The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-05-02
JOHN prRSs on TEMPERANCE.

4
/ The greater part and more interesting rqrt
/ Of my hours talk with John Burns, tho Ene
| llsh labor agitator, was on the relation OF
The temperance movement. Whites Charles
u. Spahr In tho Outlook. We had lust been
talking OF the new attitude OF the church
/ toward social questions, and here found
him somewhat Indifferent, plainly rcgarI Iin,
the change az more important 10 the church
than TO tho labor movement. when, how
ever. the conversation turned to the progress
OF the temperance movement in tho RANKS of
labor he suddenly became enthusiasts. not
only upon this subject itself but on the social
reform work OF the churches in connection
with II. Nothing could have exceeded his
praise OF what the Salvation Army, In pnriic-
ular. Is doing for the spread OF temperance
IN England. Its success in rccniming
drunkards seemed to him the most wondpr-
iul thing In recent religious history. Mr..
Burns has not only been a lifelong total ab-
stainer but lifelong temperance agitator.
and, despite his secularism, he recognized
the religious work Of reclaming lost drunk
ards as something beyond the scope OF
municipal craftsmanship" Nevertheless
municipal statcsmanship and temperance re-
form seemed 10 him TO have so mnny-siied "A
connection as 10 be essentially one. "IIos-
tility TO public-houscs, he said Il quote from
memory. runs through our labor move-
ment. Nearly every leader OF tho new
unionism' IL teetoatler, anl among the
leaders In the old unions total abstinence IA
gaining an altogether disproportionato hold.
Even the men In the unions who drink them
selves and growl at the unsociabiity ofthoso
who don't will vote nearly every time for "A
temperance man to conduct the business OF
the union. This accounts for tho dspropor-
tionate teetotallsm smong tho leaders.
hut temperance is spreading among
the rank and flo. During my boyhood.
and am hardly middle-aged, IL
used to be charged that this, that,
or tho other labor leader had been paid Is,
ElO, or even $40 to'chnngs the meeting place
OF the union from the Horse and Dragon to
tho Pig and Whistle. Nowadays the owner
OF a pub would rather pay to get rid OF u
trade union than TO have II meet at his rooms
As matter OF fact, We are not meeting Mt
public-houses unless we can't help ourselves.
Sometimes we meet In rooms belonging TO
churches. often In those belonging TO co.
operative socicties, and, whenever we can,
In rooms connected with town halls. Nearly
every man who is prominent In tho lnbor
movement Is opposed TO tho public -houses
The l6S officers OF laDor unions who signed
the petition last year for tho local veto (local
option) bill included practically the whole
brains and power OF the labor movement.
Not nearly all OF them were tcetotalers, but
they had all got that far, at any rate. They
oil know that drink Is the chiet cause OF pow
erty.
AT ths same time they all believe that
poverty is the chief cause OF drink. Most OF
our lnbor-ry aIm measures aim 10 reduce
drunkenne. by making healthier living pos
sible. THIS is true not only OF the larger
measures. such hs tho shortening OF tho
hours OF labor, but IL Il even more directly
true OF our municipal reforms. Wo believe
thar the construction OF municipal halls nc
ccs-iDls for public meetings In all parts OF
the cities Is u direct blow ut tho public
houses. We believe that all our London
county council measures providing public
play grounds, gymnasiums. reading-rooms,
ana tho like are temprrancs measures. We
have now In London 500 ires tennis courts
IAe city furnishes ths courts and the frame
work 10 support tho nets. The players. Of
course, FURNISH their own Fackcts. Almost
any saturday afternoon you may SEES John
Burns and his wife on one OF these courts. [
believe II Is the healthy way to live, and tho
young people who have these healthy re-.
creations are not so apt to cuvo the pub.
lc.' There are now so many Of tho courts
that It IL rarely difficult to get a chance &c
play. For the middle-agel men who don't
care for tennis we have provided Quoits, and
Tor the old fellows we ara about " lay out
several bowling greens"