IS PROHIBITION A FAILURE ?
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] But, —In your issue of October 10th Mr. Charles H. Craik said : " The World League Against Alcoholism has published statistics of 300 cities in the States with a total population of 33,000,000 which show that the arrests for drunkenness since 1920, when National Prohibition came into operation, have increased from 244,737 to 515,996 in 1923, and the North American Review bases on these figures an estimate that the arrests throughout the country have risen," &c.
I deny that the report makes such a statement or shows
such a result ; nor does the 1925 Anti-Saloon League Year. Book, which contains the report and the analysis of the Research Department. I challenge Mr. Craik to put his finger on, or point out, the page and the line of either the report or the year book which will show the figures he gives.
But while waiting for such information I will say that
the latest report of the Research Department of the World League Against Alcoholism (185 cities reporting) shows arrests for intoxication in the United States were 22.8 per 1,600 of in 1918 '(last wet year), 12.1 in 1919, 8.7 in 1920, 11.3 in 1921, 15.3 in 1922, 17.4 in 1923, 13.4 in 1924. The trend is now downward, and a comparison between the last wet year and the last dry year (the only fair comparison) shciws that arrests_ for ir,:rudcation in 1924 were not far from half of 'those in the last wet year.
It is incorrect to say that " The North American Review bases on these figures an estimate," &c., because such " estimate " in that periodical was made by Capt. W. H. Stayton, of the Association Opposed to the Prohibition Amendment, in an article in the anti-Prohibition symposium in the issue of June-July, 1925 (the September-October number contained a symposium by pro-Prohibition writers). In the August, 1925, Alliance News, Mr. Geo. B. Wilson effectively disposed of Capt. Stayton's " estimates."
The " estimates " mentioned by Mr. Craik, however,
indicate the " annual consumption of liquor at 260,965,272, gallons, or twice as much as before Prohibition." But the United States Internal Revenue reports show that in 1917 (just before War-time restrictions on grain for liquors) 167,740,325 gallons of spirits and 1,884,265,377 gallons of beer were released for consumption. In 1924 only 1,856,562 gallons of spirits were released and beer had practically disappeared. Can any reasonable person believe, in the face of such official figures; that anti-Prohibition " estimates " can fill the gap ? Moreover, is it conceivable that bootleggers and rum-runners to-day can obtain and distribute as much liquor as the organized forces of 180,000 saloons, 500 dis- tilleries and 1,300 breweries put out of commission as beverage liquor depots by National Prohibition, besides the bootleggers that invariably accompanied the saloons ?
Mr. Craik tries lamely to " explain away " the admitted
prosperity of American working men and others, but it is a very remarkable fact that, while Prohibition is not respon- sible for all the prosperity, the large increase in savings accounts, ownership of motor-cars, &c., came very largely in proportion to the going dry of State after State in recent years, and especially since National Prohibition.—I am, Special Representative of the World League Against Alcoholism. 69 Fleet Street, London.
Previous page
