Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1936-02-06

Sixteen years ago the Eighteenth Amendment to the
United States Constitution, the Prohibition Amendment
became effective. 1t was repealed on December 5, 1888
largely by reason of argument that drinking would de-
crease and violations of law be reduced.
The facts seem to raise some doubt as to whether
or not drinking has decreased. Before national prohibi-
ton there were 177,790 saloons whereas it is estimated
that now there are more than 100000 retail outlets; in
addition, beer and light wines are sold in restaurants,
groceries, drug stores and other places.
Deaths and accidents due to drinking drivers and
pedestrians have reached a high point. DR.. Theron w.
Kilmer, police surgeon, of Hampstead, New York, read
a paper before the New York police chiefs in which he
showed that the number of drinking drivers in 1884 in
creased over the figures of 1888 eleven times more than
the number of cars.
Alcohol is preventing more people from getting life
insurance than during prohibition. The Northwestern
Life Insurance Company reports an increase of 149 per
cent of alcoholic indulgence as a cause of rejection
among men and women under thirty years of age. APP
plications in the spring of 1885 showed an increase of
seventy-four per cent in the proportion of applicants
using alcohol as compared with the same period in 1882.
1t was rather surprising recently to read that more
prisoners are in Federal prisons today for violating liquor
laws than during prohibition. Distilled spirits released
from bond rose from around six million gallons during
the last year of prohibition to nearly 82,500 900 gallons
In 1859. Inc NdtOnal CIVIC feQeratlOn last year tOlQ
the Senate Finance Committee that illegal selling was
depriving federal and state governments of $500, 100000
in colectible revenue.
Nor has the repeal of prohibition reduced the
amount of drinking by women. Police records for Wash
ington show that there were 986 arrests of women
adults for intoxication during the last dry year as
against 1,525 such arrests for the wet year ending June
80, 1885. Arrests of women between the ages of seven
teen and twenty -one, while few in number, show a sim
liar increase.
The manufacturers of alcoholic beverages have not
demonstrated themselves to be interested in temper
ance, as many predicted prior to repeal. At the conven-
ton of the United States Brewers Association in Octob-
er a woman home economics editor gave the trade sug-
gestions on how to increase the sale of beer. She urged
them not to overlook the younger set, saying at is the
teaching you do now for our younger generation that
is going to help you increase the percentage of beer
consumed by women"
No, Pauline, we don't know how the presidential
election of 1886 will come out. Meanwhile, we are try
ing to mind our own business, get out a good newspaper
and acquire a few shekels for our own benefit and be-
hoof.
Successful merchants seem to agree that advertis-
ing won't make business where there is no reason for
business but they also affirm that the store, with goods
to sell, in a place where people need the merchandise,
ought to use intelligent selling methods.
y
1886, according to reports, is to be a good year for
business but this doesn't mean that your competitors
are going to let you take their customers without a fight.
y y
Well, farmers, 1886 ought to be a prosperous year
according to those who have claimed that the was
hurting agricuture's profits.
Buying at home, whenever possible, is one way to
help make Plentywood successful.
The best way to tackle a hard Job is to begin ON an
easy section of it. You will be surprised how manv easv
parts there are in a hard job.
y
Business may be better, and the signs say so, but
the way Big Business is yelling the pickings in future
will be a bit lean and slim.