South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-10-27
BY JOHN b. S'TOLL.

JSlTy laws ana Suuer through sickness
more than they gain by the economy
on rent.
Guarding Against Slums.
During the many years Of my news
paper activity L took frequent occa-
sion to utter warnings against the
danger of permitting slums TO spring
up in rapidly growing towns and cit
les. Frequent citations were made OF
the Spencerian doctrine that quality
of population should not be lost sight
of in the frantic effort to augment
quantity. In places where such
warnings, given by others TO the
same import, remained unheeded,
the evils foreshadowed as certain to
accrue, have proved not only a fes-
tering sore of localities, but a menace
TO the community. AS breeders of
vice and crime they are as prolific
as they are destructive of all that
is cherishable in human life.
All this brings US back TO the in
efficiency of the usual remedy offer
ed by the champion OF the one-sided
notion. In their narrowness and in
| tolerance they complacently brush ev-
erything else aside in order to lend
greater Importance to the drink ques-
ton. That there are 50 many saloons
in South Bend is not the fault OF any
city administration that has ever been
IN power. Even the county commits
SiOnerS are not entirely reSDonSi bic
for all the drink places in operation.
l am told that in several instances
applications for license rejected by
the commissioners We're on appeal
granted by the higher court. under
the law.
The drink question has been a
source of tribulation to civilization
from the very beginning OF organized
society in SO far as we have any in
formation TO be depended on
Very few countries treat it entirely
alike. In so-ne countries especial
pains are taken to place the sale Of
Intoxicating beverages into the best
and mOS trustworthy hands This is
notably the case in Germany and
in Canada. In Toronto. usually re-
garded as the most desirab BILE of all
the towns in the Dominion. there are
in all ia bars, all but one connect
ed with inns or hotels. Toronto has
q population about equal to that Of
Detroit. where there are over 1900
saloons. IN Pennsylvania licenses to
sell Intoxicating beverages are limited
10 hotels, tavernS and restaurants.
No licenses are granted TO any one
institution that cannot furnish both
lodging and board. Licenses are is
sued by the president judge OF the
court. who has discriminating power
TO determine as to whether or not
public convenience demands the
granting of such license County
commissioners have no voice in the
matter
The drink question is and always
has been a difficult one to handle, es-
pecially n localities OF mixed popula-
ton. . Unions are SO varied, SO far
apart II at there has not until recent
~ been even an approach TO a gen
orally accepted standard. Here in the
United States Secretary of State Bry-
an has been highly lauded for sub
stituting grape juice for champagne
and liquors at state dinners. In Tur-
key. under the peculiar prohibition
laws, anything made Of grapes is
particularly tabOoed. So badly dis
credited there is grape juice. accord
ing to Lord Fontennoy. that If a sin
gle drop is spilled on a carpet or rug
the stain must be eliminated, and if
this cannot be done, the carpet or
rug. no matter how costly, must be
burned If a drop gets on a floor
the stain must be obliterated or that
part torn up and replaced. Here in
the United States grape juice is held
up properly and deservedly so, in my
opinion, as among the most desira BILE
beverages that can be presented TO
the lip. But while Secretary Bryan
and thousands of others are partial
to grape juice, Pres. Wilson prefers
orange juice and ladies of high
standing have told me at festaI boards
that grape juice sOured their stOm-
achS, but that a glass of beer at times
Just hits the spot So there you are,
as the saying goes.
Now here in our town, with its cos
mopolitan population are thousands
of people who from childhood have
been brought up to regard beer as
much a part of their daily meals as
some other people look upon tea or
coffee as Indispensable adjuncts to
their bill of fare. People thus reared
simply won't believe that they are
committing an objectionable sin
when they make beer a part Of their
daily food They were brought up
that way and are not likely to be
swerved from it this or next year or
the year following. These are large
" matters of education and expert
mentation. Standardizing will come
by and by. 1t was neither law nor
thunder bolts from the pulpit that
abolished the demijohn or whisky
Jug as an indispensable adjunct to
The notion that an appetizer in the
form Of a dash Of whisky or brandy
must precede a breakfast has be-
come almost wholly extinct. Dry
banquets are fast becoming more
frequent than wet ones. Very few
business men nowadays wend their