New-York tribune., 1900-05-18
WOMEN FOND OF LIQUOR.
DR.. STEWART GIVES STATISTICS SHOW
ING AN INCREASED DESIRE
FOR ALCOHOL

The annual convention Of the New-York County
Woman's Christian Temperance Union held its clos
ing sessions yesterday morning afternoon and
evening. The morning session began at 10 o'clock.
with devotional services conducted by Mrs. ". P.
Odeu after which the convention was called to
order by the president Mrs. Frances A Westerfleld
The reports OF superinten6euts followed Miss A
c. Rudy reported the growth Of the Sunday
school work, Mrs. J. X. Macdonald on the Flower
Mission, Mrs. Z. .. Martin purity in literature
and art and Mrs E L Davis prison and jail
work
The meeting was adjourned at I 30 p m. and the
members enjoyed Informal luncheon and basket
picnic in the spacious home rooms Of the church
with Hope and Vest End unions as hostesses.
The afternoon session was called 70 order at 2.30
o'clock. After devotional exercises by Mrs Ellen c
Smith the reports OF superintendent We're resumed
The superintendent on heredity. Or. NJ. A. Stewart.
said, in part.
fear that my report viii brirrg cloud upon the
Ihat the preceding reports nave left in
I stated that il ny belief, founded or study
and close observations, that there alarming
increase in the drink habit among the women OF
cur country Much 10 my surprise that state
uent Tas widely and warmly discussed strongly
challenged and as strongly corrOborated. Since
lhen l nave consQited sJatlsticaI authority. and
sought me views gi tnost whose means OF Judging
were large. and this year l repeat the statement
largest ratio of increase is among women.
The stimulant nanit has become race scourge.
and is a symptom OF degeneracy. 1t IS being
Obedience to which the sins Of the fafr n;,s IN
says that the sCourEe OF alcoholism threatens the
existence OF civilization. France is becoming
alarmed by the startling increase Of the crime OF
intemperanCe, and IN the province Of Normandy
The condition Is terrible. The women there drink
even more heavily than the men Belgium is
trembling for its national life from this danger.
Austria and Germany feel The same alarm and
The Director of Asr-luIas for the Ahenared in East
Prussia calls the attention Of the Government 70
the appalling spread of insanity from this ca ust
ard The increase in tce Use OF ether a n fnr0yi-
n England Lady Henry Somerset Saws that the
problem that co1fronts the nation is how 10 abo-
lsh the liquor evil. The 'barmaId' custom she Re-
CARDS as the greatest curse. having taken from
women their natural shrinking from scenes of pub
lie disorder and deprived them Of their wonrad
moral safeguards. IT Is that. she vs. that has
given England the unenVlablo distinction OF bay-
ing drunken womanhOGd."
n France n 1888 was drunk the largest amount
Of intoZcant Per capita Cf all European countries
yet IN the United States in 1870 the amount me-,
capita nearly five times aS great The IN
crease in the quantity from $50 TO 1890 was 800
.aTr
With al this Lefore Us. the question arises: Does
license diminish the liquor traffic? The obvious
answer is Not a. all. / merely creates licfor
rlst IN which the Government holds shares
Il IS constantly becoming easier for women 20 in
dulge their growing craving. due 70 their highly
strung nervous organ!zs ton. for stimuIarts The
drug store supplies them over the soda counter