The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-11
SATURDAY, AUGUST IT, 1923
REMARKABLE FIGURES FROM NEW YORK SHOW BENEFITS
 OF LESS GENERAL DRINKING
Haynes Also Produces Records From Other States To Show Health, Moral And Industrial Benefits From Dry Laws And Their Growing Rgidty Of Enforcement

pared with last two yet years. a de- crease of 37 per cent.
 Arrests for disorderly conduct same period: A decrease of 63 per cent.
 Arrests for drunkenness in Pitts burg: 1922 compared with 1917. a decrease of 45 per cent.
 Deposits of trust companies, say ings institutions and bannks under the supervision of the state: Decem- Der, 1n917, s1,296,349, ,512,O3; Septem- Der, 1921, *1,656, ,403, ,956.66; October, 1922, $1,762,673,2o7.
 Nonsupport cases in Philadelphia: In 1919, 4,103; min 1922, 1873.
 Life insurance in force: Increased SS44.234,644 in 1921 over 1917.
 "Waning Drunkenness"
 And so the story runs. In all sec tions of the country it is the same. Everywhere there are figures, com plete or less comprehensive and de- tailed but all telling of waning drunkenness, vice and crime; empty ing hospitals, asylums and jails; rapidly accomplishing savings: over flowing schools; sturdier, happier children better. more prosperous homes; increasing and more mhole- some recreation; healthier social life and increased fruits of human labor.
 The amazing tendencies in our na- tional life which we have witnessed since prohibition enforcement becape a fact cannot be overlooked or un- felt even by those who have been most determnedly opposed to the law. The sensational reductions in the death rate, the increase in brothel, the rapid disappearance of crimes against chastity, the startling decrease in major crimes as well as in the amount of public drunkenness and disorder. the falling off in cases of Restitution due to interperance, the reduction In the burden on the juvenile courts, the lowered rate of alcoholic insanity, the abandonment of institutions for the cure of drunk ards-all these have pointed with in- exorable def1niteness and certainty to the fact that prohibition, even inn perfectly enforced as yet, is put ting the brakes on against the down. ward influences in society; is weav- ing something new and infinitely worth while into the fabric of Amer ican life.
 Inspiring as have been these re- suits on the curative side, the effects on the constructive side of American life have been equally amazing. Not even the business depression could check the upward climb of savings deposits, the thickening sheaves of new insurance policies, the almost
  recreational building which have cited in earlier paragraphs.
 Contracts With Europe.
 We, as a nation. are but beginning to discern that these economic bene- fits have played a large part in de- veloping Americas position as 8 leader of the world. While great European power had not far from million living on the weekly dole, we had no pensioners on our bounty save the weak and dwisabled.
 We are beginning to apprehend, too, the true significance of the spectacle of a foreign nation turning billion and a quarter dollars 1nto her drink bill for a single year and then discussing her inability to pay her wartime obligations.
 We are beginning to get hold of the fact that. while nations in drink fettered Europe are spending de- structively n great portion of their incomes On alcoholic drlnk, America is sending her wealth through pro- ductive channels, building construc- lively for the future.
 It is impossible, even for the American who :s least inclined to put his own weight behind the eighteenth amendment. most loath to forego personal indulgence, to ignore the fact that the prosperity of the United States has not been due to any increase in her foreign trade, against which the exchange rate op- crates; that we are consuming more of our own products. He cannot dodge or fail to take account of the fact that the men who make Amer ica's automobiles are driving them; that our silks and fine textiles are finding buyers a.nong our own peo- pie; that sober workmen are consum- ing a larger portion of our manu- factured products than ever before in our history.
 He knows, if he reads his daily newspaper, that we are the only na- ton in the world without an unem- ployment problem The sums W once invested in the destructive c-ss tilling and brewing business now operate factories. mines and rail- roads.
 Our school life has been length ened. The family purse today suf- fices for the family support. now that the bar rooms are closed. with