News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1913-12-24
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NO INCREASE IN DRINKING.

NO INCREASE IN DRINKING.
The internal revenue report for
1913 has been widely commented upon
by the press, its figures being gener-
ally accepted as proof of an increase
in drinking, notable" alarming"
Shameless" according to the point
of view of the commentator. We do
not challenge the accuracy of the re-
port, but we do maintain that the
press of the country has given it too
hasty consideration, and that the pub
lie has too readily accepted the con-
illusions of the newspapers. The fig
ures given are true as far as they go,
but it is not the province Of the in
ternal revenue commission to explain
those figures. The National W. G. T.
u, through its bureau Of publicity.
sends out the following explanation:
First, with regard to distilled
liquors, it is not so generally known
as it should be that the figures of the
government report are based on the
number of gallons withdrawn by
wholesalers from the bonded ware
houses, and that the amount for any
one year may or may not represent
the actual consumption for that year.
1t happens that for the year just
closed the amount withdrawn does
not represent actual consumption. To
the average reader the situation Is
somewhat confusing, but it is easily
explained Under the law liquor may
remain in bond not longer than eight
years. At the expiration of that time
it must be removed from the govern
ment warehouses whether there Is
demand for it or not. During the year
covered by the 1913 report large
amount was, it is stated, thrown upon
the market because the bonding Pc
Rod had expired. The fact that such
a large quantity remained In bond I'M
til forced out by the time limit is
sufficient proof that the sale of spir-
ituous liquors has been decreasing.
When the liquor is taken from the
bonded warehouses the government
tax is paid, and 1t is then officially re-
corded as Consumed" The truth of
ported as consumed from June 80,
1912, to June 80, 1918, is now stored
in private warehouses waiting a de-
mand. Those who understand the
state of affairs have expected just
such a showing as that now put out
by the internal revenue department.
They have expected, too that 1t
ho Jpt
meaning marked increase in drink
ing" They know that while an I'M
usual amount of liquor was with
drawn last year from the bonded
warehouses it by no means follows
that all of IT went down the Threats
of American citizens.
Second, there is more or less Jug
Cling of official figures by liquorites
Desiring lin their effort to discredit
the so-called reform wave'') to make
the per capita increase appear large,
they have a way of punching togeth-
err the figures referring to all kinds
of liquors, distilled and malt. And
newspapers have a way of repeating
investigation this m2nifestly
L
wet" authority states that the per
capita amount of liquor consumption
has risen in twenty years from Is
gallons to 81 gallons (this, of course
all liquor on which tax has
been paid, and the misleading state
ment goes the rounds.
Third in view of these facts it is
clear that there are more total alb
stainers and more prohibitionists in
this country than ever before, and
for the sake of argument the
increasing consumption-that drink
ers are drinking more than ever be-
ore. It is one of the characteristics
itself, so we may expect the moderate
thinker Tor his children) to become
he excessive drinker and the exces-
3ive drinker to become more excess
i've 1t isn't from the number Of
JalIons of liquor consumed that one
Judges of the nearness of nationwide
but from the rapidly
rowing prohibition sentiment and
number Of prohibition
'otes throughout the country.
The liquor interests are trying des-
,erately to hide the fact that theirs
S losing cause. In their journals
nd in their conventions their utter
noes are doleful and warningful, and
n the stock market there is marked
hrinkage in the value of liquor Sc
urities. essimism in the liquor
amp, optimism among the prohibit
despite the internal
evenue report for 1913, is the situa-