The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1886-04-09
RUM AND WoRKMEN.

Interesting and Instructive Facts Cleaned
from the Report of the New Jersey Blu
reau of Statistics of Labor and Indus
tries.
Fourteen States have Bureaus of Sta
tistics of Labor, the oldest being that
of Massachusetts,, which, under the
management of a statistician of ability
and experience, Hon. Carroll ID.
Wright, has contributed immensely
to the facilities for the study of various
social and industrial problems. The
Massachusetts Bureau was established
in 1869; but the bureaus in six of the
fourteen States date from 1888 and
1884. 1t is to be hoped that other
States will establish bureaus at as
early day as possible. 1t costs but
little comparatively to sustain them;
and the facts and statistics which they
can gather, arrange and print in annual
reports would be of incalculable value
to legislators, and to all students of So
cial and economical questions. Much
of the legislation which is being put
upon the statute books deals either d.
rectly or indirectly with such questions,
and is too often based upon unsupport-
ed theories rather than well-ascertained
facts. No State can really afford to be
without Bureau of Statistics of Labor
and Industry.
We have been looking over the sew.
enth annual report of the New jersey
Bureau of Statistics of Labor and In.
dustries, and have been specially i'm.
pressed with chapter concerning the
condition of wage-earners, and how ii
can be improved. The chapter is made
mp of passages from letters of individ.
ual workmen and others, and is very
interesting as well as instructive Vari-
Gus industries are represented, much
information is given, and not few
striking suggestions are offered. Rum
appears in a large number of cases as
the fruitful cause of material, physical,
social and moral deterioration, and
prohibition, total abstinence, local OPP
ton and moderation are named as the
most efficient remedies, according to
the personal views of the writer. We
quote some of the sentences, first as to
the cause:
whisky and beer are the great obstacles
here"
"Intemperance is the cause of very much
wretchednesS in our families
THE greatest evil is strong drink"
''Our morals here are low on account of
rum"
1.-The liquor traffic has bad effect on our
trade"
''Strong drink Injuries great many of u.s."
Morality would be good except for drunk
enness.'
TOO large portion Of our wages go to the
sellers of rum and beer"
drunkenness is the bane of the working
classes"
MANY of our men love beer more than their
families"
Drink is the working-man's curse"
Tobacco and liquor are great injury
Except for beer and whisky, We are very
moral
Rum does much to lower u.s.
"Working-men drink too much for their own
good
rum and beer are our great enemies"
sOur condition is much lower than it should
be. This results principally from the use of
liquor and from ignorance.
much immoralIty-whisky is at the bot
TOM"
Ignorance and intemperance are the chief
causes which prevent us from improving
Intemperance is the great vice OF the
painters"
As to the remedy, the following sug-
gestions are made.
Laws prohibiting the manufacture and
sale of liquor would improve the working
mems condition"
Local option han improved our condi-
ton
"A prohibitory law would do much for our
Improvement
ssThe liquor traffic has bad effect on trade;
prohibition would do good.
q Prohibition is needed.
s.ShouId drink less
Total abstinence
"Men should not spend SO much time IN sar
looms
g We must have prohibitory law before
our condition is much betuered."
The ShoemakerS OF Newark must have a
better organization. if they are ever to inn
prove: also less breweries and saloons
= What is wanted is that men should drink
less and keep better hours"
Better education and legal prohibition Of
the sale of liquors.
g Do not believe in prohibition entirely. but
think that many Torkmen would be better of
il we had it.
when rum has been banished there viii
be some hope
I've should also support and encourage
each other to resist the evils of drink"
. Abolish rum and tobacco.
Prohibition both of tobacco and liquor
would benefit u.s.
Prohibition is about the only thing which
viii elevate working-men."
These passages are from represents
atiyes of various trades, and from yari-
GUS localities. They are selected from
numerous replies, every passage repre-
senting an individual The views are
those of the average intelligent work
ing-man. They ask to be delivered
from the curse. N I. Independent.