Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1913-04-02
sHouU Does Business
World Regard the
Use of ALcohol:?''

The following essay won first
prize in the essay contest that has
been conducted by the Woman's
Christian Temperance Union, the
author being Miss Mamie Morgan,
a pupil of the Morgan school which
is being taught by MI. G. NJ. Mel
lichamp.
One of the most encouraging
points towards the downfall of the
demon of drink" is that our busi-
ness men are awakening to the fact
that alcohol is a foe to the best
business interests of our country
and that they should cooperate
with the temperance workers in
their efforts to stamp out this evil.
We regard the men in the busi-
ness world as being men with level
heads, deep thought and foreseeing
eyes, who are able to consider well
the past and present with it's bear
ing upon the future.
Instances may be duplicated in
business circles and show clearly
that business men recognize total
abstinence as one of the essentials
for good wolk k in all the departments
The best brains, the clearest intellect
and the most perfect command of
all the faculties are required in the
work to-day aud anything less than
this is inviting disaster. There is no
theory to this sentiment; it is hard
bitter experience which the busi-
ness world is learning rapidly.
Business, like science has no con-
eern with traditions of the food and
stimulant value of alcohol. The one
fact is clear to a business man who
wishes to get employees and that is
the man with an alcoholic breath
has an impaired mentality and con-
troll of his brain power; that the
man with the alcoholic breath is
not trustworthy. He is incapable and
in some unknown way he will fail
to meet the requirements of the
present.
A great defalcation in bank
NAV cause widespread disaster
which was directly traceable to the
man who was frequent user of al
cohol who managed its affairs.
Business interests are aiding in
the prohibilivn of liquor most
efectually; medical men and stu
dents of science are lending hand
and now athletes may also be con-
sidered foe to the traffic.
1t seems that it took them long
time to make strong stand on the
liquor question but now that a de-
cislon has been made we fec. sure
that their convictions are deep root
ed and sure to bring forth good fruit
in due season.
The preachers condemn princi-
pally the effect alcohol has upon the
morals of the country; the physi-
clans, upon the health, the mothers
urnn the home, but the business
lnan considers all these, for that
which affects morals, health, and
home affects his business also. The
business world regards the liquor
trade for beverage purposes violation
of every law of God. Tnat it has no
right to do, and to-day it is in thr
air that business parties are falling
over each other and are inextricably
tangled in their efforts to prove that
each excels the other in desire and
methods to serve society by making
conditions better.
The business of the world has
proved that it is q great thing to
become total abstainer and a great
thing to reform a drunkard, but it
is equally necessary to any Christian
to shut up the drunkard making
shop and every institution that de-
grades and debauches men. The
business man condemns the use of
alcohol for many reasons; those who
look after the business of the state
condemn it because through its use
directly or indirectly, a great num-
ber of persons are placed IN the
hands Of the state at the insane
asylum. The poor houses are largely
supplied from the ranks of the
drinkers. A large per cent of those
arrsigned in the criminal courts at
tribute their crime to the influence
of intoxicating liquors, consider
able portion of ignorance among the
people is to some extent caused by the
use of alcohol. 1t burdens the state
with the necessity of keeping a much
larger force of peace officers that
otherwise would be necessary and
--lo, ,,,n. tn