The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1911-09-08
BISHOP K|LGO ON
A SUN EDITORIAL
Approves Stand Taken by Sun
on Whisky Question

Editor SUM- read with due APP
probation your editorial in the issue
OF the Sun, September 4, in which
you rehuked the false conclusion
drawn from the recent statistics OF
the sales OF whiskey in this country.
Certainly those are alarming figures,
showing beyond any shadow of doubt
that Americans are becoming great
liquor drinking people, single fact
that should create deep anxiety in
stead OF provoking joyous applause,
Yet ! have read one or more edi-
torIals. in prominent papers, COM
menting on these statistics. the tone
Of which seemed TO glory in the ma
tons strong tendency to drunken,
ness. Nearly 25 gallons for each
man, woman and child on this CONT
nent Is dreary enough. This is. how
ever, the boasted growth that the
whiskey manufacturers and dealers
make and magnify.
Granting that the figures are cor
rect, II is exceedingly pertinent to
ask, who are the consumers, Where
are the men and women and chill
dren that are drinking this enormous
and increasing amount 1t is as
easy, as ii is knowingly false, TO say
why all Americans. And II
amounts 10 nothing less than mali:
eious misleading TO assert. I'm spite
OF prohibition more liquor is con
sumed in this country. One very
patronizing editorial solemnly at
firmed that prohibitionists would
find little comfort In these formid-
able figures. On the contrary they
should and they do find very much
In them 10 assure their faith and
inspire their zeal.
II IS q matter OF common obserya'
tion that there has been no increase
tat a marvellous decrease in the
amount OF liquor sold and used In
the prohibition states. Who does
not know that North Carolina con
sumes less whiskey than ii did II
the reign Of liquor shops? Even bar
keepers know II. and all folks. save
a few who for some reason Try e
make themselves believe otherwise
II. however, the sale of liquor Il
on the rapid increase OF more than ;
gallon 10 the citizen each year. VIII
are the whiskey folks SO anxious Il
overthrow prohibition where IL hal
been adopted Why do their friends
with papers. and without papers
show such blind zeal for the return
OF baI-rooms II, as they say. prohibi
ton is no hindranee TO the trade
Does not their very passicp agains
prohibition testify 70 its success
Their confusion Is our comfort. an,
the louder they protest the surer be
comes ous faith
But there are some figures whicl
speak for themselves. The amour
OF whiskey sold into the prohibition
states y less than two gallons 10 tn
citiyen Of these states while IL
more than Is gallons 70 each eitize
In the bar-room states. Has pro
hibitlon helped any? Reducing th
amount consumed by each perso
from 20 odd gallons year to les
than two gallons a year Is a VOL
derful decrease. one that hurts IN
whlskey crowd and helps the tempei
ance folks. which IN. ] dare say. IN
core Of all this parade Of figure
without fixing their locality. tn
increase OF drinking IL going 90
those regions where the bar-roou
reign Those are the states oss
which the black clouds Of drunken
nsss hang low and heavy. And
Is ole 0f the griesions facts ID.
tie increase IL partly accounted q
b. the growing number Of drinke
among women. a shame that sta
gers every sense Of moral hope.
! have an Idea that sporting the
doci0red figures. deliberately char
INK 10 every section % the count
the disgrace of some sections of
IL hasty and lame effort 70 GOV
the gluitonous drinking that Is Z
Ing on IL the bar-foOm regions
the country Their very prospect
endangers the traffic. They are ~
ing too much IN New York and q
eago 10 be safe. Attention must
turned from the enormous growth
the drink habit IN the anti-prohll
ton states. - a little figuring a
North Carolina II charged with
share ~ Nov Yofks and California
drink bill. New York IL quite Vi
come 10 lts own liquor account q
North Carolina declines its genera
oder 81 the drinking disgrace
Prohibition 10 q success and IN
nature of the case can be noihi
bat a success All Il proposes 10
j. "a stop the legaIlzed sale % llqu
ard take the states approval Of
horrible sin and crime This Il !
done and continues 20 do. There
not . spot on this good North ca
llna soil where any person ran
4 drop 0f legalized Nhiskey. Nor
thsfe = spot where this great 20
rtonweaith has put its Starred :
upon intempersnee and al
crimes that follow IN its wake.
la no longer = party 70 the debsu
CIV II its citizens. Every drop
whlsksy bought 10 the state &
crime. and every effort ~ aid II
safes By any sort ~ means or
finenres II encouraging crime ]
aiding In the disregard Of the stal
will expressed In Law And u
this treasOn7
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