The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-11-11
ALCOHOL FOE
TO WELFARE
CONGRESS HEARS REPORT
AND ADOPTS PLAN TO
TEMPERANCE
Public School Teachers Urged to
Discuss Subject Before
Youth of Nations.

Washington, Nov. 9.-Alcohol
and alcoholism are two OF the
real and substantial enemies OF
moral. artistic and commercial
progress of the human race, &C
cording to the report OF the Unit
ed States delegates to the
Twelfth International Congress
on Alcoholism, made public by
the State Department.
The delegates were appointed
by Secretary Knox as one Of his
first official acts. The congress
was held last July in London,
and twenty-five governments
were represented, the delegates
of each concurring in the gen
eral finding that alcohol not on
ly was unnecessary to human
life and comfort, but was mimi
cal to both.
Three departments OF the
United States government were
represented by delegates, the
State. Navy and Treasury.
Twelve representatives went
abroad, and all of them signed
the report made public today,
the finding of which is to con
denim the drining habit as dam
gerous to public health and
morals and subverSive of nation
al, moral, commercial and mill
Starry greatness.
Urge Rigid Restrictions.
According to the report, the
interest shown in the congress
was greater than ever known be-
fore. Because OF the information
evolved at the congress the dele
gates accepted the invitation OF
the Queen OF Hollond to hold
their next meeting two years
hence, at the Hague in conjunc-
ton with the conference OF the
lildl 10 WI lllS lldlQ
for international peace.
While the Congress urged the
necessity of imposing the most
rigorous restrictions on the sale
OF traffic in alcoholic liquors, it
regarded as equally important
the need OF educating the young
er generation to true nowledgc
OF what alcohol is and what its
effects upon the humane system
are The delegates believe that
the numerous recent discoveries
as to the harmfulness of drunen-
ness, should he set before chill
dren that they may see the dan
ger OF the practice The Ameri-
can delegates sum up this phase
of their report by saying:
Increased teaching as to its
character and influence should
be provided, to conserve iSdus-
trial efficiency in the commercial
competition of nations, as we'll
As to promote two OF the Chief
objections of government, the
public health and morals"
The United States male a good
showing in its exhibits. Germany
also was to fore with particu-
larly fine collection of colored
charte showing the effect of alco-
hol on the body, the family and
upon society. Especially effective
it IS sail. were the sterecpticon
slides OF the National Temper
ance League OF Great Britain.
Judges Present Records.
Judge w. F. Pollard OF St.
Louis. Mo-, who preSides at the
Second District Police Court in
that city, declared that of the
cases passed upon by him fully
So per. cent of those convicted
could charge their degradation
to the Use OF alcohol. Lieut.. Col.
McIIardy OF Edinburgh. Scot
land coincidellI with Judge Pol
lard as to the percentage of
crimes occurring in former
Scotch capital
Pollard won the support OF the
delegates from twanty-tlhree
counties for the adoption of his
plan to suspend sentence in the
case of every first offender who
is brought into court charged
with drunenness. This involves
such first offenders signing a
pledge IN abstain for one year
The nowledge that one drin
NAV mean prison sentense, Pol
lard argued, ept many a man
straight until he had come to col
lect himself. The penalty for fail
ure to eep faith with the court
was not settled. several of the
delegates arguing in favor OF va
rious degrees of punishment.
The principle, however, was re-
garded as admirable. and 400
delegates urged its adoption BY
the various governments of the
world.
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