The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-07-06
DRUNK Or SOBER,
THE. PR;0|.B|.LE.M'' NOW
Weighty Discussions Fail {
Throw Much Light on vexed
Question.

Having ruled that under the Byrd
law the man who sells the drinks
must determine whether or not the
buyer is an habitual drunkard. Mayor.
Maurice. OF Manchester, has thrown
upon the warm summer air tho world
wide question:: what Is drunken
ness?" Newspapers which are weary
OF SO much political discussion have
picked up the Manchester edict to
Stwirl 1t lightly. upon the tip OF the
facile pen; saloonkeepers. bcset some
times with the same statutory regu-
lation, have affirmed the Chesterfield
county ruling. and habitual drunkards
smack half-parched lips to call for
more. From far away Milwaukee
comes the tip that the Maurice
Jeruck" Is soon to be advertised and
slung across the bar.
Although the temperance Mayor
across the river Is not party to the
discussion. he Is the cornerstone upon
which the romance OF the bar Is being
built. Not having his name on tho
press clipping bureau list. he escapes
fired in upon hin. with the rapidly
OF pony cart ballots II he had entered
his name.
What Ii Drunkennesss
In a more serious vein than the
others. the New York Times yesterday
gave this prominence to the Manches-
ter decree on It's editorial page:
.yVhnt II drunkebncas in the eyes OF
the laws The standard Dictionary de-
fines the word as the state Of boinE
drunky into1tcation, also, the habit
OF incbrfety.' a drunkard. according
to the dictionary, u sonc with whom
drunkenness has become habit
Similarly, sintoxication IL the state of
being drunk, Inebriatlon, drunke nneas,'
while inebr1ntion In .the state of being
in ebriated, drlnkenneas.' That II the
way with dictionaries. For drunken
ness, see intOxlcntion) for intoxication,
see inebriation, for fnebriation, see
Drunkenness. Obviously, this easy
going way of defining a word Will
never do In the eyes OF the Law.
SIN Virginia sound legal definition
OF the word Is urgently needed. The
Byrd liquor law forbitfs the selling OF
intoxicants to n drunken person or
habitual drunkard. But 1t does not de-
fine drunkenness. The barkeeper or
liquor merchant II compelled to act ~
judge"
sic il not likely to err on the side
OF hygiene or morality. It Is not his
place to decide whethev another drink
II good for man. III gentleman
In front of the bar IL In mood of
fearful reminiscence. Doetical quota
tion, or political argument, and the
barkeeper refuses him liquor on the
ground of drunkenness, the barkcepe>
Is liable to heavy damages. Libel and
SANDER are often seyerely punished In
virginia. The barkeeper may think
the man In drunk, hut he cannot safely
act accordingly unless the man ia In
articulate and unable to walk. But
then he will be unable to order drink,
and the Byrd Law does not apply.
"The Virginia courts will have to de.
eide ON the question. The Byrd law
must he expounded. Then the diction-
aries will have a Trustworthy defini-
ton for a word that IL very often
uaed in common conversation, but n
a dangerous one to apply personally to
any gentle man. Mr.. Toodles, In the old
farce, wns never drunk, and said ms
much, and . wise Virginia bnrkcepcr
will hold to the safe rule that a man
who can ssy he IL not drunk Is sober
enough to buy another drink, II he has
the money to pay for It,"
The Virginia colonel, like the Ken
lucky proposition. is never drunk. Oc-
casionally he may sway to starboard;
he may snap his toe against stone
and turn back to swear: he may lean
heavily against the rail; his speech
may be thick like frozen cream but
he Is always clear-headed; always
there with the sober goods. This
being true, the mixer of drinks may
serve him. II the present Interpretation
of the statute stands. When he says
he is sober. he Is; duels are not fought
nowadays. but the Virginia colonel. or
major. has good right Battling Nell
son swing which he may use II the
fragrant mint is not mixed and passed
along upon demand.
WOMAN BEGINS REVIVAL