The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-05
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.


To tho Editor of the Indianapolis Journal.
Your article relating to luther Benson in his
career as a temperance advocate. and in regard
to his course on the third-part question, has
my entire approval. have long since become
disguised with his conduct-one day advocating
total abstinence from Intoxicating liquors and
the next drunk. lie might be excused once or
twice for yielding to his appetite, in his first at
tempts to reform, but in following it
up year after year, all the time
claiming to be a leader in so great
a reformation, he loses all claim to liberation by
the real friendly and workers in it. while his
work is only to its discredit and disgrace. The
hquor leaguerS can want no better club to beat
the heads of its advocates with than the one
which Benson puts into their hands.
The late William Hannaman once said to me
that he had observed closely the career of re
formed drunkards in this city, and he was sure
that not more than Onetenth but returned to
their cups before death, and that has been my OBJ
servaton also, in an experience of more than fifty
years IN temperance work, and. can call to
mind but few, if any, who ever made such u
disgusting record as has Luther Benson. | am
IN favor of separate political action if the Re
publican party do not indorse prohibition in
some feasible form; but we cannot afford to ac-
cept Benson in the more than eQuvocal position
on prohibition in which he placed him
self two years ago, by stumping for party that
well as were then, working to
accomplish, even did not his drunken
debauches debar him from recognition as
a leader in the cause by its true friends My
experience i'll the work of reforming drunkardS
has led to a great change in my mind from what
IL was third of century ago | have now no
sympathy for the dPunkard more than for any
other criminal. l consider him a criminal. and
hence do not favor the plan so much talked, and
written about of an asylum for his treatment,
as diseased. l suggest another and altogether
different treatment-a work -house-and which
seems to be far more reasonable,
and his family. His crime is against himself,
his family and the community, and hence the
community has an undoubted right to protect
itself as well as his family against the effects of
his crime.
The County commissioners have determined
to build much-needed work house for petty
offenders, and now if the Legislature would
enact a law requiring all who become drunk to
be confined in that house until they give salts
factory evidence of reformation, long
stride towards the benefcent effects of
prohibitory law would be made
l would have the liquor business taxed to sup
port such an establishment for the confinement
of drunkards, and their earnings should be
applied to the support of their families,
or In the event of single man, should
be funded for his use after his reforma-
ton. would not relax any effort for the
forcement of laws against hquor-selling or the
enactment of more stringent ones, even to entire
prohibition. The treatment of drunkards which
l suggest would L think strengthen any
effort which may be made for the entire sup
preston Of the traffic. If manufacturers mana
gers of railroads, or others who employ men,
would make it condition Of being discharged
for their employees to become drunk, or to be
habitual visitors of places where liquors are sold
it would save untold thousands from taking
the incipient step toward becoming drunk
ards, and establish practical prohibition
to very great extent all
over the country. These remedies for
the great evils that flow from the liquor traffic
and which do not deprive any one of his natural
rights, are in the hands of those who can apply
them to the disease which is eating at the vitals
of the body, morally. socially, religiously and
politically. Will they do 1t!
A S. KINGsIEY