Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1913-02-13
Berger On Webb Bill
Shows Up Hypocrites

Washington, D. c.. Feb. 12.-(Spe-
cial)-The Webb bill. which prohibits
the shipment of liquor IN Interstate
traffic, when consigned to dealers who
intend to sell it in dry" territory, con-
trary to local laws, passed the House
after the most spirited debate Of the
present session.
Liquor organizations generally were
opposed to the passage of this meas
ure. and labor men in Congress to a
man voted against it.
One of the best speeches made on
the bill was that by Representative
Victor l.. Berger, the Socialist men,
Der Berger's speech was the hit of
the debate. His thrusts at the hypo-
crisy displayed by the old parties on,
liquor legislation were vigorously ap-
plauded by the members of which ever
party was not hit. Berger's argument
was that the lettering of economic
conditions is the. real solution of the
drunkenness problem, and he warned
the Republicans and Democrats that
enforced prohibition in districts where
capitalist exploitation is wreeking the
physical and nervous lives of workers
would result in the latter turning to
drags for stimulation. Berger said:
SaIoonists Antagonistic.
81 surely do not hold any brief to
defend the liquor dealers. Among the
bitterest enemies of the Socialists in
Milwaukee and everywhere are the
saloon keepers as a Glass; Out of the
$500 saloon keepers and liquor deal
ers in Milwaukee, | believe there are
hardly 20 with us, or one in a hun
dred They have no reason to love US
we spend no money in saloons dur
ing election and we were instrument
al in abolishing this source of revenue
for them. Moreover, within ten weeks
after we got into power in Milwaukee
We closed up about 104 saloons-more
than the Democrats and Republicans
had closed in 65 years.
Workers. Enemy.
Liquor is one of the most danger
Gus enemies the working class has.
Liquor is one of the most dangerous
enemies the Socialist movement has.
ssman must be sober before he under
stands us. We must be able to appeal
to his intellect We can do nothing
with man who drinks to- excess.
I'VE appeal to the better nature Of
the workingman, to his ambitions, to
the dissatisfaction with his surround
ings, to the dissatisfaction with his
miserable conditions. A drunken man
has no ambitions. A drunken man--is
satisfied with his surroundings and his
condition. The Socialists have no use
for man who is drunkard. And
liquor is one of our greatest enemies.
This is one of the reasons why the
Socialist parties the world over are
the great temperance organizations in
the world. The Social-Democratic
party of Germany has reduced the
consumption of alcoholic beverages in
Germany so per cent in one year. They
have even reduced the consumption
of beer in Munich which was no easy
task indeed. The Socialists of Ger
many, Belgium, Austria and England
are everywhere forming temperance
and abstinence societies, the leaders
setting the example.
Prohibition dos not prohibit. II
cannot control appetite, and a man
who wants to get intoxicated will find
ways and means to intoxicate himself
And if he cannot get the intoxication
from alcohol, he will get it from
opium, cocaine, morphine, or any
way. In other words. prohibition will
bring about the drug habit instead Of
liquor habit.
Result of Conditions.
"Now say again that l do not like
the saloons as an institution, but the
sa1oon-like many other ills Of so
ciety-is the outcome of the miserable
economic conditions. 1t is the result
of the profit system. And all methods
of dealing with the liquor question
which do not at the same time elevate
the social conditions of the masse.
of the people-and do not involve tn,
elimination fprivate profit are bound
to fail.
THE saloon may be- "a very poo
substitute for club house, but it il
the only club house the workingmal
has these days, and unless you cal
provide something better you have n,
right to take it away from him. Yol
cannot make human beings good b,
law as long as you keep pu rottel
economic conditions and miserable
conditions. by your laws.
Must Drain the Swamp.
"If you want no malaria and nj
mosquitoes you must drain the swamp
that breed mosquitoes and create ma
laria.
Drunkenness is not the cause O
poverty. In nine cases out of tel
poverty is the cause of drunkenness.
n