The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-07-08
TEMPERANCE LEGIsI ALTON.

TEMPERANCE L.EGISI. ALTON.
So long as drunkenness constitutes
itself a menace to law and order, society
will fell constrained to adopt measures
for its suppression and its cure. The
latest innovation in the shape of cura-
tive and repressive legislation halls
from the state of Massachusetts. Its
objects are necessarily twofold-the
reformation Of the drinker and the pun
ishment of the drunkard. The New
York Evening Post speaks OF the meas
ure as a scientific d%runkards' law" We
believe the synonym is scarcely a happy
one. The good folks of the Bay st,te
would have grave reasons for complaint
if the name gave birth to the belief that
their fellow citizens of convivial tenden-
cies had elevated the practice of drink
ing to the dignity of a science. We sup
pose it is the law that is scientific, and
not the drunkards.
Apart from the name; the measure
itself shows ample evidence of careful
thought, and its workings will claim the
interests of all se~lf-respectlIg citizens.
Its fundamental idea is the distinction
that necessarily exists between the hab-
it's and the tendencies of two very differ
emit individuals. The one is the drinker
who accidentally or occasionally lapses
into drunkenness, and the other who
only accidentally or occasionally col
lapses into sobriety. The former is a
transient, for whose complete reforma-
ton wise treatment offers plenty of
grounds of hope. The latter is a de-
moralized and hopeless wreck. The one
Is a fool; the other, a criminal. Similar
treatment for both experience has
proved an utter mistake. With the n
it utterly fails to accomplish its purpose;
the other it frequently helps to de-
grade.
Under the provisions Of the Massa-
chusetts law, the transient drunkard,
when arrested, is at liberty to make a
written statement Of his name and resi-
dence. 10 this he must add a declara-
ton that he has not Deer arrested twice
already within the year, or that, if he
has suffered that indignity, he has been
acquitted in one case. Compliance with
these conditions leaves immediate re-
lease to the discretion of the police sta
ton master. Ample provision, how.
ever, is made for the detection of the
professional liar. Massachusetts has an
admirable institution in connection with
her police court system, known as the
"probation officer" His business it is
to Investigate the truth of each affirma-
ton that is made, and detection of I'M
truth means the prompt arrest of the
offender, and justice takes Its usual
course. The substructure of the len
lent practice is the sensible belief that
an accidental fall from temperance
should not bring upon the head of an
ordinarily w~ell-behaved citizen either
permanent degradation or immediate
disgrace. The secretary of the state
prison ASSOCIATION puts it we'll in the
Boston Herald: "If the fairly good cit
izen is kept until the next day at noon
and then discharged by the court, either
without a fine or by paying one, he and
his family are both injured; he may lose
his place and, in his disbursement
continue to drink. 1t is far better that,
when he is sober, he should be dis
charged and go to his work"
But, while ~leniency aims at the refor-
nation OF the transient, the law pro-
vides for vigorous and effective treat.
ment Of the professional 'rounder." If
the arrested individual cannot make the
statement already spoken of, his case
comes up in court, and Imprisonment
for a longer or a shorter term will be
the inevitable result. All fines for
drunkenness are abolished, and the OBJ
lection that might be raised to the loss
OF revenue is met by the statements
that of those arrested for drunkenness
under theo old enactment 81 per cent.
were committed for non-payment Of
fines, and that the deficit will be more
than met by the diminution of prison
expenses. If Massachusetts has a no
lice force that pays no respect to social
status or pecuniary inducements, we
are inclined to believe that street drunk,
enness will practically disappear.