The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1910-06-30
PROHIBITION.

The prohibition .wave that has been
sweeping over the country endeavor-
ed to enlist the services of organized
labor in its attempt 10 destroy the liquor
traiiic. The most heart-rending pictures
have been painted of the countless homes
that have been ruined through the scale
of the hellish liquid that DESTROYS men
physically, morally and financially
The journalists and orators who have
beon engaged to denounce the red poison
have endeavored to impress upon the
Pubhc mind that they are engaged in
their humanitarian work actuated by Il
Christian spirit that seeks to protect the
homes OF the toilers from the blightina
and blasting influence of the rum traffic.
1t is somewhat strange that these elo-
quent advocates of prohibition are never
seen III the halls of n Legislative body,
supporting Il measure that favors the in
terests of the working class. Ii is some
what singular that apostles of prohibit
ION who deplore the baleful effects OF
liquor III the homes of the laboring peo-
pie, are never noticed in the movements
to abolish child labor or to shorten the
workday of men and women whose lives
are but Il living death in mill, factory
and sweatshop. The disciples of pro
hibition indulge in glittsAng general
ties and attempt to prove that with the
destruction OF the liquor traffic poverty
III this land will be minimized forget
ting the fact that the greatest temper
ance worker in America, after a quarter
OF century of labor in the movement
against liquor discovered that poverty
was the cause of intemperance. If the
people who are identified with the pro-
hibition movement are successful and
every brewery, distillery and saloon in
America would Toe wiped out of exist
ence, in what manner will they provide
for the hundreds of thousands of men
and women who will be thrown out of
employment through the paralysis of an
industry.
But the closing up of breweries, dis
tilleries and saloons affect other avenues
of employment. The waiter in the res
taurant AID hotel, coopers, ci@armakers,
rsamsters, blacksmiths, engineers, fire
men, in 1act, men engaged in Il vast
number OF industries will find themselves
out of employment, simply because fana-
ticism has risen IN it's wrath to crush the
liquor traffic.
1t is, unfortunately, too true, that the
saloon has bred evil which language fails
to delineate but regardless of the misery
that has grown out of the liquor ira fic,
the membership of organized labor will
hesitate to support movement that,
II successful, would add another million
to t idle army of American and thus
make competition more intense in the
labor market of this country
But the prohibition orator, who is
drawing salary for his services de
clares that with the abolition of the
saloon other avenues of employment will
open to the men and women who lose
their occupations. But the salary orator
is not specific and fails to point out the
industries that will rise up to give en-
ployment to the jobless slaves of distill-
cries, breweries and saloons There is
an idle army now in America hundreds
of thousands of men and women are in
need of employment and are willing and
anxious to work. but the prohibition
movement, that yearns to destroy the
liquor traffic. can find jobs for the count
less thousands who are starving in the
large cities of the country Organized
labor cannot afford to give its support
to movement that Will depress the
labor market and make it that much
easier for exploiters to recruit strike
breakers, which labor is engaged in a
conflict with a master class.-Miuer :