The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-11-16
TEMPERANCE PROBLEMS.

The Brooklyn Times has the follow
ing editorial on subject that is live
one over the United States:
There is nothing that is more apt to
confuse the difident, rational citizen,
who is only anxious to get on the
right side Of things, than the con-
flicting statements that are made on
all sides in regard to the use of al
coholic beverages. Take, for exam
pie, the report of the twelve delegates
who represented the United States at
the twelfth international Congress on
Alcoholism, which was held last sum-
mer in London. The state, navy and
treasury departments of the United
States government were represented
in that congress, as well as many ex-
cellent ladies and others connected
with various temperance organiza-
tions, all of the delegates being ap-
pointed by Secretary of State Knox.
All Of these delegates have signed
report, in which they condemn the
drinking OF alcoholic liquors as dan
gerous to public health and morals
and subversive of national, moral,
commercial and military greatness.
When we take that report in con-
nection with the prohibition of the
sale of beer in the army posts, with
the number of states that have re-
Gently joined the prohibition ranks,
and with the large number of coun-
ties and townships in the open states
that have voted mo Ecense," it must
be apparent that the country is rapidly
approaching a condition of freedom
from the drinking habit. Eight states
Maine, Kansas, North Dakota, Geor-
gia, Oklahoma, Alabama, Mississippi
and North Carolina--are now absolute
| ly prohibition, while al the other
states in the union are CT ockered with
prohibition counties and towns. Even
In Kentucky there are only four out of
ninety-six counties in which the licens-
ed sale of liquor is permitted uncondi-
tionalIy. Surely this country must be
rapidly approaching an ideal condition
of temperance.
That is a very pleasant reflection,
but, unfortunately, tn figures sup
piled by the internal revenue depart
ment tell a different story. These fig
ures show that the increase in the
consumption of malt and distilled
liquors in The United States during
the ten years from 1897 to 1907 far
exceeded the growth of population,
rising from 1,1s1,065,412 gallons In
the former year to 2,019,696,911 in the
latter. There is no decrease in the
national revenues from the sale of
liquors, but, on the contrary, a very
substantial increase. Yet 4 Is true,
as the Associated Prohibition --ess of
Chicago boasts, that nearly two-thirds
\ of the territory of the United States
and nearly one-half OF ths popula-
ton live under some form of prohi-
bition legislation. But if the con-
sumption o. alcoholic beverages has
doubled while the number of con-
sumers has been reduced by one-half,
how is this singular phenomenon to
be explained? Have our bibulous pa
! triots, in their high resolve that the
revenues Of the republic should suffer
no detriment made up their minds to
increase fourfold their former con-
sumption of beer and whisky? 1t is
not easy to believe that this is the
: case, and yet there seems no alter
native except on the theory that pro-
hibition does not prohibit.
1t is not pleasant to harbor the
: suspicion that we are rapidly degen-
; Grating into a nation of 'lypocrites.
Yet when, in view of the undoubted
and undeniable prevalence of the habit
Of drinking alcoholic beverages in the
: United States. we find that all of the
e American delegates to the government
, departments, united in signing a re-
lport strongly endorsing all tn extreme
ideas of the Woman,s Christian Tenn
: perance Union, it is not easy to avoid
such a conclusion