The Detroit times., 1913-12-27
Closing in on t
The Saloon

III We were in The liquor business
IN this country We would begin to
look about FOR another occupation
Tighter and tighter grow the resVic-
tions about the licensed saloon. Il
is only a question OF time as TO when
II viii be- strangled 10 death What
has seemed to many the idle dream
oi teW fanatics f. now I'm the sober
Judgment OF tarseeing men within
the range or probability
Mighty. indeed has been the on
Ward sweep OF temperance sentiment
I'm this nation and throughout the civ
ilized world during the last decade.
Two-thlrds OF the territory OF the
United states Is already dry and even
great cities like Chicago. where the
saloon is powerfully entrenched. are
Z
throw The hour has struck for a
concerted WeIl.directed, universal
warfare against the liquor business
The temperance agencies are united
90 an unprecedented degree. The pc.
tition which Il this week being pre-.
scented 20 congress- represents the
leagulng together ~ no less than 80
organizations which at the close OF
The AntiSaloon convention in Column
bus month ago formed a Council OF
One Hundred. with wise and intrepid
leadership, 10 put into effect the
declaration Of that convention for the
national prohibition by 1920 OF the
manufacture. sale and transportation
OF liquor
Newspaper organs OF the liquor in.
terests IN this country are already
recognizing the strength OF this anti
saloon movement Listen 10 what the
North American Wine and Spirit
Journal says in It's November issue
N its leading editorial entitled, Ma.
ton Wide Prohibition Far from an
Utter lmprobabillty How many
men in the liquor business realize
what the passing OF the fIobson reso-
luton in congress for a nationwide
prohibition would mean II this res
olution vas passed in congress Il
would then be submitted IN turn TO
The IS different states. two-thirls OF
which number would have 10 ratlfy IL
before its provisions would become n
part OF the federal constitution The
Hobson resolution has been taken as
huge joke By many in the liquor
trade. But Is II such Joke With the
wave OF reform fuctuating as IL is ?"
Economic considerations lend
strength 10 the plea for prohibition
There is growing hostility TO a bust,
ness which by the expense II newt
ably involves for the support OF po-
oil hnt nd
hospitals adds TO the already high
cost Of living.
Every argument for the conserva-
ton OF resources leads UP 10 the de-
molition OF the saloon Liquor Is TO
blame Tor one out OF seven or eight
deaths OF male adults. Physicians
are ceastng TO recommend alcohol for
medicinal purposes In the Bellevue
hospital. New York, the amount OF
alcohol used today Is about one-ffth
OF what 1t was 10 years ago. Stats
tics gathered by life insurance com
panies show that abstainers live from
% 10 80 per cent longer than men
who drink, and many companies in
various countries give total abstain
ers special rates.
The modern demand for efficiency
furnishes another weapon against the
saloon. Il is being found that the
best work OF the world the work that
requires vigilance and skill. cannot
be done by tipplers. More than 80
states, as Well as Porto Rico and the
caanl zone. have laws restricting the
use OF alcoholic liquors by railroad
employees and many railroad COM
panies themselves are demanding abb
stinence on the part Of their en-
ployes.
Everv movement toward maku (
this world DETER place for the aver
age man 10 live "a sooner or later col
lides with the saloon. Social settle
ment workers Who started with the
idea that the evils OF the liquor trat-
nc could be overcome only through
indirect methods arc now battling for
specific restrictions rs earnestly 81
the most Jealous temperance reform
ers.
Yes, the liquor forces are on the
run. because that kowerful factor IN
reforms, public sentiment, is becom-
ing thoroughly aroused and is de-
handing that an institution which
breeds criminals and paupors, which
debauches politics which attracts 10
itself all the baser elements in the
community, which entraps young life
and robs il OF It's virtue, which Is by
far the most sinister OF all the big
businesses" which this nation hereaf-
ter intends 10 control, which no one
wants near his own home or the
school which his children attend.
ought To be forever outawed from
civilization that calls itself Chris.
tian II may take longer than san
guine friends OF prohibition think.
who are sure 20 encounter, especially
in the great cities many practical
difficulties, but the ideal Will ever be
kept in view
And In the final and complete over
throw OF the organized liquor traffic
every one OF us may have, should
have part.-The ongregationalist