Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-03-30
BRITAIN MAY
!. Danish DRINK
Prohibition as Drastic as
in Russia May
Prevail.
DECLARED WORST
ENEMY IN WAR
Chancellor Lloyd George Concludes
Public Sentiment Will Back Banish-
ment Of Saloon and Club Houses
From United kinsdom-crippling
Nation by Making Workmen lncap-
able Of Performing Duties Required

London, March 30-Prohibition as
drastic as that prevailing in Russia
today faces the United Kingdom.
Press discussions of the letter sent
by David Lloyd-George to the ship
owners federation, competes success
fully in point of interest with the news
of the sinking of the British liner F'al-
aba by German submarine, with the
loss Of more than 100 lives.
The chancellor in his letter said:
I'VE are fighting Germany, Austria
and drink, and so far as I can see the
greatest of these deadly foes is drink.
He added that he had a growing con-
viction that only the most severe meth
DDS would be necessary to combat the
growing evil
He urged that action must be taken
by ship owners to prohibit all use of
intoxicants. Labor leaders are equally
anxious to prohibit the use of drink.
Army Men For Temperance.
Expressing his views to a deputation
of the Shipbuilding Employers FEEDER
alton. which made the prohibition plea,
Mr.. Lloyd George intimated that Lord
Kitchener secretary for war; Field
Marshall Sir John French, commander
in chief Of the British in the field, and
even King George, wanted something
drastic done toward suppression OF
liquor.
The deputation urged prohibition Of
the sale of liquor both in public houses
and clubs, so that all classes would be
affected alike.
Details Effect Of Drinking.
1t was stated by the deputation that
altho work was being carried on
night and day seven days a week the
total working time on the average in
nearly all British ship yards was ac-
tually less than before the war, and
the average productiveness had de-
creased Many men were doing stren-
uous work, probably as good as the
smen in the trenches, but many did not
even approximate full time.
Notwithstanding curtailment of hours
they were allowed to keep open. the
public houses in the neignborhood OF
the ship yards had greatly Increased
receipts-in some cases 40 per cent.
AS an instance Of one OF many cases.
that Of battleship coming in for i'm
mediate repairs was cited. She was
DELAYED a whole day thru the absence
,of riveters, who were drinking and
carousing.
In one yard the reveters had been
working on the average only forty
hours a week, and in another yard
only thirty-six hours.
The deputation. which included rep
resentatives of the leading shipbuilders
of the country. drew attention to the
example set by France and Russia and
urged on the chancellor the need OF
drastic action.
Chancellor Fully Convinced.
The chancellor in his reply said the
reason why the government had not
taken more drastic action on the liquor
question was that it needed to be as
sured it was not going adverse to pub
lie sentiment: otherwise more harm
than good would be done. The gov
ernment must feel that it had every
class in the community behind It when
taking action which interferred severe.
ly with Individual liberties. But now ne
was sure the country was beginning to
realize the gravity of the situation.
II have a growing conviction. based
on accumulating evidence" continued
the chancellor. that nothing but root
and branch methods would be OF the
slightest avail in dealing with the evil
7 believe it is the general feeling that
II we are to settle German mi1itarism
we must first of all settle with drink