anaheim-gazette 1914-10-29

THURSDAY, OCT. 29 The Quotation of California Has More The men behind the prohibition movement are getting more active every day. They are spreading their gratuitous asser- The men behind the prohibition movement are getting more active every day. They are spreading their gratuitous assertions far and wide. From the pulpit and the strum, on billboards and in newspapers they are exhorting the people of California to vote their state dry. Realizing that California has immeasurably more at stake than has been sacrificed by any other state for the impotent "dry" cause, the Prohibition agitators never fail to discuss the economic question involved, but they discuss it only to belittle it. They would have the people believe that there has been much exaggeration as to the property losses that will be suffered in the event of the adoption of the Statewide Prohibition Amendment. Now the truth is that so many are the interests threatened with extinction by this amendment that it is utterly impossible for anyone to make an approximate estimate of the amount of the loss which the Prohibitionists would inflict. The industries imperiled are not merely those which are reckoned in the calculations of the average citizen. It is supposed that Californians are especially concerned about the wine industry. This is but one of several industries now under the menace of prohibition. There are seventy-five breweries in California, representing an investment, in round numbers, of $50,000,000, and helping to consume many state products and to support several industries. The breweries employ four thousand men and pay out $6,000,000 annually in wages. They contribute in taxes to Federal, state, county and municipal governments, $2,350,000 annually, which would have to be gathered from other sources if the state went dry. 15,000 People Employed There are 15,000 people employed in hop raising in this state. The value of the hop crop is $4,000,000 and virtually all of the hops are consumed by our breweries. Our annual barley crop is sold for $30,000,000. Sixty-five per cent of our barley is consumed by breweries in this and other states. If 15,000 People Employed There are 15,000 people employed in hop raising in this state. The value of the hop crop is $4,000,000 and virtually all of the hops are consumed by our breweries. Our annual barley crop is sold for $30,000,000. Sixty-five per cent of our barley is consumed by breweries in this and other states. If we adopt the prohibition amendment the breweries of the country will boycott our barley. $85,000,000 Invested According to Prohibitionists, only a small part of the grapes grown in California are consumed in our wineries. The truth about the matter is that prohibition would affect the whole grape growing industry and raisin industry as well, all representing an investment of $85,000,000. All would be affected because prohibition would destroy the market for the ANAHEIM GAZETTE Question of State-Wide Prohibition as More at Stake Than Any State I getting more uitous assersecond crop of the principal varieties of raisin grapes and table grapes, which are used for distilling brandy. ness, the manufactory great bulk of chee second crop of the principal varieties of raisin grapes and table grapes, which are used for distilling brandy. 42,000,000 Gallons of Wine To appreciate the importance of viticulture it must be considered under a two-fold aspect: As an agricultural industry and as the foundation of one of our principal manufactures. Last year we manufactured 42,000,000 gallons of wine, the value of which was approximately $15,000,000. Now, consider the enormity of the calamity that would befall us were the viticulture interests in their variety to be wiped out. The State Viticultural Commission estimates that 15,000 heads of families, including lessees and renters, are engaged in viticulture in California. This means, of course, that many thousands of families are supported by viticulture. Large communities have sprung up in grape-growing centers that depend almost entirely upon the vineyards and their products for existence. It is estimated that over $10,000,000 was spent on labor in the vineyards of this state last year, which is probably far from exaggeration, considering that 20,000 men are employed in pruning vines; 10,000 in plowing, harrowing, irrigating and spraying, and 30,000 in harvesting. And when the grape goes to the winery it creates a demand for more labor. In the 700 wineries of this state there are 5,000 men employed. The total amount of wages paid is $6,000,000 a year. This great labor market the Prohibitionists would destroy; also the one connected with the brewery industry, and at the same time they would ravish our barley farms and hop fields. Nor is this all. In the industrial cataclysm is to disappear the cooperage industry, an investment of $2,000,000; also the glassware factories that supply our breweries and wineries with bottles. And, of course, the saloon must go, which is a prospect, by the way, which greatly grieves the men engaged in the mineral water industry. These men the manufacture great bulk of cheese. Cheese is an article that would never end to drink. Of the and last year 5,600 in California. Other Among the serious affect are brewing and wine of tartar and those wineries and brew industry of California crop to our brewer. Injury Now, who is a revolution to be woken in their head? As would be felt in every throw a hundred erish innumerable to give us a pause would ramify the val or economic. Anglo & London proposed to obliterate which coincident with their means of supposes. Taxe ed rising in this and virtually Our annual cent of our wineries. If of the cound part of the our wineries. would affect the as well, all would be afrket for the at the same time they would ravish our barley farms and hop fields. Nor is this all. In the industrial cataclysm is to disappear the cooperage industry, an investment of $2,000,000; also the glassware factories that supply our breweries and wineries with bottles. And, of course, the saloon must go, which is a prospect, by the way, which greatly grieves the men engaged in the mineral water industry. These men the Prohibitionists affect to be eager to help, but the men who have mineral water to sell are as opposed to prohibition as the brewer and the wine man; so, too, are the manufacturers of "soft drinks." The mineral water and "solf drink" industries represent an investment of $8,000,000, but they will represent a great deal less if the saloon is put out of business. Saloons Not All Bad There are other folks who do not regard saloons as wholly wicked. These are the folks engaged in the dairy busi- de hibition State In the Union ness, the manufacturers of cheese. It is in the saloon that the great bulk of cheese manufactured in California is consumed. ness, the manufacturers of cheese. It is in the saloon that the great bulk of cheese manufactured in California is consumed. Cheese is an article of food which the people of some nationalities would never eat at their meals if they had no beer or wine to drink. Of the 58 counties in this state, 29 produce cheese, and last year 5,600,972 pounds of cheese were manufactured in California. Other Industries Affected Among the other industries which prohibition would seriously affect are those that specialize in the by-products of brewing and wine making, such as the manufacture of cream of tartar and those that manufacture articles of equipment for wineries and breweries. There is also the infant rice-growing industry of California, which markets a considerable part of its crop to our breweries. Injury Would Be Permanent Now, who is able to conceive the enormity of the economic revolution to be wrought in California if Prohibitionists be given their head? Assuredly the confusion that would follow would be felt in every community. If its only effect was to throw a hundred thousand men out of employment and impoverish innumerable families that would be a prospect sufficient to give us a pause, but it is evident enough that its evil effects would ramify the whole state, without compensation either moral or economic. According to one of the monthly letters of the Anglo & London Paris National Bank, "the values which it is proposed to obliterate can hardly be less than $200,000,000." which coincident with depriving many thousands of families of their means of support, would have serious financial consequences. Taxes Would Be Higher Taxes Would Be Higher And what about the effect on every taxpayer in California. The Governor of West Virginia says that as a result of the adoption recently of prohibition in that state, the revenues of the state have fallen off $700,000, and the money must be raised "by taxing natural resources." But West Virginia lost no great industries such as are threatened with the strangulation in California. Prohibition in West Virginia meant nothing but the closing of saloons that paid a license and the opening of blind pigs that pay nothing but blackmail.