Milford chronicle., 1915-12-24
TWO SPREES A YEAR
AS STATUTORY LIMIT
Three In Twelve Months And Proposed
Bill Will Bar One Forever.

New York, Dec. 3-Two sprees a
wear is to be the limit for the New York
er. and three a year will mean that he
cannot take another drink for the rest
of his life, if the National Defense As
sociation has its way. And if one cred
it's Jack London, Henry Ford, Charles
S. Mellen and other celebrities who go
to make up the membership of the as
sociatiOn, the New York Legislature of
1916 will be too intelligent to reject the
bill outlined yesterday afternoon at
meeting of the National Defenders, held
atop of the Grand Central Terminal.
According to the mo drunkard bill, "
in the first place, if you want to take
drink YOU must have a card, which is to
be made of durable cardboard, and will
be issued at the city hall on the payment
of 81. A concession to the bashful IS
that the cards may be issued by mail.
After you get your card you rest one
foot Un the brass rail, face the barten-
der and ask for your favOrie tipple.
"Lemme see your card" challenges
the barkeep.
WARNINGS FOR FIRST TIME.
You show your card and may there
after take aboard as much cargo as you
begin to tack, your card is of no more
service for if the barkeeper sells you
another drink he forfeits big bonus he
has left down at the city hall. The first
time one is arrested for intoXication or
treated by physician one gets warn
ing with his headache; the second time
one loses ones license for the year; the
third time, one is out-that is, one loses
ones license for ever and can never have
another drink. the bill says.
No you can't borrow your friends
card, for if you are caught using it there |
is fine of $l00 and 80 days in Jail for
the Offense. And if one is caught buy |
ing a drink without a card, both the |
buyer and the seller go to Jail. If one
is really i'll, one may get doctors pre- |
scriptiOn, but it may be used only once. |
A violation sends the user forthwith to /
The association reported yesterday
that ], 900 men in the city had agreed to
take out cards if the law is passed. 1t
was estimated that there would be many
others to join the 1000 pioneers.
The finest thing about the plan, &C
cording to the officials of the association,
is that one has the best excuse not to
drink. This is how it will work:
THIS IS THE EXCUSE.
"Come on, Henry take me down to
the - cabaret. I'm dry"
"Sorry, dear, but haven't card. ="
This is good of course, whether one
has card or not.
And. by the way, women must have
cards. too, and they must certify that
they are 21 or more to get them. If a
man thinks his whole family needs alcO-
hol, he can get family license for S5,
but he must specify by whom it is to be
used. The family license can be used
only when the head of the house is along.
If wifey goes to tango teas and does
aught but tango, she must have her own
license. Yes, they will come in different
colors to match ones gown. You see,
the plan is to be thoroughly reasonable.
William 7. Hoyt, who lives in Milford,
Conn, and is president of the National
Defense Association, told all about the
plan yesterday after the meeting.
CARD A BADGE OF HONOR.
ut will be an honor to have drink
card" " he explained, because 1t will
certify that one doesn' drink too much.
Very simple. is it not. for If one drinks
too much one ceases to have a card, and
cannot drink any more. In {
that way there will be no more drunk
ards. Very simple, indeed Then, if one /
drinks only because it seems a social {
obligation, one has a good excuse if one
saws one hasn't q card. If a person gets I
oeked up for being intoxicated, he can t I
lodge the issue by giving fictitious '
name, for If he hasn't card he goes to I
iail, anyway, and if he has a card, it +
IDENTIFIES him. Very simple. Here are y
,ome things this law will do: :
'It will stop treating. +
'It will stop selling to minors, for no =
minor can get license. y
''It will stop the creation OF dipsoma- :
liacs, inebriates and drunkards.
statesmen, politicians, reporters and
ther popular persons may refuse aleo-
olic drinks without giving otfense, sim
ly by having no card. l
Mr.. Hoyt then exhibited a statement G
v Jack London, in which the author OF c
John Barleycorn, F" who decided after r
D0 papes that he would still have
rink when he wanted it. said; ?
II am absolutely convinced that the t
D drunkard plan is the finest thing that il
as vet been presented, considei sd0 n
e light Of ali circumstances, fl tSs,. u
oolition Of drinking In the. MAJ
should beei theA ~