The Labor enquirer., 1883-02-03
FREE SPIRITS.
Orient Thinks Free. Liquors Would
Abolish the Great Evils Of !
1ntemperance.
Internperance.
To the Editor of The Labor Enquirer.

To the Editor of The Labor Enquirer.
While there are many interesting sub
jects discussed through the columns of
your valuable paper, there is one which
I observe is entirely untouched, namely,
the whisky business. AS reformers, this
is subject we cannot consistently over
look. When we advocate the rights of
/ labor when we endeavor to. show that
4 labor is being oppressed by capital, we
are told by the adherents to existing
systems that the fault is entirely with
the workmen; that we are too extrava-
CANT that the only reason we are not
all wealthy is because we Bquander our
earnings in saloons.
! = Now, Mr.. Editor, am not going to
give your readers temper ance lecture; !;
Il not by any means. How ever, | admit
and believe the world would be much
better off if there was less intoxicating
Z drink used. l believe we, as working
Il men, could accomplish our objects quicke
without its use. This, 1 think, no one
will dispute.
81 There are several standpoints from
4 which temperance advocates view this
question but propose to view it in the
. interests Of the Workingmen-from
financial standpoint l will also propose
what l would consider a practical
remedy.
Now, sir, claim that if the majority
of our people consider brandy, cham
payne, wine, ETC., luxury, she working
men have right to enjoy that luxury.
1t should not be necessary for those who
create all wealth to deprive themselves
of every LUXURY, lest, perhaps, they
might want for bread. To be brief, say
4 our present whisky laws are wrong, and
we can and must establish better ones.
The present laws, enable the parties who
handle and retail this commodity to
. charge an extortionate price. Whisky,
like every other product, is the result of
labor. Not over 60 cents per gallon is
paid for the entire labor of producing; ;
the United States revenue at present is
80 cents per gallon, making the sctual
cost of the liquor at the distillefy, in
Guiding tax and allowing a per cent to
the manufacturer, about $1,75 per gal
lon; while the workingman, who, re
ceiving it over the retail bar, pays an
average of Sc per gallon provided he
gets the pure article, which he seldom
does.
Figures show that the workingman
who consumes the liquor pays to the
men who handle it after it leaves the
producer a profit of 81 per gallon.
Viewing it from a financial standpoint,
here is where the wrong appears,
ss AS remedy, l would advocate the es-
Enlistment of laws providing for its
free manufacture and free sale. Let its
sale be as free as cider, vinegar or milk.
To many this remedy will at first sight
appear ridiculous. 1t is, perhaps, new
idea to many on the liquor question;
and before it is cast aside with contempt
by the reader, I ask that we see what
the result would be:
First-The unfortunate drunkard, who
would, if necessary, pay 80 cents per
glass for it while his funds held out,
would not be robbed while being pois
oned by having to pay an extoruonate
price for his poison.
Second-The saloons would be abol-
ished, as the stuff could be purchased in
any store, and there would be such COM
petition in the free manufacture that
few could make living dealing IN 1t
alone. By abolishing the saloon, we
abolish to a great extent the place OF
retreet in which the drunkard now
hides from parents, wife or family.
Misery and crime seeks companions, and
the saloon is the place in which they re-
treat congregate and associate. 1t is
there, as a rule, where the lighting
stabbing and shooting /atfrays take
place-even among the most intimate
friends, and about the most trivial mat
tiers.
Third-The stuff now considered a
luxury, because expensive and scarce
would be SO cheap and plentiful that 1t
would hardly be considered worth pre-
senting as beverage at the entertain
ment of guest or on meeting q friend
4s Another and important feature In this