The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-09-02
DOMAIN OF TEMPERANCE.
EDUCATION AGAINST ALco-
HOLlSM.

It is true that there has been little
time in the past century when some
phase Of education of temperance SEN
timent has not been carried on, vet
the significance of this modern recog-
milton of the Importance of education
lies in two facts: First, that it comes
at time when the struggle to legis-
late the evils of alcoholism out of
in the history of the battle against
alcoholism, and is based upon con-
seriousness that legislation to succeed
must be built upon and buttressed by
education. Secondly, the educational
aspect of this subject is beginning to
command the interest, respect, and
cooperation of social and economic
forces which hitherto have not given
either much sympathy or assistance
to the temperance movement as such.
Physicians, social workers, life in
surance officers, magazine writer's,
correspondents, and editors of the
public press, who are thoughtful OBJ
oOA FN0 VI III OOSAG COAu1L1OAS, mere duQ
there, but in increasing definiteness,
are expressing their conviction as to
the fundamental importance of edu-
eating the people as to why the drink
habit is unsafe, and as to the feast
bility of this method which has so
amply justified itself in the tubercu-
losis and other social or hygienic cam
paigns
The Provident Savings Life Assur-
ance Society of New York has this
year issued to it's policy holders a
health bulletin for the correction of
popular fallacies in favor of drink by
a plain statement of the scientific
facts. The Sunday School Times in
it's last temperance number published
an article by the Medical Director of
the same company setting forth some
of these scientific facts which he de-
clared show ''that in addition to such
moral objections as may exist to the
custom of alcoholic indulgence, we
now have well-grounded scientific and
economic reasons for condemning it."
The Associated Charities of Boston
has organized a committee this year
to promote popular education in these
scientific facts, on the prin ciple that
first and foremost the public must be
educated as to what alcohol actually
is and what it's real. effects are, for
the real solution of the alcohol prob
lem will come only when public
opinion has been aroused to full reali-
cation of the harmfulness Of alcohol"
A recent article in the Survey sum-
married. the scientific facts about al
cohol as already ascertained. Another,
on the Social Aspects of Alcoholism in
the same periodical urged a con-
tinuance of the scientific gathering of
facts. Facts" the New York
Evening Post said, in commenting on
the article, "are essential -. The
scientific battle is but just beginning.
-. Science must lay down general
laws and acquire without loss of time
necessary information for the use of
social workers If the whole problem
is to be attacked intelligently."
A correspondent of the New York
Times cites the work of Kraepelin
and Metchnikoff as evidence that "the
time is very near when science will
give an unvarying answer against the
beverage use of alcohol"
Another, writing to the same paper,
quotes medical statement against
alcohol, saying "even If this statement
is only partly true, it would seem to
be wise to let alcohol alone. :. When
the leaders of medical science have
published their findings, the intelli-
gence of the people will be appealed
| to in the only way that will promote
real prohibition"
While the Scientific Temperance
! Federation is concerned primarily
with this education and not with legis-
lation, it is self-evident that wise
Legislation will be the active express
sion of an intelligent people, and that
for the permanent success of legisla-
ton, whatever may be the form it
takes, we are absolutely dependent
upon not the sympathy of a passing
sentiment, but upon the intelligent
purposefulness of a people who under
stand the fundamental principles of
the physical, moral, and social dangers
in drink itself.
Men will have the courage of their
convictions, when they have convic-
tions enough. Cora Frances Stod-
dGrd.