Arizona republican., 1907-05-24
PHoESIX. ARIZONA. MAY "a. 1907
RIGHTEOUSNESS OF REFoRMERs

RECkiESSNE.SSs OF REtOkMEhS
In Che o;:nian OF Rev Floyd W
Fompkins "f Philadelphia. the drinking
Of intoxican.s by American women is
becoming alarming. He asserts that
conditions in This respect are worse
than are Supposed By most people and
that American girls are in danger of
becoming Stuc-iaTjs. II has not been
long since IT, Rev. Ir- Haven. an
earnest ard Father oVrrzealous temper
ance worker is :hI- jurisdiction. made
= similarly sweeping statement regard
ing the prevalence ~ intemperance in
Phoenix and 9recf Mas more or less
Indignantly demanded by other tenn
peranose people ss earnest and not so
reckless rs Mr.. Ravens.
Ministers of the gospel ffom the
very nature of their calling are handi-
capped in their Investigations regard
ing the ravages of alcohol and are
forced to seek information from sources
Waich are often hystericaL unreli-
able and absolutely untruthful We be
Iieve- that Nj Havens when brought
10 bay. said some woman told him so.
IL IS not likely that the statement
with which the clerical resident Of
Philadelphia is credited will pass en-
Iirely unchaltenged. Indeed there is
precedent for the. assumption that it
VIII be modified and explained if not
entirely fisavowed. But the state
ment has been given q widespread
publicity. and. II would seem, is cal
culated to create q false impression.
Il had been generally supposed that
drinking customs had diminished
among women. in so much as they had
become prevalent The condition in
dicated by the quoted remarks Of the
Philadelphia minister is certainly not
maHifest,to the ordinary observer: and
It may be fairly assumed that the or
binary observer knows a. much about
the matter as does the average clergy
maB.
Leaving out Of consideration the
classes OF women to which. palpably,
the reverend critic does not. refer. il is
seldom that an American woman is
addicted 10 intoxicauts. There are Of
course exceptions 70 every rule. but
il is not in evidence that the Alc-i-
can woInan has become 80 cnamored
Of alcoholic beverages that she is in
danger o: becoming a drunkard. II
s0ch We're r.. case. i; would OF ne-es-
sity be . matter 0f general knowledge
on the cnn.rars. instances OF eaces-
sive use az intox.caRts bv the women
to whom the Philadelphia Clergyman
refers are =" rare az To be with diff
Guilty recalled hy the most critical OBJ
servers.
Drinking cussir,fss have prevailed to
a greater - less extent, among women
in all ages; hu, in;emperance among
them Is not t-.c crying evil in America
today. 1t may ..s said that. In this re-
sIrecb the presrn; generation is more
aboemious II anything than immedi-
ately preceding generations. Customs
have greatly changed during The past
few Years. II = no longer the custom |
IL entertain callers IN New Years day |
and Dartake win ts.sl q! all sorts of |
Linous and alcoholic beverages. from !
the Estimating natire wine to the de- !
ceI,tive Thomas a.d Jerry" and /
wines and liquors tor proraiscuouS I
use have been banis.le.i from many /
heH'es where once moderate indul- /
gence was regarded 49, innocent.
The anxiety Of DR.. TcnpAins and HIS /
fellow workers in the ,isid "f reform. I
regarding the evils h. -ieplcrrS. Is ,ier- (
ltorious At the same tiin.. IL is not .
wise, for the sake Of pointing a moral 1
or adjoining a tale" iu Indulge in /
statements which APE #9t susceptible
Of confirmation.