The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-05-01
BRYAN STRONG FOR
TOTAL ABSTINENCE
Schooner That Crosses the Bar a
Greater Danger Than the Fight
ing Aeroplane or Submarine.

NEW YORK, May /. - Secretary
Bryan declared in an address under
auspices of the National Abstainers
Union here last night that the Euro
pean war had developed that even
patriotism was no match for the appe-
tite which alcohol eultivates in its
victims. The secretary was urging
total abstinence and referred to re-
strictive measures which some of the
belligerent nations have taken against
"There has been growing DISPOSE
ton in this country and throughout
the world to emphasize the evils of
strong drink he said, sbut even the
most enthusiastic advocates of tenn
perance have been surprised at the
CHASTITY light which the war in Europe
has thrown upon the subject. 1t has
been found that patriotism, that com
pelhng force which throughout the ages
has led men to offer. their lives for
their country, is no match for the APP
petite which alcohol cultivates in its
victims. Loyalty to Bacchus, Gam
brinus and Barleycorn is greater than
loyalty to the king or kaiser or ear.
The use of drink has been found to be
SO destructive of efficiency that the
belligenent governments, not on moral
grounds but purely on economic
grounds have been compelled to resort
to restrictive measures. The aeroplane
that drops its bomb from above and
the submarine which shoots its torpedo
from below are less to be feared than
| the schooner that crosses the bar
Mr.. Bryan declared that drink led to
idleness and that American business
Ir1T = 1a -
Ivy against the use of alcohol by EN-
lployes.
| " Why2' he asked. because a clear
brain and steady nerve are required
in every important avenue of industry
and alcohol befuddles the brain ant
paralyzes the nerves.
.'No employer cares to put bushes.
in the hands of tippler; the mar
who drinks cannot safely be trusted
with the care of life or property
Total abstinence, he remarked, was
virtue "even behind the bar
Mr. Bryan said the amount spen
annually for drink in the United
States would build 100 macadan
highways across the continent, ant
added:
I The amount now expended in paw
ing the road to perdiction, would, i
spent for good roads. soon lift the mu,
embargo from the entire country.
"All who labor in the cause of TEN
perance seek to lessen the use of in
Itoxicating hquor-some by persuadin
lpeople not to drink, some by urgin
laws which will prevent the manufac
ture and sale of liquor, while still otI
ers divide their energies between tn
two lines of work
Gas for myself, while I have def
mite views as to the means that shoul
be employed for solving the legislativ
Iproblem presented by the liquor trai
fe, I shall confne myself tonight t
the first line of argument, and appea
to those present and to those whom
may reach through the press to tax
their position as individuals on the sid
of total abstinence; for whatever di1
ference of opinion may exist as to til
!. relative merits of different leQislativ
remedies no one will deny that tn
total abstainer to the extent of his il
: f1uence lessons the use of alcohol an
: by so doing both reduces the evils {
intemperance and hghtens the task c
the legislator.