Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-08-02

"Fishtins Drink"
leading article in the Osteopat

phases d the evil in a manner I'M
usual and adds to the general accept.
ance OF the verdict that the booze
business must go. The, writer quotes
freely from other sources and makes
out a case that is strong and inter-
estins:
- The signs Of the times point to the
rapidly approaching day when John
Barleycorn will be tried for his life.
Who questions the verdict? Russia
has stopped the manufacture Of vodka.
France has forbidden the sale OF
absinthe. Great Britain has created
q Board OF Central Control over the
liquor traffic. whose members are APP
pointed by the Minister Of Munitions.
This board has power to control the
supply and sale of intoxicating liquors
within certain areas. and even to stop
their sale entirely under a penalty for
violation OF its restrictions Of fine OF
$500, or Imprisonment for six months.
Germany has forbidden the use of
strong drink of any kind by it's army,
measures having been taken to stop
the sending of all spirits to the troops
in the field. These are war measures,
made necessary because of the de-
vastating effect Of alcoholic drinks
on the efficiency Of the man who fights
or of the man who makes munitions
Of war.
That is the verdict against John
Bafleycorn by the countries at war.
Not less impressive is the action
taken by DR.. S. s. Goldwater, Com
missioner Of Health Of New York City,
who announces that for the first time
In the history of a health department
his department will begin an active
crusade against drink. This is to be
real fight waged not alone against the
sale of liquor in the slums, but against
the rich mans drink. The Commits
sioner believes that brandy and
champagne do as much harm as beer
and third rail whiskey." DR.. Gold
water does not lack courage. he is a
fearless man who boldly attacks that
hydra headed monster. that demon,
drink. He will find, as Lloyd George
has found. that every government
that has ever touched alcohol has
burned its fingers in the lurid fame"
Anyone who knows DR.. Goldwater,
however, will know that this will not
deter him from doing what he believes
is his duty toward the citizens Of
New York. He says it is the biggest
Job Health Department could under
take.
Il mean business; the time has come
when something must be done. for a
diminution in the consumption of alcohol
by the community would mean less tu-
berculosis, less poverty. less dependency.
and jails. Incorporate drinking cuts into
the support of the family. The drinking
of parents lessons the vitality OF chill
dren. Drinking mothers lose twice as
many babies as do sober mothers.
More alcoholism is found, in the par
ents of feeble-minded children than in
the parents Of normal children. The
children of drinkers develop more slowly
children of abstainers. Alcohol impairs
the tone Of muscles and the product OF
laborers; it depreciates the skill and en-
durance of artisans; 1t impairs memory.
multiplies industrial accidents, causes
ach and kidneys; increases the death
rate from pneumonia. lessons natural
immunity to infectious diseases.
and it is the duty Of the Department Of
Health to lay these facts before the
people"
= DR.. Goldwater has sent a manda-
tory letter to the Advisory Council Of
the Health Department, Of which DR..
Haven Emerson is the chairman. call
ing for the immediate organization Of
"a special committee to put into force
ithe campaign against what he plainly
calls BOOZE" The fight is to include
the "bracer," which he objects to be-
cause for the moment it does away
with the fatigue which is a warning to
the body that rest and recreation are
necessary to health. Dr. Goldwaters
campaign is to be carried on by a
campaign Of publicity against alcohol
which shall utilize all modern methods
OF reaching the public by means Of
moving pictures, illustrated LECTURES,
posters. pamphlets and exhibits in
different sections Of the city. Get on
the Water Wagon" is to be the slogan.
II Is time that something was done
to checks the amount Of money spent
ON drink in this country. statistica
show that the total drink bill fc6' the
five years between 1s10-1e14. five
years, amounted to $9.S5S,2l6,0S4, or a
per capita expenditure annually of
800 for three years by each family Of
hve as against a per capita con-
sumption of coffee for the same time
Of 9.3s pounds.
Yet the demand for drink has
dropped OF somewhat. as is shown in
. recent issue of Golfers Weekly. in
4 paragraph entitled The Slump in
Booze"
According to the Wall Street Journal of
New York City: Production Of whiskey
In Kentucky in January was 1.sSo.00o
gallons. against 6.102. 452 gallons in Janu-
AIRY. 1914; production in Pennsylvania was
!. Grasses gallons In January. against r.
t55.45 year ago. and in Maryland 6os. :
DID gallons. against s1S,ss1 last year.
Whiskey bottled in bond in January was
eN.toe gallons. compared with s8.1U in
The decrease in Kentucky's production
Of whiskey amounts to 66 20 per cent: In
Pennsylvania 1t is about 50 per cent; In
figures (and others. for February. March
eha other months, more recently avail
eble) indicate that the distillers. who can
look ahead like anyone else, see that
within q few years the commercial de-
nend for whiskey will fall off at UMPIRE
Ing newspaper space in more than one
city, TO argue that prohibition doesn't
prohibit-that more liquor than ever IL
being drunk in this country; but this II q
blum. They are meanwhile curtailing
production and quietly discounting their
own funeral. Better times are ahead for
these United States.
This IL the verdict Of a country not
at war. What is yours?