The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1904-02-24
HOW To FIGHT
..5....... f., INTEMPERANCE
EE&s1liasE
ur-s- sg-F-Ts "a
& "
EA A---zs sls.f-s
LECTURE on NEGLECTED FAC
TORS IN TEMPERANCE AGITA-
TON BY DIR. MAR r.. SMITH.

DR.. Mary Roberts Smith lectured at
Pauahi Hall last evening under the
auspices of the Young Mems Research
Club on Some Neglected Factors in
Temperance Agitation" The follow
ing is a synopsis and summary of her
lecture.
Every nation carries the dead weight
of two Classes-the idle rich, and the
idle poor and both are of relatively lit
tie Importance unless they are a very
large or very prolific class. In the Unit
ed States the great laboring class is Of
the highest Importance because it pro-
duces both the wealth and the popu-
lation, and because it ultimately rules
This class drinks because of tradition
and custom, because of the unstable
temperament inherited from drinking
ancestors; because of physical and
mental depression, resulting from the
sickness and exhaustion of overwork
or dissipation and because of the
lack of normal, inexpensive recreation.
Men drink more than women because
/ they work harder are more exposed,
less subject to public opinion and be-
cause of the theory of necessary self
indulgence; those exposed to constant
temptation as saloon-keepers, brewers
and bar-tenders have high death
, rate. Races differ widely in their
ethical standards; the least civilized
set low value on human life and
therefore think little of the effects of
drinking and sensuality. Some races
become tolerant" of stimulants, while
others such as the American Indians
and the peasant Irish, are ruined by
them.
The remedies proposed must be
adapted to all these varying conditions
and can never be final or uniform even
among a homogeneous people. The
remedies heretofore tried have been of
two general classes-moral and relig-
ious, suasive and legislative. Moral
suasiOn is good as far as it goes but
does not reach the classe who need
help most. Legislation has nowhere
generally attacked the production of
liquor. In the United States the value
fthe liquor product is about $500, 0OO,-
600 annually, and the revenue from it
is 100000 OuO. Both the manufacturer
and the seller have a direct and legiti-
mate interest in the promotion of
drinking habits and therefore they take
an active interest in politics. They
naturally combine against any party
or reform which would limit the con-
sumption of liquor. The saloon as the
workingman's clubhouse becomes the
center Of political influence
The systems of legislative control Of
consumption in the United States are
Ia n
cal option, State management and pri-
waite monopoly, and civil damage acts.
From a careful study of these various
methods it appears that no one kind
of temperance legislation has been
more successful than another in the
promotion of real temperance. Each
has certain advantages and certain
defects and, experience teaches that
that law is best which is best admin
istered and that no law can be en-
forced without strong public sentiment
back of it. Even if individual total
abstinence be the ideal, prohibition is
not necessarily the best remedy in all
communities. In a democracy the
total abstainer must recognize the
right of the moderate drinker to drink
| intoxicating liquors when not directly
injuring others; i. e., the right of per-
| sOnal liberty; the moderate drinker
I must recognize the right of the total
abstainer to be protected against the
injuries of unregulated sale and drink
ing, l. e., the right of personal prOtec-
ton. Both classes should combine
against immOderate drinking.
The factors in temperance agitation
which have been most neglected are
prevention substitution and diversion.
In the United States there is a scare
ity of decent, cheap and attractive
places of recreation, due to the rapid
growth of cities and the fact that such
/ places are generally not paying invest
ments. Such as there are, are I'M
attractive as compared with a good
! saloon, because they ignore the desire
| for club companionship, because they
are in unattractive places, because soft
drinks are not a satisfactory substitute
/ for beer-tO the drinkeT-and because
the philanthrOpic people who start
them have too little capital and usually
fail to cooperate. The best preventive
measures toward temperance are a de-
cent living wage, efficient subsistence
standard, better housing; wholesome,
inexpensive, attractive recreations;
clubs, unions, fraternal orders settle
ments, games, dancing, athletics;
theaters, music, parks, Fairgrounds,
baths, coffee-houses, cheap restaurants
in short, every form of amusement
available for families, and as far as
possible divorced from drinking. Ev-
cry educational opportunity which can
be offered cheaply to the young people
of the working classes in their leisure
hours, such as night Clubs and classes
providing literary, artistic and indus
trial training, Libraries and reading
rooms, art galleries and museums
helps to divert them from drinking.
Ten propositions serve to sum VI
briefly the line of argument:
% Because of the variety of causes
= of drinking and of conditions under
which people tend to drink, no uniform
measures over large areas will succeed
temperance legislation, education and
prevention must vary to meet thes'