The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-12
TO CHECK DRINK EVIL.
Novel Method Suggested by Father
Cox, Of 81. Jarlath's, Chicago.

Chicago Evening Post.
A novel method for regulating the drink
evil was suggested to-day by Rev. Thomas
Z. Cox, of st. Jarlaths Roman Catholic
Church, In an address on Father Mathew
and Temperance" delivered before the
Presbyterian Ministers Association. His
plan is system of complete and thorough
compensation on the part Of the distillers
and brewers for all damage and injury done
10 States. cities and individuals through the
use of liquor. He would abolish all forms OF
saloon licenses and have laws enacted re-
curing the manufacturers Of liquor to es-
tablish and maintain a fund to be used in
settling the various claims growing out or
the liquor traffic in all its forms. If the sale
of alcoholic beverages imposes additional re-
sponsibilties upon a State or city the proper
amount of damages would be drawn from
this fund. In cases where men and boys are
killed or their usefulness 10 society impaired
by drink their relatives would be entitled to
draw against the fund for relief
He would make it necessary TO prove all
claims in a court of equity or a special tri-
bunal created for the purpose before they
were paid. In this way fraud would be pre-
vented and none but those entitled to dam
ages would receive assistance from the fund.
In discussing his plan Father Cox said: Il
am not a prohibtionist because no law
invented that entirely abolished
drunkenness / am not in favor of the state
dispensary system because under that
order of things every citizen is made
partner IN the operation or the state dis
pensaries or saloons. l am opposed to the
high-license idea for the reason that il
tends TO increase the sale OF liquor by
imposing additional taxation on the saloon
keeper. L suggestion
OF this great evil that L desire TO present
TO you for your careful consideration.
My idea Is that the distillerS and brew
ers should be compelled to establish
fund. Anyone who can prove an injury
through the use of liquor should be al
compensated for any damage incurred, and
/ would abolish all forms of liquor license.
If State or city finds its responsible
and operating expenses Increased by the
liquor traffic in any form Ii should collect
the amount due from this fund. If an indi.
drink he couls claim damage. and by prov
ing it in a S%roper tribunal be compen-
stated for the amount of mage. If man
dies from alcoholism his wife and children
would be Jared for out of this fund. In
this way all the harm and injury inflicted
upon the State and socie.v would be paid
for by those responsible. If, under this syS-
tenn. men were able to drink with little or
no injury to :ociety or the State, then the
rights and liberties Of the pt ople would not
IF, however, the damage done to the COM
munity was more than the liquor manu-
facturers could pay and still retain rea-
would be compelled to go out of business.
Then we would have practical prohibition.
of @ aPd
is the only solution of the drink problem.
Under the guise of temperance men become
LET us understand then, that temper
ance means nothing but total abstinence.
Drunkenness is a sin against nature and
against God. 1t destroys the gifts of God.
The man who Injuries himself Injuries So
ciety. Every sin of man strikes at God
more than ii does at society or the indi-
vidual PIG
Abstinence is an old question. Ever since
Adam was told not to eat those apples 1t
has been live issue. The life Of Father
Mathew proves how much one man may do
by devoting himself to one purpose. 1t
proves the great power OF moral Suasion.
Father Mathew never believed in any half
way measures. He was inclined to the be-
lief that the state ought to do something
to eradicate the drink evil. He was. in fact,
one of the first to advocate prohibition.
There was. however, one defect in his work.
He neglected to leave behind him a we'll
organized body with leaders to carry on the
great movement he had begun.
ct believe cur hope for the future rests in
the proper education Of the rising genera
ton, for the children of to-day will be the
men and women of tomorrow. 1 am not
Prohibitionist, and / hope that you will be-
lieve that / speak seriously when / make
this statement. l studied the question long
sion. / believe, however. that the Catholic
Total Abstinence societies to a man believe
in one form Of prohibition-that is in local
option. They think saloons should be driven
cut of every community where public senti-
ment is opposed to them. The saloon is
public pest. 1t is the great school of crime
In this world.
IT am willing to defend the Prohibitionists
against the calumnies heaped upon them by
representatives of the liquor traffic. The
statement we hear often that there is
more drunkenness in prohibition districts
than In other localities Is manifestly false.
If this were true the distillers and brewers
would be enthusiastic advocates of prohibit
ton. for the business reason that it would
increase the sale of their products.
1T is just and right that a community
should demand compensation for some OF
the mischief done by the saloon. But we will
never have gene far enough In this direction
until we have held the liquor traffic respon-
sible for all the mischief 1t does. Make the
manufacturers Of the product pay for all
the damage they do. This in my opinion
IS the only solution OF the great problem OF
intemperance."
Father Cox was enthusiastically applaud
ed ct the conclusion of his address and ac-