Milford chronicle., 1932-01-22
Some Things The People
Of Delaware Should Know
"Thc Economic Value OF COdliness"


The following is an extract from
a sermon preached by Rev. J. L
Nichols at the First Methodist Pro
testant Church of Milford ON Sun
day, January 10.
He was speaking from Pauls ad
vice to Timothy in 1st Timothy, AS
"Godliness is profitable unto al
things, having promise of the lift
that now is and of that which is Il
come"
Among other remarks he addet
these and emphasized that lathei
than express an opinion of his OWL
he preferred to state absolute facts
as published by the government
many representatives of which are
known to be wet"
There is one phase of human life
that vitally touches both the life
that now is and that which is tO
come. 1t is the matter of the pro-
hibition of the liquor traffic.
Since men insist upon thrusting
it into the political field as an eco
nomic issue let us for a moment
consider the economic value of the
18th Amendment. First of all no one
can evade the demands and warm
ings of the Bible. The high tone of
the old testareent is "WOe unto the
man that giveth his neighbor drink,
that maketh him drunken with
wine" The ringing declaration of
the new testament is mo drunkard
can enter the kingdom of heaven"
On the basis of the Bible teaching
and the result of the history of all
ages of the world men adopted the
prohibition" Of the Bible and this
country passed the 18th Amendment.
No one questions its spiritual and
physical value. Now let us examine
its economic value.
The 18th Amendment was adopted
by 46 out of 4S states of the Union,
representing about 80 per cent of
the people. This month it has been
in the Constitution for u years. Let
us make a brief economic survey
and see if it has paid us economical
ly.
The following data has been gath
cred from the nation bureaus and
federal departments.
Before prohibition or the 18th
Amendment it was almost unusual
to hear of workingman having a
savings deposit. The American Ban
keTs Association reports that the
per capita savings deposits increas-
ed from 800 to $18S from 1916 to
1925.
The National Bureau of Economic
Research, news bulletin of February
21, 1927, reported the national in
come of the people was 40 per cent
greater in 1926 than in 1918.
The President of the United
States, Mr.. Hoover says, "There can
be no doubt that prohibition is put
ting money into the American FAM
lily pocketbook. The dry law has
proved its worth in dollars and
cents.'
Professor Irving Fisher, of Yale.
the great statistician, says eve may
say that prohibition is not only
sound hygiene but sound economics; |
not only is it the greatest hygienic
experiment but the greatest econo-
mic experiment in history and one
of the most successful"
Official court finger-print records !
show a pronounced decrease in !
first offenders for drunkenness
from 20 per ten thousand in 1914 to
4 per ten thousand in 1925.
The subcommittee of the Com
mittee on Alcoholic Liquor Traffic in |
its report to Congress reported:
First "Our economists assert that
prohibition is leading factor i'll
our present prosperity
Second. Increased productivity
Of labor, decreased industrial acci-
dents, multiplied demand for new
homes and for both necessities and
luxuries has accompanied a de-
crease in poverty"
Third "1'here is one savings ac-
count in America for every three IN
he resi- of the world"
Fourth. Under prohibition the
number Ci savings accounts in tic
nations hanks has increased 100
)er cent
Fifth. ".'he saving of human lives
through the decreased death rate
Under prohibition has
)een estimated at close to Il million
ives in the last five years. Even a
higher rate Of saving is reported by
ome insurance companies"
Sixth. "rne number of holders of
t0cks and bonds has doubled since
he 18th Amendment was adopted.
Seventh. The whole realty mar
ct has been advanced b. prohibit
ion"
Eighth. "Slum sections have prac-
irally disappeared"
Ninth. Those once contente
With one room began 10 demand Il (
al; fiat owners sought largo: Eats; ;
enters be>sme owners '
Tenth. Prohibition has increased {
cme building. The increase in the !
lumber ri contracts for residential
has been record breaking {
ince the 1Sth Amendment went IN
. effect"
Eleventh. Building and Loan AS s
ociations have grown rapidly since +
he dry law went into effect. Assets
4 such institutions increased from '
I 1898, ,346 to $3,942, ,039,SS from t
919 to 1924" .t {
Twelfth. "The higher standards of '
wing since prohibition have favor- ]
bly, affected both manufacture ami f
:
Thirteenth. There are fewer pau S
ers in the almshouses in the United |