimes. In other words. prohibition
appears to have developed new crimes
about equal those which prohibition
has eradicated. As TO drunkenness
alone. Il is clear that there have been
T decreases and increases again depend
| ing on the wet or dry state OF the area
under consideration.
AS a matter OF fairness ii should be
| said THE New York HERArp's survey
| shows remarkable discrepancies be-
tween crime reports sent in by corre-
| spondents and partial reports pub
nahed for propaganda purposes in
which single instance of increase or
. decrease in a particular crime is used
as IL 1t indicated general condition.
Insanity statistics are not available
| from sufficient number OF quarters
TO warrant an unequivocal statement
regarding the results of prohibition. In
the whole country. in its relation to
this disease. Such reports as have
been received, with ono or two ex-
captions, Indicate a beneficial result,