The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1914-05-01
FRIDAY, MAY /, 1914.
Survey OF Temperance situation.


The Philadelphia North American in a
recent edition gives survey Of the tenn
perance situation throughout the country
from which the following is an extract !.
The other day we were talking with a trav-
cling representative Of the liquor interests,
and we asked him what was the condition of
public sentiment about the traffic, as he had
observed it. Turing to us with a look such as
we recalled seeing on the face of convicted
State official whose last appeal had been
denied, he answered, :. It's prairie fire ~
Men in touch with financial affairs know
that banking institutions more and more are
asking borrowers on liquor securities to sub.
stitute other collateral, and that they are
coming to look with disfavor upon real estate
as security for loans If it is used for the
liquor traffic.
The pessimism of the agent to whom we
talked and the growing caution of the bankers
are founded upon conditions that are unmis-
taxable. Travelling mon, who visit many COM
munities and come in contact with citizens of
all classes, can testify to the rising of such a
wave Of condemnation against the liquor evil
as seems to presage its coming overthrow.
Church meetings, revival gatherings and
ton above all others. No matter what other
issues engage their attention, the most univer-
sal and militant sentiment is called forth
upon this.
The world OF business. as well as religious
circles, is lining up against rum. for it can no
more stand the cold analysis of economics
than it can the flaming protest of morality.
Employers of labor, large and small, are
dlnxU cIa 20.
The railroad man, the employee in any po-
sition where mental or physical trustworthi-
ness is requisite, must choose between drink
and his job. The demand for efficiency is
backed by the demand for safety in working
conditions; liquor cuts productiveness Of the
worker and increases the hazard of accident.
Therefore business is enlisted in the war. even
to the extent of endeavoring to drive saloons
from the vicinity of industrial plants.
The yearbook Of the Anti-Saloon League.
recording the sweep Of temperance sentiment
across the continent, is out of date before it is
month old, SO swift are the changes. Yet
few of the facts from the last issue will indi-
cate what revolution Is under way.
The liquor traffic is prohibited in nine states
Georgia. Kansas, Maine, Mississippi North;
Carolina, North Dakota. Oklahoma, Tennes-
oco eSAAA1 W VSo SbatGS OU
per cent of the population is in dry territory,
and in thirteen other states more than Is per
cent. The Prohibition states have a popula.
ton of 14.6S5.OOO; the "near-Prohibition"
states. 26.57S,OO0, and the third class men
toned, 2s,4ls.OOO. The population of the ten
states whore liquor is still supreme is only
| q, 292 900.
Surveyed in the mass, these political
changes are strikingly impressive, yet they
are perhaps less significant than the economic
movements to which we Lave referred. The
almost daily record of new forces aligned
against liquor is tremendously convincing It
is not strange, therefore, If the public mind is
persuaded that at no very remote period
the sale Of liquor in this country will be
prohibited.
But the fight Is not yet won. Before the
foes of liquor rejoice in the encouraging
symptoms as in the accomplished victory
they had better take censue of the forces
against them.
The liquor interests are solidihed by a com
mon peril; they realize that they are ap-
preaching life-and-death struggle; they are
determined. resourceful. rich in funds and
powerful in political support. And they viii
win, despite the sentiment againss .hsEn,
unless their opponents are vigilant In prose-
cutting the war to the bitter end.