Lower Rents

One of the arguments heard on the streets against prohibition is that it would make some of the best business places vacant, and thus force rents downThe same persons who make this objection undoubtedly say at other times that prohibition will not decrease the saloon business. At least we hear both from those who oppose prohibition. Now, both cannot be true. If the saloon business be not decreased, then rents cannot fall, because there will be no decreased demand for buildings. This objection is just as valid against high taxation, because that, too, tends to drive saloon-keepers out of business, and thus throws vacant buildings upon the market with the effect of lowering rents. Prohibition undoubtedly will have a slight effect upon rents; but it will be only temporary. It is not a valid ment anyway. It is just like the plea set up by Mr. Hardinghaus that he would befinancially injuredahould prohibition be curried. Such considerations cannot stand, or should not stand, in the way of progresa. As a certain speaker has said, " there can be no vested rights in a moral wrong." It is precisely like the demand of the slave owner that the value of his slaves should not be impaired by any agitation or legislation which looked toward abolition.