Fergus County Democrat., 1913-03-11
0Qa. g.. u. M.

The w. G. T. U. MatrOns' medal con-
test, held at the Methodist church on
the evening of March 4th, was graft
flying success. The contestants were
well trained, the music excellent, and
the attendance good. The medal was
awarded to Mrs. John Beam, who is
thereby entitled to compete with 9th
ers holding silver medals for gold
medal. 1t is planned to hold enough
silver medal contests to provide for
the holding of gold medal contest
before the close of the year. To Mrs.
c. A. Downs, superintendent of this
department, belongs the credit for this
excellent contest.
x X X
Health boards. armed with police
authority, eradicate the carriers of
typhoid and quarantine the victims,
but alcohol, a thousand times more
destructive to public health than ty-
phoid fever, continues to destroy.
Alcoholic degeneracy is the most i'm
portant sanitary question before the
country, yet health authorities do not
take action because alcohol is en-
trenched in politics. We are face to
face with the greatest crisis in our
country's history. The alcohol Ques-
tion must be settled within the next
ten years or some more virile nation
will write the epitaph of this repub-
lic.-Dr. T. Alexander MacNicholl.
"Well, you know glasses are used
both over and under the nose. l al
ways use mine over" The special
guest at Philadelphia banquet some
years ago, Andrew Carnegie, touched
no wine the whole evening. Naturally
this aroused considerable curiosity
among those present and at length
one ventured to ask the famous mil
lionaire if he were an abstainer. Face
tiOusly Mr.. Carnegie replied as Just
quoted, showing that his action on this
occasion was but part of his constant
practice of strict temperance princi-
pies.
However millionaires may be regard
In other respects, unquestionably COM
mercial men of this rank and those of
less enormous wealth possess expert
ence of extraordinary character. They
have an unusually close acquaintance
with the world and it's temptations,
have keenly observed life in varied
phases, thoroughly understand bust
ness and know fully the essentials for
success. Hence, their views on the
personal aspect of the liquor question
| perforce have great weight. Mr.. Car
| negie's opinions and practice in re-
gard to the abstinence question, there
fore, deserve particular attention.
4 So
"Heredity and environment, no mat
ter how good, are of no value after a
boy becomes cigaret smoker" writes
D. H. Kress, M. D., in a letter in the
Chicago American, in which he states
that Teddy Webb, one of the Chicago
auto bandits, who has been captured
recently, was confirmed cigaret fiend
Webb Is the son of honest parents
who aimed to make him a self-respect
ing citizen. DR.. Kress continues: "By
inquiry you will ascertain that all of
his youthful companions who took part
with him in his holdups were cigaret
fiends, and probably began the use at
an early age. The cigaret, more than
any other one thing, is responsible for
the present crime wave and for many
youthful criminals. The fact is that
95 per cent Of the young fellows who
figure in our police courts and enter
our reform schools are cigaret smokers
and begin their downward career
with their use. These facts are well
known by judges of juvenile courts
and other officials
i X
The future belongs to the men o1
clear head, sound judgment and steady