The Jennings daily record. [volume] (Jennings, La.) 1900-1903, 1901-12-02
CONTROL OF LIQUOR TRAFFIC.

The following plea for better con-
troll of the sale of alcoholic liquors was
advanced by DR.. Nathan S. Davis in a
paper read before the American Medi-
cal Temperance association at ST. Paul.
Mimi: is Is more than sixty years
since my mind was compelled by the
memorable rules of logic to adopt the
conclusion that II alcoholic liquors are
legitimate articles of commerce and
popular use the traffic In them should
be free to all. rich and poor alike, or
If they are really subtle, deceptive and
dangerous poisons they should be
placed on the statutes OF the several
states with arsenic. corrosive subli-
mate strychnine and other poisons, to
be sold and used under the same regu-
iations as the other articles named. 1t
is puerile In the extreme to admit the
truth of the ancient proverb that
wine is a mocker, and strong drink
is raging, and whatsoever is deceived
thereby is not wise" and yet talk of
both as stimulant, restorative and even
nourishing and to be licensed for gen.
eral use. 1t is still more puerile to
freely admit the poisonous and de-
structive influence of alcohol as 1t ex
lists in fermented and distilled liquors;
and yet for a paltry money bride for
the public conscience, license lis general
use under the pretence that the inf1u-
ence cannot be wholly suppressed. and
therefore it is better to regulate it by
license. On the same basis licenses
should be issued to sufficient num-
Der of men to do all the stealing and
numbering according TO legal regula-
ton because both have been continued
throughout the history of our race In
defiance of the prohibitory laws of both
God and man. The paramount ques-
ton before the intelligent men and
women of Christendom today, is not
| one of politics or of political parties or
| of social classes; but one solely per-
| tanning to public health and morals. II
is. whether alcohol and other we'll
| known narcotic drugs are really whole
| some articles Of drink or food safe for
| general use; or are the absolutely sub
| tie, deceptive and dangerous poisons.
stealthiiy destroying both public
health and morals, and constantly null
| tiplying hereditary degenerates in all
classes Of human society? If the
former, they are entitled to the same
treatment as other articles of com
merce and general use. II the latter
then their regulation belongs exclu-
sively to the police and sanitary au-
thorities aided by the courts. They
cannot be both. That alcohol. as il
exists in fermented and distilled
liquors, is positive protoplasmic poi
son, directly impairins every natura,
structure and function of the living
body in proportion to the quantity
used and the length of time its use il
continued, is proved by the results Of
every experimental investigation con
corning it, instituted by eminent scien
titic men, both in this country and Eu
rope. And their verdict is abundantlN
confirmed by the history and condition
of the inmates OF every asylum for tn,
, poor the feeble-minded, the epileptics
the insane and the inebriates: those o
every reformatOry and prison; by thu
: records of every police and crimina
court, and by the details of every well
kept registry of vital statistics. a
? concerns danger to human life ever,
l intelligent reader of the public pres
= holic liquors by persons claiming to b
: in health, is the direct cause of NOR
suicides homicides and murders ever
month, than are produced by all tn
3 other poisons known to toxicologist
? in a year. Then why not now, at th
beginning OF this twentieth century c