The herald., 1896-09-28

virtues."-Dr. johnson.
A circular Is being circulated by DR..
H. A. Reid of Pasadena, under the aus
pices and with the authority Of num-
ber of Christian organizations. asking
that certain questions bearing upon the
effects of the liquor habit be answered.
Judge Smith, presiding in department
one of the superior court, yesterday re-
ceived one of these circulars, and the
following is the question he was asked
to make answers to:
What proportion of crime do you es-
innate as due directly or indirectly to
alcoholic drinks?"
An examination Of the record in de-
partment one reveals what on it's face
appears to be a fact, that of hundred
consecutive cases taken at random fifty
five were to be ascribed directly to the
influence Of liquor; two cases are cred
tied to the use of cocaine and the re-
naming forty-three cases cannot be
traced in any way to the liquor habit.
The investigation now being made has
for its sponsors the following gentlemen
and ladies', representing very large
membership in the several organizations
over which they preside:
Arthur L. Hamilton, president Of the
Christian Citizenship union of Pasa-
dena; c. c. Reynolds, president of the
Y. M. C. A. of Pasadena; w. A. Benshoff,
president of the Epworth league of Pas
adena; Rev. c. Crawford, president of
the Pasadena ministers meeting; f. G.
H. Stevens, chief templar, Los Angeles
council, I. o. G.. t.; Mrs. Emma Cash,
president Los Angeles county w. c. T.
u; Rev. George Dye, secretary Baptist
Ministers association; Willard d. Ball.
general secretary of the Y. M C. A., Los
Angeles; Thornton Fitzhugh, president
of the Christian Endeavor union; G. A.
Grubb, president of Los Angeles union
of Epworth leagues: Rev. Will A. Knight
en-, Los Angeles City Ministerial union;
j. A. Williams, president Los Angeles
County Sunday School union.
Perhaps no question in modern times
has been discussed with the eagerness,
approaching oft-times to bitterness, that
has distinguished the prolonged debate
regarding the liquor traffic, and it's in
fluence on the people of this country.
During no discussion, perhaps, have sta
tistics been so twisted and distorted and
liuuors are evil in themselves per Sc. And
yet is is only by collating statistics In an
Intelligent manner that anything ap-
preaching just appreciation Of the mer-
its of the disease Of inebriety can be
formed "
CRIMINALS NOT GENERALLY
DRUNKARDS
In the last census return in 1890 there
were, up to June l. 1880. no less than
1886 prisoners in the United States charg-
ed with homicide, or S.97 per cent of the
total number of prisoners. In the re-
turns the habit of 973 with regard to al
coholic liquors is not shown, but of the
remaining 637S they are tabulated as
follows: Total abstainers, 1882; moder-
ate drinkers, 1929; drunkards, 1867. So
that it would appear that the average
class of men, so far as drinking is con-
cerned, furnishes the average criminal"
The Rev. DIR. Vince, who speaks with
some authority on all matters appertain-
ing to criminals, in report made to the
United States government, stated that
less than two-tenths of the criminals
in this country were drunkards and an
excess of that percentage were total
abstainers. From this, also, it is appar-
ent that alcoholic liquors do not play
such a very large part in causing men
and women to sink into the criminal
class.
The tabulations kept yearly by the
! Chicago Tribune indicate that liquor as
an incitement to crime figures fourth
on the list and occupies the same posi-
ton with regard to suicide. Neces-
sarily these statistics cannot be scien-
| tifically accurate. In European coun-
| tries, where closer attention Is paid to
| statistical detail, 1t has been found that
| II per cent of the suicides have been ad-
| dicted to alcoholism In this country nc
| information on the point Is to hand, al
| though, as in Europe, insanity Is given
as the main melting cause.
| REFORM ON PRACTICAL LINES is
NEEDED
| Professor N. S. Davis of Chicago, In
| the light of modern research, hit the
| nail on the head when. as president OF
| the American Temperance Association
| he said that it is not SO much alcohol as
| the conditions that call it and other in
| toxicants into use that have to be COM
| batted. Sentimentality here goes fol
nothing. The faulty diet, inconsidera-
| ton Of climatic needs, the demand oj
| the body and mind at every age fol
| some recreation, too strict Sabbatariar
discipline-Against which the majority
| rebel-neglect of proper ventilation anG
| proper heating, neglect in comfortable
| dressing, the political and social habits
| of the country, are all matters that en-
| ter into strong prominence as melting
| factors.
| This is practically the line. upor
| ~