The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-07-02
WILL Ir succErpf

A somewhat unique temperance or galization exists in England called "the seml- -Teetotal Pledge Association" which seems to be sort of spiit-ths- difference plan of dealing with the drink habit. Recognizing the difficuity. if not tho absolute irnpossibiiity. of enforcing absolute prohibition in a country where ale. porter and beer are common beverages among the working classes. as wines and liquors are among the upper ranks. the originators of this movement have adopted sort of middle ground. and 1t Is said to be gaining much favor. Here is the pledge the members of the association are re- quired to take: q soiemnly under take. by Gods help. to abstain from all intoxicating drink. except at my midday and evening meals"
 As we understand the objects and rules of the organization, there is no limitation on the quantity or kind of drinks that may be taken at dinner and supper. Among the working people in England, as is generally the case among the same class in our own country. the dinner hour is about noon and supper after the days work Is over. At these two meals the men can drink what they choose and as much as they want and can afford. Nothing is to be taken at breakfast or at any other time before dinner is being eaten. then they are free to let joy and liquor be unconfined The Hartford courant thus refers to 1t:
 not to take strong drinks of any kind between meals---but it is nearer true temperance in this line than anything that has. yet been devised. Almost po- Ss Rspz Sas " drins SSs with with kis meals It s pos or wine or even whiskey with ones unusual since the historic old three bottle" men have disappeared With the poor man, eating at his family table. and eustSmaTiiy Sy s os 1st habit of drunkenness by what he drinks at table, are practically 10th that makes him drunk,if he ever. gets drunk and that makes him drunkard, if he ever falls to that helpless and useless estate.
 As an evidence that this is not . mere passing fad. the statement is made that the association already nurn- bers very nearly 100000 members in England, although it has existed less than i've years. And among those of high standing who are heartily in sym- pathy with the plan. and who are en. couraged by the good results attained. may be mentioned the Bishop of Lon don and Archdeacon Sinclair. among the church people. besides various persons high in position otherwise ,all of whom look on 1t as the best practt- cal remedy for the evils of drinking. As The conrant says. there arc doubt less some who will drink enough at their meals to make them drunk. but this is not likely to occur among the working classes, because it requires more to make man drunk if taken while eating than it does when his stomach is empty. and the poorer peo- pie generally cannot afford to drink enough at dinner or supper to make drunk come."- It may be that only ex- tended experience can tell whether this middle ground course VIII be success- full in its object. but 1t is looked on with great favor in England.
 It is not to be supposed, of course. that this plan win be completely ef- fective in all cases. There has never yet been a human law or obligation that could not be evaded in both letter and spirit, and we can hardly expect this to be an exception. There will be some who will probing the midday meal" to midaftsrnoon, and stretch the evening meal" out till midnight. and drink all through both of them. but that does not affect the general principle. There are hoggish people in all things. and some of those who take this pledge will so the whole hog when it comes to eating and drinking, but that does not mean that the semi-teetotal theory is wrong. or that 1t will not have a good effect in the long run. It may be practical solution Of a problem that has worried geod people for genera tons.