The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1912-01-04

FIRST the movement simply had AZ It's OBJECT
tho Punishment Of opium from China, nut
gradually tho scope Of the antiopnm mis-
sionary work" expanded until It embraced the
whole world-evcry section Of the globe where
the use OF opium has become habt-and
finally within the past few months the hght
against the evil has been expanded in scopo
until It embraces prOhbItive or restrictive
action not only against opium, but also against
morphine. cocaine and, in short all habit
forming drugs.
The fight against the opium evil, with Tn
clio Sam as the chief nggressor, has been
going on steadily for some years past but 1t
is only now on the eve Of complete success
that It has come to attract attention from all
classes OF the community. From the time
when Chinese began to settle In the United
States, bringing with them, many Of them.
their love Of opium smoking It was realized
that the evil was one the menace OF which
would sooner or later be brought home to our
people-particularly those residing on the Pa
"inc slope md IN tho western section Of the
country where the bulk of the Mongollans
settled.
However It was only after Uncle Sam came
into possession OF the Philippines, following
the Spanlsh-Amercan war. that our public.
men and government officials we're thoroughly
aroused to the necessity of graphing with the
problem. In the Philippines our people found
great numbers OF Chinese who were confirmed
opium smokers. and, worse yet, they were
rapidly teaching the destructive habit to the
natives of the islands. There was much agi.
tation OF the subject both in the Philippines
and here in the United states and the up
shot of the matter was that the congress OF
the United States passed laws prohibiting the
importation of opium into the Philippines
except for medicinal purposes. From that mo.
ment there was a marked improvement OF
conditions.
The example Of Uncle Sans action and the
complete success which attended II, awakened
China to her own need and gave hope Of a
solution The progressive men OF China were
deeply mored by the spectacle Of another ma.
ton (and one that had always been tradI.
tionally friendly to China) combating at the
very doors of the Orient with an evil that
was realized by all thinking men TO be sap.
ping the life blood Of large share of Asia's
population. The result was strong anti
opium movement In China and ont OF this
grew direct appeal to then President Roose
welt from representatives Of missionary
cetles In tho Far East and from commercial
organizations and institutions in the United
States. 1t was the plea of these various in.
terests that the United States government.
considering its historical attitude In regard to
the opium traffic in tho Orient, should take
the initiative In assisting China to secure the
prohibition of that traffic
This was in the year 1904 but 1t was
couple of years later that definite plans were
made for an international concert OF action
in the matter. In that year Bishop Charles
H. Brent of the Philippines. who was. natur
ally, in a position to appreciate the havoc
wrought by opium, wrote to President Roose-
welt appealing to him ito promote some move
ment that would gather In its embrace repre-.
sentatives from all the countries where the
traffic In and the use of opium is a matter OF
moment" Thereupon President Roosevelt
had his secretary OF state, Mr.. Elihu Root,
open up correspondence with all the powers