The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-06-24
CAUSES ~lOF:.:POvERTY.
The Use of Strong Drink the Most Fruitful
Source. Some Illustrations.

To the Editor: A large majority of the
people are poor. There are thousands Of
poor people to one rich one. The causes
Of poverty are various. Some are poor be-
cause they are too lazy to work. Some
are too proud to work. Some work hard,
but do not know how to work to adj
vantage. Some work well. but fool
away much that they make. But the
most fruitful source of poverty is the
drinking Of intoxicating liquors. A Ia
boring man may spend much money for
tobacco, and may chew and smoke, but
it does not incaDacitate him for work.
He wastes a large part of of his earn
ings, but he keeps steadily on earning
more. But a drinking man, as a rule,
soon becomes a drunkard, and unfit for
work. When drunk he either wants to
sleep, or lounge around, or meddie With
other peoples business. He does not
work, perhaps, half of his time and when
he does work. most of his wages are
spent in drinking saloons, which fit him
for, and send him to, other dens of vice
and infamy, from which he leaves penni-
less.
But drinking would not be such a
source of poverty if it affected only the
d~runkard; but he drags down with him
his suffering wife, and dependent chill
dren. Each drunkard drags down with
him to disgrace and poverty from five to
ten others.
There are many men who are engaged
in such kind of business as pay a suf-
flcient profit to enable them to drink.
and keep out of the clutches of poverty.
There are others whose business would
yield them a comfortable support but
for drink. But those who work for
wages suffer most from drink. Their
wages are generally paid in money at
the close of each day, or week. With
money in pocket, and the work of the
day or week done. there is a strong
temptation to go into a saloon and
drink. When they begin to drink, as
s%ociates gather about them. and drink
ing continues until all is spent; and the
wife and children at home are suffering
for food, fuel and clothing. A man
worked for a dollar a day. Saturday
night he received six dollars. He went
directly to a grog-shop and began drink
ing and treating others. After mid
night he went staggering home, drunk,
without a penny in his pocket. He walked
up his hungry wife and called for food.
She told him there was not a mouth
AA ~ -NHSN ~ u dlId 1DuoSu
her.
Another Illustration: A man worked
for good wages. But he went, or sent,
each morning just before day Che was
ashamed to go in day light to a saloon.
and bought twenty-five cents worth of
whiskey for the day. Here was a leak
age OF $91.2o a year. He grew poorer
and poorer. and complained that he
could not meet expenses. He said hard
things about his employer depressing the
poor.
Another man drank up nearly all his
wages day by day. He had about money
enough Saturday night to buy a jug Of
whiskey, which he carried home with
him to drink and carouse on Sabbath.
His wife and children suffered for the
necessaries of life. He became a Chris
tan, and Quit drink. Then, instead of
taking home a jug of whiskey, he took
cloth and shoes and meat and meal and
flour and sugar and coffee; and sun
shine in his SOUL
PefhapS Wage-earners do not always
get enough for their work; but if they
would use what they do get wisely they
could keep above poverty. Business men
cannot AFFORD to pay such prices for
labor as will support laborers and also
support saloon keepers.
There are millions of people in ahiact
poverty. Search out the cause. and Won
will find, in a large majority of cases.
that 1T comes from the use of strong
drink.
The American people spend 5000, 900, 900
q year for strong drink. No wonder we
nave so many poor people, when this
vast amount Of money is worse thar
wasted.
The government ought not to allow
this amount of money to be
spent in promoting poverty, suffering.
ignorance and crime. This greatest of
evils ought to be suppressed by a ma
, tional prohibition law.
J.. A. STRADLEY.
Oxford, n. c.. June 20. 1902.