The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-01-05
LADIES AND TEMPERANCE.

A writer in the Union Signal the organ
on this Coast Of the Women's Christian
Temperance Union, says Of the wine in
dustfy in California:
California has S70,O00OOO invested in wine
interests ana 100000 acres devoted TO yine-
yaIds, with al annual yield OF 10000, 600 gal
Ions If VINE, aud yet The white ribbOners are
sure Of victory for prohibition for God has sent
The pbylIOXera-the prohibition bUg-Which is
destroying tie wine grape but leaves alone the
Iasiu grape making that the profitable industry.
Doubtless the logic CT this sort Of argu-
ment is apparent to the writer referred TO-
otherwise II is TO be supposed that it would
Dot have been INDUCED IN. But to the Ordi-
nary mind the deduction seems somewhat
less than conclusive.
L is true that phylloxera has attacked the
wine vineyards in certain sections of this
State, while the Taisiu vines have appar-
emily enjoyed practical immunity from this
foe of the grape, but we appTehend that
tEis circumstance is to be attributed to
natural causes. The raisin industry is COM
paratiyely a new one in this State and in
most of the large raisin districts phylloxera
has not yet made its appearance even among
tie wine vines. Il is probable that the
Taisin-grower would be glad to feel the same
security Of mind eyinced by the Union Sig
nal writer that when the disease does reach
these districts it will confne its rayages TO
the wine vineyards and give his vines the
gO-by. But experience with phylloxera in
other yine-gTOYing countries forces a con-
tTary conclusion than this which would
afford him such satisfaction. When the
disease does make its appearance he will
act wisely to take the same precautions
against its spreading among his grapes as
ne would were he convinced that the su-
prr.oT goodness Of his product would In nc
measure secure it from attack.
Il is strongly to be questioned whether
such Arguments as this used by the Presi-
cent Of tile California w. c. I. o., who is
the writer quoted at the beginning of this
article, ever did a particle of good in
Strengthening the faith of temperance
workers, while they undoubtedly do great
P mischief to the cause they are designed 10
forward by arOusing the resentment of peo-
+. PIE Who would otherwise be inclined to look
favoEably upon the work of the organize
ton this lady represents.
q Certainly the w. {. T. U. ladies will
never by such methods succeed in awaken
ing in this State a popular sentiment
against this important industry of the
They would far better expend their ener-
gies in the good work which they have so
successfully Daugurated Of educating the
rising generation to an appreciation of the
value Of temperance. When the w. c. L.
L. first entered upon its chosen work the
enemy il organized to fight was rum. The
alarming spread Of the use Of marco ties has
OF late years so forced itself upon the atten-
tion OF thinking people that at its recent
Worlds Convention the union decided that
it must turn its attacks against opium as
well as alcohol
Ii would be interesting were it not foreign
to the scope Of this article to trace, as others
have DONE the possible connection between
an overZealous war against the use of alco-
hol and an increase in the use of other in
furious drugs, as, for instance. the introdue-
ton Of ether-drinking in Ireland after
Father Mathews temperance agitation, and
tie great increase in the use of opium, CO.
caine, chloral, ginger and the like since our
people have been so rigidly exhorted against
tire use of alcohol.
WHAT the ladies should do is to array
themselves on the side of good government
policy in an effort to lessen both these evils,
rather than to waste effort in reform move
ments that have been proven entirely made
quaIe. The wine we shall have with us
always, and ii is its abuse not its use, that
ruins men. Government prohibition of its
use has been proven a farce. High license
has been productive of. better results and
the good work is progressing. but prac-
ticai solution Of the problem how to SUP
press incompetence is yet to be found.