The New York herald., 1873-12-05
THE TEMPERANCE QUESTION.
National Commission of Inquiry To he
Demanded of Congress.

National Commission of Inquiry To he
Demanded of Congress.
There was conference OF temperance men In
the Young aen's Christian Association building
corner Twenty third street and Fourth avenue,
yesterday afternoon. There were only about 20
persons present including four ladies. The con-
ference was presided over by Mr. William f..
Dodge.
Mr.. Aaron 81. Powell was the first speaker. and.
alter lengthy remarks, read resolution embody-
ing proposition FOR the appointment OF a com
mission by the government TO inquire into the
effects OF alcoholism, and asking senator's and
congressman TO give IT their support
Mr.. William i. Dodge was the next speaker. lie
believed the temperance men were moving In tue
right direction. What was wanted was solid sta
tistical Information, which would compel the peo-
pie by its startling truth 10 irown the horrid
Robert {. Rilman, Judge OF the Superior Court OF
Massachusetts SAID that he had become Impressed
With the breadth and depth OF the temperance
cause. lie thought tnst the advocates OF mper-
ancc IN the past had moved IN too narrow limits
they had overwrOuRnt the pathetic. II was so IN
the anti-savery reform movement at It's start.
The nctlOns ana stories sDrean before the people
then were overwrouQht ana began 10 lose their
influence. What were wanted bl the temperance
advocates were figures so accu ate that the people
would pc seriously impressed by them. A great
deal had been heard III the past about the $1,000
drunkards that were marching into the grave
Now, VINO knew positively that there were 1000
LHc gTGNef III was true tndt
many men died or alcoholism who were not so
recorded In the mortuary records; for 10 was not
10 be expected that well paid physician cares 10
offend the family Ui one Oi these unIortunates by
writing as 10 WERE "died Of alcoholism; as his med
real verdict. There was no earthly way Of convInc-
ing the people that the temperance mems state
ments were always reliable other than by conmis-
sl0n's oficial report IL should be composed oil wc
known and enc igetic incn--oi a physician, OF a
lawyer, of scientific men, and even of liquor men,
who might be able To show some good Tor their
side OF the question. Facts were stubborn things
indeed, and II the commission could show that
community got on better without liQuOr than with
IT, even though science might at times argue
otherwise, so mucn the worse for science.
Mr.. Black, President 0i tue temperance Society
of pennsylvania made some general remarks on
the history ana merits OF the temperance cause,
and closed by advocating the appointment OF a
temperance commission and The derayment OF its
expenses by congress.
Dr. wizard Parker also spoke few words on the
statistics OF the effects OF alcoholism. SO lar as he
had been able 10 study the question, he believed
that SO per cent OF the deaths In this city were
caused, directly or indirectly, by alcoholism.
The Conference finally adopted the following
resolution, and tnen adJourncd-
Resolved That heartily the proposition
national commission 70 be authorized by Congress TO
nvestga and the alcoholic ra nic the
Results o prohibOry and other legislation the
pre~ion Of incmpcrance and hereby respectfully
Quest senators and Representatives to give tie
carly ana favorable consideration,