The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1914-11-27

imperial treasury, with a request that
the sale Of vodka be prohibited. This
bill passed. The money was offered to
the government, but the government
refused it.
1t dawned upon me that Russian
bureaucracy did not want the people
sober, because it was easier to rule auto
craticalIy drunken mob than sober
people.
That was seven years ago. Later
was chosen mayor Of Samara, and sub
sequently elected to the duma on an
anti-vodka platform. In the duma /
proposed bill permitting the inhabi-
tants of any town to close the local
vodka shops and providing also that
every bottle of vodka should bear q
label with the word poison. At my
request the wording Of this label, in
which the evils of vodka were set forth,
was done by Leo Tolstoi. This bill
passed the duma, but in the imperial
council was amended, and finally tabled.
/ then begged an audience OF EN-
peror Nicholas. He received me with
great kindness and listened to me pa
tiently. He was impressed with my re-
cital that most OF the revolutionary and
socialist excesses we're committed by
drunkards, He promised to speak to
his minister OF finance concerning the
prohibition Of vodka.
Disappointed at the failure OF my
bill, had abandoned my seat in the
duma. 1t was evident the bureaucracy
had obstructed the measure. Minister
OF Finance Kokovsoff regarded it as a
dangerous innovation, depriving the
government of 1000, 100000 rubles
$500, 600, ,O00) yearly.
while | obbied in Petrograd the
Emperor visited the country around
Moscow and saw the havoc OF vodka.
He then dismissed Kokovsoff and ap-
pointed the present minister OF finance,
M. Bark.
Mobilization precipitated the anti
vodka measure. The grand duke, re-
membering the disorganization due to
drunkenness during the mobilization OF
1904, ordered prohibition except in
clubs and frst-class restaurants. This
order, enforced for one month, showed
the Russian authorities the value OF
In spite OF the depression
Of war, the paralysis of business and
the closing OF factories, the people felt
no privation. Savings banks showed
an increase in deposits. There was q
boom in the sale Of meats, groceries,
dry goods and house furnish
ngs.
The 30,000,00 rubles day that
lad been paid for vodka were now be-
ng spent for necessities. The average
working week increased from three and
our days to six, the numerous holidays
II the drinker having been eliminated.
The working day also became longer,
Ind the efficiency Of the worker was
perhaps doubled. Women and children
Who seldom were without marks show
ng the physical violence OF the hus-
,and and father, suddenly found them
elves in an undreamed OF paradise.
There were no blows, no insults and no
ough treatment. There was bread on
he table, milk for the babies, and FIRE
n the kitchen!
/ decided to seize this occasion for
,ress campaign, so far as this is a posi-
lie thing in Russia. / organized dele
'ations to present petitions to the proper
authorities for prolonging this new So
'riety for the duration OF the war. This
tep found favor with his imperial maj
sty, and an order was issued to that
fleet. A similar campaign to remove
be licenses from privileged clubs and
estaurants was successful, and strong
quor no longer was available anywhere
J Russia.
The second month OF abstinence
lade the manifold advantages SO clear
, everybody that when we called upon
is majesty to thank him for his recent
rder he promised that the vodka bus
lesf 81 the government would be given
p rever."
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ilexander for Adjutant- General.