Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-07-11

Professor Patterns Novel Discussion of
the Prohibition Question.

Professor Patterns Novel Discussion of
the Prohibition Question.
Taking for his topic The Economic
Basis of Protection, " Professor Simon N.
Patten, of the Wharton School of the
University of Pennsylvania, handled in
novel fashion a well worn topic in his
paper before the American Academy OF
Political and Social Science. The gist of
the professors argument was that, what
ever may be the morals of intemperance,
the conditions of life in this country
have grown to be such that drinking
habits are particularly disastrous, and
that the prohibition movement repre-
sents the efforts of a race to accom-
modate itself to its environment.
And first the speaker argued that
mans appetite has been reduced through
the consumption of many instead of a
few dishes. IF person lives upon rice
or potatoes alone he must have a much
larger quantity of food than if several
articles are part of his daily diet.
Every increase in the variety of food re-
duces the appetite of the consumer. This
evident fact lies at the basis of the
change in our drinking habits. A CEN
tury ago some one drink satisfied the
wants of each nation. 1t was in every
house and used as freely as tea or coffee
now are. But when the love of given
drink is reduced there are two ways in
which to get a recompense. Either by
an increase in the variety of drinks or
through the use of stronger liquor. But
either leads to intoXication, since whisky
or mixed drinks are equally unsettling.
In this way the reduction of our appe-
tites tends to intensity the evils of drink
ing.
"The reduction of the appetite is not,
however, the only active economic cause
forcing the temperance issue upon tho
American people. There are many eli
matte and social conditions, peculiar to
America, which aggravate the evils of
alcoholism. And the speaker here
called attention to the fact that rapid
changes in the climate lead one to drink
in warm weather to keep COOL and in
cool weather to keep warm. Germany
has a much stead.er climate, and there
is, therefore, little overdrinking; and
Germany has not either the treating
habit In America leach spell of hot or
of cold weather sends an increasing host
Of customers to every saloon in tho
land"
And further, "treating is so universal
that a person is looked upon as mean
who will drink without asking his friends
to drink with him. By the time gronp
of half a dozen friends have each treated,
as many different kinds of liquor are
mixed together in their stomachs.
Professor Patten then went on to say that
conditions are so different in this country
that emigrants do not understand the
prohibition movement. Even now,
however, the reaction against drinking
can be plainly seen among the second
generation of the Germans and Irish. ="
The fact was added that distillation is
thing of modern times, SO that strong
drinks are more easily made than ever
before.
In gathering up the threads of his ar
gumcnt, Professor Patten urged that eli
matte and social conditions force prohi-
bition upon the American people, and
that that part of the people which is tenn
perate must be the party to survive and
grow powerful. He added the further
fact that five Temperance people can be
supported on the land needed to satisfy
the coarse tastes of one lowing to the
consumption of corn, rye, or whatever
it may be-and for that reason the eco
uomic advantages of abstaners is great
IF our appetites are diminishing, if
our climate makes moderate drinking
especially difficult, if not impossible, and
if the crops from which our liquors aro
made waste the productive powers of
the land, we have the best reasons for
believing that the present dissatisfaction
with drinking will continue and increase
ill every saloon and distilery is closed. "