The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-12-01
TEMPERANCE READING.
A STRIKE PROPOSED.

They Spend In Drink Into business.
Tho undoubted evils Of the rum traf-
fic and its complement, intempcrance,
would be grievous enough il they bore
only upon the persons directly con-
cerncd-,hoso who drink, but they 20
far beyond their limit. The loss to the
man who drinks can not be measured
by tho amount OF money he cxpcnds
for rum, any more than can the damage
caused by the explosion of q case of
dynamite be measured by the cost OF
the explosive. Ono bottle Of whisky
may cause the loss Of Il man life, and
take away the only support of wife and
children; i: may cause an accident
which entails ten thousand times the
cost of the rum itself. There are no
men, AZ a rule. who have no relatives,
friends Or dependent ones; and the
evils Of the rum habit falls upon these
innocent ones with full force. The
primary effect is upon the drinker.
His body becomes diseased, his mental
and physical powers fail. and he does
not live out the full term Of years that
otherwise would have fallen to his lot.
The secondary effects fall upon his
parents. his brothers and sisters, his
wife and his little children.
1t has been estimated Nv Boston
authority that the total annual ex-
pcnditure for rum. which is consumed
chiefly by men who are in active lie,
is 800. 100000. He goes on TO say:
II NO conclude that about One-third Of the
eptiVe population arc work ny mon. who must
earn most OF the money, tbs average tax on
each of these men for tn S harmful indul-
gencc wOuld amount to about ninety dollars
Agar. or nearly two dol airs Il week. But it
IL prob bic TINT ha I OF the w0rking-men In
the country do not use Intoxicating drinks, or
only uso them In small quuntit es. II this be
admitted. ii follows that about half of the
wOrking.men of the cOuutr, are taxed on an
average two hirds OF u dollar a dav for stim.
uiants which do thom no good. but cause
them great injury. uniting them for labor.
miaking them unski:liul, ana ubccting them
to accidents injuries. discusses and dangers OF
many kinds: thus deteriorating their work.
consuming THOR wages. and keeping their
noses on the grindStone all thor days.
1t IS thought worthy of considcra-
ton in the above that the burden on
the working men is the greatest from
the use of rum. The evils of drink
affect the whole class. even those who
do not at all indulge in the drink
habit. The intempcrance of the others
deranges business. destroys property,
dcmoralizes society, increases crime,
insanity and pauperism. causes en-
ormOus expenditures for the in
creased police service and the MAIN
tenance of jails, prisons, almshouscs
and hospitals. 1t burdens the temper
ate and economical class with the in.
creased taxation thereby made neces-
sary. and loads down the charitable
and phlanthropic with the care of
drunkards' wives and drunkards' chill
dren.
1t Is fact to be noted also that the
incorporate class. being also IMPROVE
dent are the ones who are ALWAYS in
trouble concerning their wages. While
tho grip of hard times always is most
keenly felt by the laboring class, who
are often obliged to practice the stern
est self-donial in order to keep the wolf
from tho door, the case OF the work
men who are in the grip. of the demon,
rum, is far worse than that of their
temperate fellows. They can not, or
do not do as much work. or as good
work, as sober men. They can no,
work SO many hours, and they can no,
earn as much wages They are net 8
desirable class of men in any establish.
ment, and when n duh time comes,
they are tho ones who receive dismiss.
al when the force is reduced.
They are in constant poverty. fol
their earnings have gone into the peck
cts of saloon-keepcrs, rather than into
savings bank. They have paid oul
their money for rum instead of cloth.
ing and food for themselves and fami
liei- They have spent in debauche
what would have bought them com
Portable. modest homes, and made
them bright and cheerful for theil
wives and little ones. The remed,
which presents itself to these men is
to have an increase OF wages. They
do not recognize the fact that the prop
er solution of the problem is in prop
er economy; that mans wages are t.
be measured by the amount he saves
rather than the amount he wastes. w,
by no means wish, however, to be I'M
derstood as arguing that man SHOULD
be ground down to the lowest poin
compatible with existence. nor that
man should not ask proper compensa
ton.
Let rs turn about and try to increas
wages by increasing the business o
our shops and mills and factories. lie
us suppose that every discontente,
nottingham in all this broad Ian,
goes on strike against rum. Let II
imagine the result if not one man VIII
works for living should spend on
cent over the counter of saloon, bu
should spend his money for the neces
saries and comforts of life for himsel
and his family. Let each one keep OF
until himself and his family shall b
well clothed. well fed. well housed
what would be the result upon bus
ness if those $500, 0O0,0 900 per year tina
is now spent in running the health an
lives of these men were spent i'll tn
avenues of legitimate tradep Their
would be . boom that would be pei
mancnt in every line of business
There would be abundant work i
every workshop, every factory, ever
mercant le establishment in the land
wages would rise, and employer
would be able TO pay them. An er
of prosperity would set in that woul
have SURF, solid foundation. and til
rum traffic would die for lack of su.
tenance.- Toledo Blade.
LIouOR-sALooNS in North Caroline
where workmcn wasted their none,
are being converted into factorie.
-.lo-, H. o,, ,,,l-o ,,o,a~ III,