El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-04-09
LIE CosT OF LIoUoR./

The COST OF Liz UORE
FL Paso, Texas, April z.
Editor FL Paso Herald:
Referring to the dedication Of The
Herald, as stated at the head Of 1t:
editorial page, and to your editorial
AFTER 100000 Years OF Progress" ap-
pearing in The Herald OF March 80:
GU estimate the loss due to a gen.
eral labor strike in the principal indus
tries OF the United States to be at the
rate of $1,000 100000 per year.
In 1911, the American nation drank
Z,l63, 100000 gallons Of alcoholic liQ-
uor, paying therefor $3.50, 900, 900. The
net dividend is misery and crime, ma
terial and financial loss. and physical
Intellectual and moral degeneration and
death amounting TO q total annual eco
nomlc loss Of $5,15e. 600 600. The nation
would have been stronger. happier and
weather today if it had drunk no liz
uor and had dumped 1880, 0O0 900 into
the ocean. reduction in volume of cur
rency excepted.
The present annual cash cost Of the
nations liquor bill is as great as the
value OF the material used in the
largest three or in the smallest nine
leading industries Of the nation. each
consuming more than $3.50. 000, 600
worth Of material 1t is greater than
the value OF the national corn crop
the most valuable crop in the world.
II Is more than twice as great as the
net revenues Of the 250.000 miles OF
steam railways OF the nation. It is
greater than the wages paid by those
railways 10 their 100000 employees.
II would build five Panama canals. It
would run the navy. including con-
struction. maintenance and operation.
on cash basis for Is years. 1t would
likewise run the army for 20 years II
would build navy eight times as pow
erful as the American navy, or one
equal to the combined navies Of
the six leading naval powers In
1860 Il could have ransomed
every black American slave at
the rate of $3.50 per head 1t could
nave carried on cash basis the cost Of
the Civil war which liberated those
slaves 1t is three times as great as
the annual cost Of running the national
government II every present source
or revenue to the national treasury
was cut Off the people could, with the
money they now pay for liquor, run the
government on cash basis by direct
taxation and have enough money left
70 cover all possible differences in cost
of living due TO an abolition of the en-
tire tariff system and to all possible
reductions in freight rates. If in so
doing, the nation ceased drinking alcO-
100000 annually to Its economic wealth
and resources.
The liquor industry is keeping ESQ.,
700 men out Of employment. 1t en-
pIoys, per $1,000, 600 invested. only 81
men The mean for all other Indus
tries is 400 men The railway business
employs 1912 men per $1,000 900 in
vested.
Science has demonstrated alcohol to
be a poisonous drug which should be
ciassed with other such drugs and that
It's use should be restricted according
"; that alcohol in the body seriously
degenerates the physical, mental and
moral efficiency of man even when
used IN moderate quantity; that the
INJURY is In proportion to quantity con-
sumed with a growing cumulative evil
effect, and that the degeneration due TO
alcohol is distinctly transmitted to Off
spring If the physicians certificate
ana the cOr0nerS verdict gave the real
causes back Of shortened life and IN
timely death, the world would stand
appalled, by the ravages of alcohol. Al
-onoI is now killing in the United
= ldIes In one year more men than were
killed by our civil war of four
years Alcohol has killed several thou
sand times more men than have been
AilIed by all the wars Of the world.
our great political parties and presi-
Dental candidates are prOfessedly
greatly concerned about the welfare
OF the nation and they are wrestling
with some great national problems.
w ny DO they studiOusly avoid the most
momentous politically economic and
moral problem of them an-the al
conolic problem? 1t is idle to say that
Il Is not a political problem. The liquor
lraIflc has made itself the most power
our national government is in partner
snip with it. 1t viii require a great
pa tonal political party to dissolve the
lalLer ana destroy the former The
liquor traffic thrives because ii keeps
the Two leading national political par
ties united in its support. When one
OF those parties puts sound national
prombltion plank in its platform and
LaltnLully stands on it. the other party
viii have 10 do likewise or go down
NHmnn1r FRA
ties continue to ignore the issue and
support the liquor traffic. great pro-
nlOitlon party viii arise and crush
them both.
Undoubtedly il requires political
power to compel the legislature of Ari-
loha 70 repudiate the referendum so
early IN Its career. But, read press
as follows:
PhoeniX, Ariz-, March 3l.-Ihe fate
II at least half the saloons in Arl- !
iona is believed TO hang upon the de- I
,lsion Of Gov. Hunt in reference to a /
PHI passed yesterday by the legisla-
lure 10 exempt the saloons in Benson
and Tucson from the law which pro-
1ibits the sale of liquor within six
niles Of construction camp.
1t Is said that the establishing OF I
construction camps soon near olleE
titles would result under the territorial I
aw In cutting in half the retail liquor
business done in the state.
Because Of the passage OF a Dill /
With an emergency clause Attached IN I
'rder TO preclude a referendum vote I
many kilograms Of protest nave oeen 4
tent TO the governor"
1t is Just such things as this that are I
writing the doom Of the liquor traffic /
let them be written. The more rapid
y, the better.
The liquor traffic is an lntoleraDle /
VII. II Will never be effectually BAN 4
shed from the nation until great ma
ionaI party arises and elects represen-
attves of the people favorable to pro-
ibition in all departments OF the gov
The plain people, Of whom
ur candidates talk and whom they
curt. are ready.
National prohibition is good cause
hat should not lack a champion and
he liquor traffic is an evil that Z
hould not thrive unopposed. What /
avs The Herald. dedicated to the ser
ice of the people2
The continued dependency Of the