The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-06-27
w. G. T. U. DEPARTMENT.
Conducted by the ladies Of the W. G..
Il. L. Of Anderson, 5. &.
Drink and Poverty.

Halfway measures are Of little value.
1t is unfortunately true that the work
of philanthropy is done in spurts, and
if the whole object is not attained at
once, there is gradual Withdrawal Of
interest, until all that has been done
is lost Each swelling wave Of the
ocean subsidies, and it is only when
the great tide comes in that high
water mark is reached. Let us hope
that the temperance sentiment Of the
country is mighty tide throwing each
local effort to higher standard and
stronger position. No one will qucs-
tion the ruin and misery found among
habitual drunkards; but this question
is raised: Is drunkenness the cause
Of this condition, or is the condition
Of poverty and want the cause Of
drunkenness? If we expect to i'm
prove matters, VIC must get at the first
cause. The most severe criticism of
temperance workers comes from those
who are in sympathy with the end
sought, but who think We are going at
it in the wrong way. Give men
chance to earn good living" they
say, "and the drink problem will take
care Of itself Poverty is the source
of crime. If this were true, we might
with as good reason close the ice
cream parlors to take away tempta-
tion to extravaganza as to close the
saloon to relieve poverty. So let us
see if we are right.
We find with very little investiga-
tion that poverty and drunkenness are
not always associated. 1t is one of
the saddest things in the world to see
man cf ability aud means surrender
his manhood and become q fool
through drink. Yet it is common
sight. The most of the men we see
drunk are well-to-do. In the depths
of poverty they hide away in vile holes
or are soon lodged in police stations.
Nor can we in justice to large class
of worthy, though unfortunate, peo-
pie ascribc all poverty to drink, al
though we have found it so universal
as to be almost rule. There are
wealthy drunkards and worthy poor;
so it is not poverty that makes drunk
ards. Is the reverse true? 1t seems
to have been sufficiently in evidence
in Solomon day, for he said: "The
drunkard shall come to poverty"
We have seen it in many case in our
own time, until a mans financial
credit is injured if it is known that he
drinks. True, there are other forms
of extravaganza; but intempcrance is
burning the candle at both ends-it
takes money and it destroys ability.
A man may keep himself poor by buy
ing books, but he does not forfeit his
manhood in the process, nor does he
destroy his capacity for self-support.
A man who drinks spends not only his
own money, but yours and mine. His
capacity for work is exhausted about
the time that his funds are, and he
ends up in an almshouse. That is
where you and I come in. We sup
port the almshouse, and are informed
by the latest and best statistics that
1919 per cent. of the men are there as
q direct result Of the use Of liquor,
with 4.35 per cent. not reported
either way.
When poverty is due to disease, that
may be cured; when it is due to mis-
fortune, that may be mended; but
when it is due to drink, it taxes the
faith Of an ordinary man to expect
much improvement.
Then what shsll be done about it?
Some poverty and misery we must ex-
pect so long as there are sickness and
misfortune; but for this large percent
age caused by drink there surely is
remedy. With forty-odd per cent. of
extreme cases of poverty caused by
drink, it seems to us reasonable pro-
position for the friends of tho poor to
go for the drink business. The half
way measure is to help q man out of
poverty and then turn him over to the
povcrtymaking machine. Let us
smash the machine, and we shall then
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