The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-08-11
temperance.
Testimony from WOrkingmen.

The New York Independent has been
looking over the last annual report of
the New Jersey bureau of statistics of
labor and industries, giving special at
tention to a chapter concerning the
condition of wage-earners and how it
can be improved. 1t says the chapter
is made up of passages from letters of
individual workmen and others, and is
very interesting as well as instructive.
Various 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
option and moderation are named as
the most efficient remedies, according
to the personal view of the writer.
We quote some of the sentences, first
as to the cause:
Whiskey and beer are the great OBJ
stacles 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"
Many of the hands drink to excess"
1.-THE liquor traffic has a bad effect
on our trade"
Strong drink Injuries great many
of u.s.
Morality would be good except for
drunkenness.
Too large a portion of our wages
go to the sellers of rum and beer"
60 VlrI1p l-annocc ic ha Of 4ho
working classes"
than their families"
Drink is the workingman's curse"
Tobacco and liquor are great in
jury"
Except for beer and whiskey, we
are very moral"
Rum does much to lower US
Workingmen drink too much for
their own good"
Rum and beer are our great enc
miles,
"Our condition is much lower than
it should be. This results principally
from the use of liquor and from ig-
norance."
" Much immorality-whiskey is at
the bottom
Ignorance and intemperance are
the chief causes which prevent us from
improving"
g 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
workingmen's condition.
" Local option has improved our con-
dition."
"A prohibitory law would do much
for our improvement"
The liquor traffic has bad effect
on trade; prohibition would do good"
" Prohibition is needed"
"Should drink Less
Total abstinence"
. Men should not spend so much
time in saloons.'
" We must have a prohibitory law
before our condition is much bettered."
The shoemakers of Newark must
have better organization, if they are
ever to improve; also less breweres
and saloons"
" What is wanted is that men should
drink less and keep better hours
'NttNi Nuu,utlOh anu ltSdl DlODl-
bition of the sale of liquors.
" Do not believe in prohibition en-
tirely, but think that many workmen
would be better off if we had it,
" When rum has been banished there
will be some hope"
" We should also support and en-
courage each other to resist the evils of
drink"
" Abolish rum and tobacco
" Prohibition both of tobacco and
liquor would benefit us"
' Prohibition is about the only thing
which will elevate workingmen.n
These passages are from representa-
tives of various trades and from various
localities. They are selected from
numerous replies, every passage repre-
senting an individual. The views are
those of the average intelligent work
ingman.