The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-02-09
THE CURE LAW.
Something About the Measure on In
ebriety Before the Legislature.

Mrs NJ. A. Cornelius, who generously
gives a great deal OF her time and
means to the rescue of the victims OF
intemperance, is urging a measure
which provides for the public cure of
INDECENT inebriates. The bill is now I'M
der consideration by the committees
on temperance in the senate and house.
Mrs. Cornelius made the following
statement to the committees:
1.-The bill providing for the cure OF the
INDECENT inebriate at public expense,
which you will consider, is one in which
many poor sufferers from alcohonc
drink, and their friends, are deeply in
terested. 1t is hoped this bill, guarding,
as it does, the counties from undue
raids upon their treasures. and the
victims of intemperance from cures
without record, will meet your favor
able consideration. 1t has been ap-
proved by some of the best legal au-
the Woman's League, advocating the
cure of the inebriate, rely upon your
judgment in making such changes, II
need be, as will add to it's effectiveness
and insure its passage.
1.-The states of Colorado, Maryland,
Minnesota, Louisiana and North Da-
kota have passed similar laws, in each
of which they are reported to be in
successful operation. To give facts
and figures would make this commune
cation too long, but they have proved
an economic measure to the state and
the joy the cure has brought to homes
where there was once only sorrow and
despair can not be told. A cure law
in Kansas would be the means Of bind
ing up many a mothers broken heart.
over 100000 reclaimed inebriates in this
nation could tell you what a cure has
done for them and their loved ones.
The work of the women to promote the
passage of the cure law is purely
benevolent and they believe you are
capable of dealing justly, intelligentIy,
humanely, economically and mercifully
with that deepest and saddest of hu
man problems, the problem of govern
ing those who are not able to govern
themselves"
Recently a society which had the sub
ject under discussion asked this same
lady to talk to them about the matter.
She said:
"When requested to speak to you on
legislation in the interest of temperance
I gladly consented, for, while I believe
that prohibition laws are an important
factor in the promotion of sobriety,
especially among the young, and should
not be repealed, and will not be repealed
if temperance people do their duty, 1
am convinced that laws should be
enacted to provide for the cure of the
INDECENT inebriate to whose uncontro1
liable appetite law breakers cater.
Training in the home, teaching the
effect of alcohol on the human system
in the schools, and moral suasion are
doubtless of first Importance, but when
all these have failed Of the object, what
then?
1.-THE church that has been on it's
salvation of the druhkard may, now
that a cure for him has been discovered,
lend its influence to such legislation as
will secure it for the poorest and most
forlorn victim of intemperance, without
friends, without home and without
hope Advance steps, to the philan-
thropfst, mean steps that near the
howell.
'tAnmoral questions at the present day
are being crystalized into law. Educa-
tional movements, sanitary measures,
the relation of labor to capital, and
many other questions of similar import
are engaging the attention of legisla-
tive bodies as perhaps never before in
the history of the world All remedial
laws are more or less educational.
There is scarcely a, law of the kind on
the statute books of any state that has
not, when first proposed, met serious
objections. Bills providing for the cure
of the INDECENT inebriate at the expense
of the county in which he resides are
no exception.
"a generous hearted man, poor in this
worlds goods, sees his neighbor i'll of a
disease of which he himself has been
cured, after having suffered the tor
ments of hell. The sick man has no
money and no friends. His disease
affects his brain. He is a menace to
society. He is likely, in the near fu-
ture, to become a charge to the state.
1.-The cured man says to himself, I
have not the money to pay for my
neighbours cure. He is liable, in a mo-
ment of frenzy, to commit a crime, the