Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-11-11
THE STATE SHOULD BUILD
AN INEBRIATE ASYLUM.

Mn lAMIBNAAhA - NJ GOlHta
There are constantly growing COM
plants that the state sanitarium at NIL
Insane people Of Georgia. who are pro-
nouneed insane by the legal authorities,
after examination.
Along with these complaints a cry Is
heard that inebriates are given the shell
70 lunatics who become insane from dis
ease or malformatiou and not from drink
by their own voluntary action.
How many complaints are well-ground-
ed or otherwise. X Is not my province 10
declare. but I do not hesitate to say that
any state which licenses the sale and
manufacture OF intoxicants. Is in duty
bound 10 provide a place where crazy
intoxicated persons could be incarcerated
and kept away from their own homes
and society after they become dangerous
ana unsovernable lunatics.
do wish L was possible FOR each one
Of cur legislators 70 be shut up with the
helpless wife and children for a single
RiEht and watch the antics OF a habitual
drunkard. one who has reached the place
where he must have strong drink. and yet
he knows Il IS his undoing and --is down
fan when he lnpses into fntoxicatiOu.
Just one single night-an highland
SO the wreck and ruin that liquor has
wrouga IN that home. when the head
OF the family has become a mailman
witnout pre- or decency-and I am quite
sure the body would meet next day and
pass bill au. aor-ziug a place Of deten-
ton and medical treatment for the mis-
cradle cresture who has lost all MS will
power and is mentally and morally insane
and dangerous to everybody within his
reach.
--lf,nr - . fs-,,ss ---.v-,,,, sr,,s g., b.,ir5
those four was ard compelled 20 stay
within sight and hearing OF the vulgar
babblirEs and Indecent behavior OF the
father Of he- children. when her life is
in danger every moment Of Ine time. and
her offspring are doomed also 10 sec and
listen in such brutaiized surroundings
I fee indigna..cl In the very marrow
Of my benes that such homes should be
dsuoniEed 70 this degree. while that wife
and her children are torn by agony. hu-
initiation and losses OF all sorts and de-
Erees. both day and night because OF the
madness
7 state the propos,tion-In reference TO
an asylum for inebristes-in the most
gentle tones. when 7 say here 20 our leyis-
lstors: Save those children from inti
mate contact with such influence which
not only destroys their happiness and
hopes for the future. but infects their
lives and Characters with the deadly virus
e. debasins example and the lust or un-
bridled Appetite"
SO long rs the state draws a revenue
from the sale 81 such deadly intpxicants.
equity. fair dealing. common sense and
honesty demands an asylum for the vic
tins 81 the sale. and a place Of deten-
.-on for the lunatics from drink that the
family may have AT least peace at home
n their domestic happiness is destroyed
forever BY the curse.
Gmrrn mru 4 r~nfur ont ~
lantS on a railroad train. AS I entered
the coach. already full OF city visitors
bound FOR nearby summer resorts
passed a laoy who was standing by the
door and leaning towards the empty
heater which was not removed in sum
meF tine.
Her pale anxious face troubled me.
but passed on and took my seat near
the other end Of the coach. After awhile
two policemen came in looking 70 some
thing IS discerned by their actions
When they reached the place where that
pale wcman stood. they reached down
behind her and lifted up a drunken man
who was limp and intoxicated 20 beastli-
Rcss ard they hustled him out or the
train.
He had been on a stupendous drunk and
she Rad come 70 the city 70 rescue him
from the dram shops which had enguIfed
his entire mental and mora. nature.
ence Of the drunkard and reported the
grievance 20 the police station. The poor
woman had only her trouble for her pains
That crowd could not bear 10 ride even
4 short distance with the man who had
made himself lower than the brute. and
the denented inebriate was put OF and
tnst anguishsd woman was tortured TO
know that her misery must be further
ureovered when she fondly hoped she
might take HIN away from temptation
and vas thus foiled in the attempt.
And that faithful heart was willing to
hear the cross and endure the exposure
.--.e the drunken creature might be re-
stored once more 70 his right mind at
home
7 do not hesitate 10 declare that the
state owed protection 10 that woman and
a refuge TO the demented creature who
was made insane by the strong drink
which the state gave the dramshop keep
er permission to sell TO him.
Every dollar from such license has been
called blood money" when It is received
under such circumstances, and which en-
tailed upon this innocent woman and
(msyhap her helpless innocent children)
the most abject suffering.
II has always seemed a travesty. a
farce. a deluEion and a snare TO apply
such liquor license money to educating
young children. God forbid IL longer.
IL Is 1t for nothing under the shining
heavens. but the support and mainte-
nance Of an asylum 70 shelter the crazy
victims OF the drink demon.
When a sovereign state holds out its
hand for this blood money" II should
have the courage TO apply this revenue
20 a refuge or asylum for the creatures
crzxed By the intoxicants sold
I am told that good many people are
now talking briskly about the revenues
certain counties are getting from dispen-
sarfes IN those counties. Dispensaries are
getting 20 be popular I am informed. as
noney-makers. I am also told that one
South Georgia county has no taxation for
county purposes. because the money.
Oiquor money flows in with strong cur
rent and a swelling tide to meet the
bills
1 trust the good Lord will help me to
clarity my vision and never forget that
big receipts in dispensaries mean big
drinks for. not only the dram
shop contingent but the respecta-
bic teddy mixers and general and
promiscuous debauchery. And do
hope that such money II raked into the
county's strong box viii be promptly ex-