The Clay City times. [volume] (Clay City, Ky.) 1901-current, 1915-05-06
Arguments on the
Whisky Question.

The following has been called one of
the most remarkable addresses ever
given and has had wonderful inhu-
ence in creating the anti-liquor senti-
ment that is at present sweeping over
the State. 1t was given by J. N. Hurry
State Health Commissioner of Indiana.
1t was forwarded to us by our Stanton
correspondent:
This paper shall be brief extra brief.
| am determined that merit shall be
accredited. / shall not take up the
physiological action of alcohol, for that
would be work of supererogation in
this presence. l shall not consider the
dietetics of alcohol, for it is not food
in any sense, and has no true dietetic
standing. 1 shall not consider the
stimulant action of alcohol, for it is
not stimulant, it is only Il sedative.
shall not consider the therapeutics
of alcohol, for it has none. shall not
consider the mechanical or industrial
uses of alcohol, for they do not here
concern us.
The most important business before
the business men today is the business
of the public health, and further, if
the business men do not soon grasp
this truth and act upon it, then are
business men not the real business
man bnt bnsinaSo obilJran Tb;S Ia
said of business men because they are
in the saddle, and they virtually run
and govern things and they arc doing
poor job. This is attested by our
over-high taxes, the failure Of munich
pal government, the rottenness of leg
islatures, the non-control of venery,
the omni- presence and awful destruc-
tion of syphilis, the prevalence of pre-
xefta1iB Diseases, Fhc nrtValerce and
non-reduction of crime, the prevalence
and non-reduc ton of insanity, poverty
and feeble mindedness, the increase of
effectiveness and delinquency and the
increasing consumption of alcohol as a
beverage with its endless chain of
denominations All of these evils and
more are upon US, not because we can
not remove and prevent them, but be-
cause we will not. The business men
continually trying to improve and in
crease business, succeeding only par
TALLY, because they do not recognize
that business, like all other fundamen- !
tally good things of human life, de-
pend upon the moral and intellectual
health of individuals. A community, |
a state, an empire depends absolutely |
upon it's healthy men and women, for
its morals, strength and character, the |
sick. the diseased, the drug habitues,
the alcoholics, and the other defec-
tives, have no part in the prosperity |
and happiness of nation. They are n
source of expense and weakness. They |
are burden. They must be sup
ported, and practically, they are use
less, deleterious and unnecessary,
Assuming these statements to be
true, then it follows-if a nation de- |
sires success, and is to be successful,
its business men must look To it that
government is righteous; and to be
righteous, it must closely follow the |
laws, so far as they are known Of ma
tional well being. After governmental
the first absolutely nee
essary consideration is the cause of
public health for without health mem
tai and physical efficiency with hon.
esty cannot exist. The care of the
public health is the first duty of the
said the eminently prac-
teal Disraelli.
The public health is paramount. Do
little or nothing TO advance it, and the
nation fails. The wonderful and well
demonstrated physical and mental
strength and efficiency OF the Ger
mans, rests upon health. OF course
that Nation has not removed all OF the
to health and efficiency,
but il has removed many, perhaps
most of the prominent ones. Among the
huge drawbacks to health and efficiency,
yes, 10 life, liberty and pursuits of hap
piness, is alcohol. Because of its wide
use il has become the most awful Of
an tho drugs ar done which have fast