The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-03-19
COMMISSIONING MINORS
AROUSE LOCAL W. c. T. u
Law Regarding Sale of Tobacco to Children
Will be Looked Up---Temperance In
struction in Public Schools.

like romance. The obstacles were
great Beside the active resistance to
any and all temperance work. always
TO be expected from the liquor inter-
ests. and a large proportion of the
politicians of the land attention must
be called to this new form of work and
Interest excited on the part of edu-
Gators, parents and the general pub
lie. through the press and by lectures
and correspondence involving years of
preliminary work. This being in a
measure overcome after immense labor
another great difficulty arose in the
lack of textbooks. The subject of the
nature and effects of alcoholic drinks
and other narcotics from a scientific
standpoint had just begun to be inves-
tigated. and there had absolutely moth
ing been published upon the subject
for school instruction.
Carefully devised plans were laid for
influencing the public, and especially
the lawmakers, remembering the say
ing of Abraham Lincoln that Who
soever would change a law of this re-
public can do it by first changing the
convictions of the people," and the
Woman's Christian Temperance Unions
throughout the country were urged to
put the plans into execution. The Yer
mont union was the first one to sue
coed. and in November. 1882. the first
compulsory temperance education law
books of Vermont. The following year
Michigan and New Hampshire enacted
the law, followed in 1884. by New
York and Rhode Island. In 1885 ten
more States, making fifteen in all, had
been won and a satisfactory graded
series of textbooks had been secured.
These victories were not easily won.
one who worked with Mrs. Hunt says
Of the time: with the continually
changing aspect of affairs in the legis-
lation, requiring often an immediate
and entire change of tactics, no one
outside the central figures in the cam
psign can appreciate the nervous
strain, the bodily fatigue and the mem
tai tax that had to be borne. We
seemed to live at the key of tele-
graphic instrument during many
weeks"
In 1856 occurred the greatest victory
of all, the first temperance bill ever
passed by the Congress of the United
States, making scientific temperance
instruction compulsory in the schools
OF all the Territories. the District of
Columbia, and in all other schools
under federal control
But the work of Mrs Hunt and her
co-laborers did not end with the pas
sage of these laws. a definite work
for the enforcement of this legislation
must be undertaken. As might be sup
posed, also. unworthy and even perrin
many schools. which must be carefully
watched. Extensive correspondence was
and is still carried on with foreign
countries. desiring information upon
the subject, and exhibits of various
sorts made.
At the end of ten years the depart
ment reported accomplished:
l. Scientific temperance instruction
required in all the public schools OF
thirty-four States and ali the Terri
tories. There are between twelve and
thirteen million children of whom the
law says they shall be taught the truth
against strong drink and kindred mar
cotics.'
2 Good school textbooks upon phys
biological and scientific temperance, is
sued by as many different publishers
as there are good school textbooks on
any other subject.
s. Plans and schedules for as care
fully a graded course of study as for
any other science.