Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-10-03

Both patriotism and philanthropy are
, studying the problem: How shall the
, laborer be elevated?" and How
shall the inequalities in a degree be
remedied?"
/ After all, the chief problem. to my
mind, is to teach the laborer how to
save and how TO use Alright the
; money which he earns. High wages
are not always a blessing. They are
often a curse. Master mechanics tell
me that in the Imitation times" when
! they paid their hands high wages, the
increased pay was a terrible tempta-
ton. With such wages, much
! larger traffic in tobacco and rum WAS
done at the counter" When the la
! borer is flush, he is tempted to
, spend freely, at the counter" when
wages are low, and work is scarce. he
! Is tempted TO drink, in order 70 drown
worry and sorrow. All winds seem
to blow towards the dram-shop. This
traffic in intoXicants is sometimes tre-
mendous. How else could high rents
be paid on so many corners, and so
many glittering bars be kept up IN the
fashionable saloons and hotels.
Hating for a street car a few even
ings since in front of corner dram
shop, l observed two well-dressed
young men playing some game with
dice. Their wages were being "done
at the counter" and some poor moth
er's heart was being wrenched asun-
DER. A decently clad woman stepped
In with pitcher under her apron and
got 1t hlled from cask. Her wages
Tor washing and other work went to
the same counter, and that pitcher OF
grog went to her house to instruct her
children in the accursed habit. Right
IN the midst of our community the bot
Tie spider weaves his seductive web
and feeds the foolish flies that are en-
uced within. AS long as labor paws
this tremendous toll, all hope of gen.
eral betterment of its condition is fin
tile. But if this greedy outlet for
wages were effectuaily stopped. more
than half of the labor problem would
be effectually settled.
What can be done toward it? Sew
eral things ought to be done and can
be. A legal restriction of the liquor
traffic In the state of Maine has almost
swept the state of dram shops. Rut
that was because the people of Main.
are too we'll instructed to tolerate the
dram-shop. AS the mass of citizens
are abstainers, there is really but a |
small demand or desire for LIQUORS
With a powerful public sentiment to |
drive it. prohibitory law is a McCor- |
mick reaper, cutting clean Without |
such a sentiment, is a rusty reaper. |
at which every grog seller laughs. To
produce such corrective and restrictive
sentiments requires labor of tongue
pen, pulpit, personal influence. Every
man who helps to throttle the drink
Ing house, helps to elevate the work.
ing classes.
DO you have any drinking houses !
In your township" l inquired lately
OF a friend from my native county in
TINS state. No" he replied, mot one.
Our people have voted it out" In
that township there is no manufac-
lure OF poverty and crime done at the
counter. What is accomplished IN
that township may be accomplished in
any other, provided the same thorough
education of the people on temperance
is carried out. The pulpit has always
been outspoken for temperance in that
Multitudes of the h4mbler classes
may be rescued from the clutch of the
dram shop by pers Tort This
IS " tine he Saw