The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-02-25

the lack Of work or poorly paid work
causes nearly 80 per cent.
"Pauperism has little or nothing to
do, In the aggregate, with the ques-
ton of license or prohibition. but is
the result Of social and economic con-
ditions coupled with improvideDce.
italy is the paradise of paupers, yet
her population is one of the most tenn
perate on the globe. In Spain drunk
enness is extremely rare, and yet the
number Of paupers is many times
greater than in America, where the
quantity Of spirits consumed is 1arg-
er.
Pauperism and Prohibition.
'In Mohammedan countries aloo-
holic drinks are prohibited by the Ko-
ran and intemperance is unknown, yet
pauperIsm flourishes. Even the most
ardent prohibitionist will hardly claim
that the morals of Turkey are superior
to those Of America.
an the ninth century Scotland was
under the most drastic prohibition
laws ever enacted by any State. The
houses OF the sellers Of drink were
torn down, their goods confiscated,
and the penalty of death imposed upon
all who should violate the law by sell
ing intoxicating liquors. Scotland be-
came the home OF inebrIety and crime,
and in few years was overrun by
myriads Of beggars.
Whether it may be said to be the
. result OF prohibition or not. it is
fact that the States which have pro-
hibltion have thel argest percentage
of paupers for every thousand inhab-
itants than the States which license
saloons"
"Mr. Fox, is it true that saloon.
keepers are unusually active in poll
, tics and seek to control legislation in
their favor?"
when the saloon question is set
tied he takes no more active interest
in politics than other business men.
Where his business is assailed he nat
urally takes up the fight. Let any
business be attacked and those en-
gagged in It Immediately take up arms
in It's defense. In New England where
the question is agitated every year
the liquor men make vigorous fight.
So does the Anti-Saloon League. On
the other hand, in Pttsburg, Pa,
where well-regulated license system
is in force, the liquor men vote their
politics rs other business men do"
Remedy For lntemperanee.
In answer to the question, "What is
the remedy for intempemnce?" Mr..
Fox said:
1.-THE abolition of dives, the reforma-
ton OF social and economic conditions
that produce poverty. This is a Stu
pendous problem, and the man who
works 1t out will be the greatest bene-
factor of mankind. The tendency now.
adays is too hasty and Inconsiderate
Legislation. The temperance people
are the most extreme type OF aglta.
tors. They demand total abolition of
the liquor traffic without regard to
the serious results that most inevita-
bly, follow,
"The great body OF prohibition lead
ers ana workers are reformed drunk
ards. preachers, who have found it diff
ficult to earn living expounding the
Gospel. and who. therefore, have TAX
en- up the temperance cause because
OF the better compensation. Others,
the professional agents and managers
of the Antl.Saloon League, have been
unable to resist the temptation to ex-
plot 1t in the interest of their organi-
cation and their present jobs. be-
lieve most of the members OF the
members Of the League are sincere.
but their view is narrow.
"The Leagues membership repre-
sents about the average class of PEG.
pie who are taken with PLAUSIBLE and
superficial argument. They see one
effect Of conditions and mistake it for
the cause.
drunkenness is conspicuous and
deplorable, and it brings fearful suf-
ferlns upon thev ictim and his fam.
lily. 1t is usually associated with pow
erty, and sometimes with crime. In
deed in most Jurisdictions 1t is legally
crime. 1t is from the court records
of arrests for habitual Drunkenness
that the rerormers compile their vol
luminous statistics of crime springing
from the use of alcohol.
Drug Habit Victims.
Recent Investigations Indicate that
in the tally of detectives in our pub
lie institutions. the drug habit claims
far more victims than does inebriety.
This leads to the conclusion, which is
not merely theoretical. but absolutely
demonstrate. that prohibition offers
no solution of the social problem. even