The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1929-09-01

From the Christian Scfe
Chicago-Fresh evidence that prohibi-
ton has reduced drunkenness is contained
in an analysis of the "Keeley cure" &C
tivities which has just been made here.
1t is viewed as diSproving recent wet argu-
ments that present prosperity" OF the
Kelley Institute indicates extensive in
ibriety.
The records disclose that only a frac-
ton of the number of drunkards who
once poured into Dwight, ILL.,, by every
train now are taking the gold cure" A
quarter century ago the original insti-
tute had more patients at one time than
have come there during the entire II
months of any year since national prohi-
bition.
During its active years the institute
built a 100000 Office building and hotel
AT present its operations are conducted
from a single bungalow. At its height the
institute had from one to three branches
in every state, totaling Ia in this coun-
try and nine abroad. Now there are about
a Dozen
ENTER DIR. KELLEY
Documents of the "Keeley League" a
spontaneous organization of inebriates
who took the double chlorite of gold"
treatment devised by DR.. Leslie E.
Kelley in the early nineties-chronicle
the drunkard's trek to the little Illinois
city. There were so many that the town
of 1000 population could not house them
all. Even by building additions to their
homes, the citizens we're still unable to
find lodging for all the crusade of in
ebriates to the Liquor cure"
They slept in attics, in barns, in hall
ways. anywhere. Finally, DR.. Kelley de-
farl9ainad N nnd tho m TxUioat nv
ordering the widespread establishment of
branches. Word was sent out that no in
ebriate would be received at the home
institute unless accommodations had
been arranged for him in advance.
AT the close of 1891 the first year of
the boom" DR.. Keeley reported $4,000
had taken his treatment, in person or by
mail since he began handling inebriates
in 1881. Upward of 10000, perhaps many
more, came the first big year AT the end
of the second boom" year the total had
mounted to nearly 100000, it was stated.
Within 2i5 years the figure was set at
100000. In 1895 the executive committee
of the Kelley League reported 100000.
THE CURES" POPULARITY
The gold cures" great financial sue
cess-it cost 500 for the institute treat
ment led to immediate competition BY
1893 DR.. Kelley declared there were $50
remedies for drunkenness on the market
Five years later his general manager
stated that they had counted 300 similar
concerns" BY 1900 it was estimated that
1,400 liquor cures had sprung up.
The eagernesS of unrecorded thousands
of men to take the cure" stands as tes-
timony of the heavy drinking prevalent
when the long march toward national pro-
hibition was just getting under way dur
ing the early nineties
Drink cures there had been before DR..
Kelley, but with him they suddenly be-
came popular DR.. Kelley was an I'M
known country doctor when he first an
nounced his remedy in 1880. After IL
years work with it he was still unknown.
Then at the beginning of 1891 Joseph
Medill editor of the Chicago Tribune, in
dorsed his gold cure" Mr.. Medill, who
was famous editor of the time, did more.
He espoused and defended it. The press
generally took note. The result was inn
mediate. Drunkards in shoals began to
seek out Dwight.
Crowded out of his old establishment
by the deluge, DR.. Kelley and his part
ners bought the towns opera house and
turned it into headquarters. They had
big new Office building erected. They
built a new opera house. AT the end of
the first year of the boom they enlarged
their facilities to take care of 1000 drunk
ards at time.