Los Angeles herald., 1910-08-15

The Woman's Christian Temperance
union does not stand alone in its con-
tention that the saloon is curse to
any community. 1t has the concur
rent testimony of the wisest and best
educators, the most comprehensive
and far seeing statesmen, experienced
jurists and law makers, physicians and
others whose official positions bring
them in constant contact with the de-
praVed and criminal element whose
worthless and profitless lives are the
direct result of saloon influences.
Former President Theodore Roosevelt
has this to say regarding saloons:
1.-THE friends of the saloonkeepers de-
nounce their opponents for not treat
ing the saloon business like any other
THE best answer to this is that the
business is not like any other busi-
ness, and that the actions of the sa-
Ioonkeepers themselves conclusively
prove this to be the case. 1t tends
to produce criminality in the popula-
tion at large, and law breaking among
the saloonkeepers themselves. When
the liquor men are allowed to do as
they WISH they are sure to debauch
not only the body social, but the body
polite also"
Another public man, William Jen-
nings Bryan, who has thrice received
the votes of millions of the people for
the highest position of honor and trust
within their power to bestow, gives
the following as his opinion of the
saloon:
"The average saloon is the most dis
reputable place in the community; 1t is
a bureau of information on vice; 1t is
the first Lice one would enter to In
ouire for gambling hall or for dis
orderly house. 1t is likewise the first
Mace visited by the officers of the
law when they are looking for GRIM
inal, and the first place closed In case
of riot or disturbance. Those VINO ue-
fend the open saloon do 1t on tne
ground that 1t is a necessary evil ana
that the use of liquor can be better
regulated by license than by prohlpl-
tion-it is never defended on the
ground that the saloon is center OF
morals. an educational institution, a
social asset or even an economic ao-
vantage"
Again. in an address before the Ma
tional Farmers congress In st. Louis
May 9, Mr.. Bryan further says 49,,
''The farmers are interested In the
lirlor question. Men have said that 1t
is not right for men outside of cities TO
vote on the question of running saloons
in town. I answer that by asking what
thew think of the right of the saloons
to fill a man with booze and send MIN
out to disturb the peace of the farmers.
The farmer pays his taxes and ne mas
seen his boys ruined by drink, and he
Is lust now beginning to realize that he
has something to say about 1t.
One of the foremost educators of the
country. an irreproachable man and
public representative of the highest
educational institution of the state, DR..
David Starr Jordan, president OF the
Leland Stanford university, In an ad-
dress says:
"The moderate drinker would not
bother YOU and me very much If he
would stay a moderate drinker; but he
is likely to become a drunkard. The
injury TO the drinker is demonstrated
nv scientific investigation. AS a matter
of fact, as far as physicians are able
to find out. there is no form OF mod
crate drinking that is not harmful; and
the injury is just about in proportion
10 the amount of alcohol taken.
ssyWhat does alcohol do to the drinker?
Tt creates a thirst for alcohol. The
good feeling it induces is spurious, ana
The reaction from the excitement in
duces the normal nerve force. Alcohol
Is not a stimulant. 1t is a depressor.
1t takes away from the resources when
make character. Inc man uhuer the
influence of liquor is not stimulated; he
is merely deprived of the power of self
control-just not held together. A
chicken is not stimulated when its head
is cut off; 1t has simply lost It's power
Of holding together; and it behaves
much like a drunken man.
sAlcohol serves no useful purpose. 1t
has no medicinal value.
"It is a dangerous element, in that 1t
teaches the nerves to lie. 1t deranges
the nerves.
"The human brain is the most Won
derful piece Of mechanism in the uni
verse This human mind has the power
Of knowing truth. and Of knowing that
It knows. What Injuries the brain in
lures the mind. The most valuable
thing a man can do is to keep his brain
sound. The effect Of alcohol is always
to take. something off his mind. his
brain, his manhood.
"The conduct of life is the one great
art. Whatever impairs our capacity in
this direction inhicts the most vital
injury.