The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-05-02
Keeley Cure BYLAW.

THE OF The PROVIDENCE NEWse
SR-My attention has been called to
an editorial in your valued paper under
date of April 10, 1895, and because think
injustice has been done to the cause which
/ represent, venture to address you upon
the subject and state my reasons.
In the first place, the legislation that is
asked for in the different states and W hich
has already been granted in Colorado,
Maryland, Louisiana, Oklahoma, North
Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin, is be-
ing asked for by the Kelley League, which
Is an organization composed OF 10000
cured men, who, knowing the great bene-
fit they have received, have organized
themselves for the purpose of extending
so far as possible this great blessing to
others.
We have no connection with any Kee-
ley Institute, financially or otherwise,
and under our constitution are pledged TO
all kinds of temperance work, but espe-
cialiy to the cure and reformation of the
drunkard. There is no Squestion what
ever but that drunkenness is the great
est evil of the modern times,
and to drink may be traced very
large percentage of the crime and
poverty in the world. The existence of
an evil makes necessary the existence OF
public problem, viz. how to remove the
evil; and there is not year but that the
liquor question consumes large part of
the time OF the different State Legislatures
IN the discussion of how best to
deal with 1t. The continual recurrence
OF the question makes 1t apparent that
the Legislatures have not yet discovered
the remedy, whether Prohibition will do
it or not, IL rigidly enforced, is an open
question, and at all events need not be dis
cussed here, but Prohibition will never be
enforced without public sentiment at the
back OF it, and nc such blessing has, to
my knowledge, been discovered.
We, as members Of the Kelley League,
believe that the Keeley cure will accomp-
lish what temperance societies, church
and public sentiment have failed to ac-
complish, viz: the reformation and cure
OF the drunkard, and, in proof of my
claim, beg leave to call your attention to
the following figures, viz:
Three years ago the Kelley Cure was in
troduced into the soldiers homes OF the
United States, which are under the con-
troll OF the board of managers of which
General William B. Franklin of Hartford
is president, the President of the United
States, Secretary OF War, and Chief JUS
tice OF the Supreme Court of the
United States are ex-officio men,
bers. eFor year i lived near one
OF these homes, and 1 will copfine myself |
to the results obtained in that one, at |
Leavenworth, Kan. Up to Decem Der 81, |
1894, 1927 men received the Kelley Treat
ment; percentage of lspses, 1852. This
proportion Is much larger han he general |
percentage throughout the country, but
1t is important to remember that
the average age of members of the
Home Is 6Ols years. They arc
almost entirely without tho restraining
influence OF family ties, and certainly
have not home influences. They must
prove physical disability as a condition
precedent to admission to the Home.
They have no future on this earth to
look forward to, and have no thrift or
care for the future, as the Government
promises TO support them. Nearly all
are the victims Of wounds, injuries and
chronic diseases, contracted in the SER
vice. Besides all this, their moral condl-
tion, by reason of from 20 to 40 years OF
dissipation, is extremely low. And yet,
IN spite OF all these discouraging condi-
tions, about 30 OF every 100 remain per-
manently cured. There is yet more to be
said: There was during the year an aver
age attendance of 900 men, which. con-
sidering all things, may be considered
equivalent in conditions to city of
1000 persons, and yet, during the year
1894, not single crime was committed
serious enough 10 call for the intervention
OF the courts. The surgeon in charge Of
the hospital reports that during the year
there was not a single case OF delirium
tremens, while before the Kelley treat.
ment was introduced, the hospital
was never without number Of
these cases. The same gentleman.
surgeon Jones, says that in three years
D observation the Kelley treatment has i'm.
lured no man, and, on the contrary, has
improved the physical condition OF tho
members, rs we'll as the morals OF the
camp. Much more could be said, but
will confiue myself to one point more:
Since taking the treatment 742 men have
voluntarily left the Home and become
self-supporting. The physical con-
dition Of the broken-down veter-
ans so improved that 742 OF them
go back to their trades and occupations.
The per capita cost OF maintenance In