The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-04-10
DRUNK RAVAGES BRITISH
NATION; LEADERS TO ACT

that the decreasing birth rafe-the
nEures Of which came out three dzy.
ago and show that the birth rates for
the last month are the lowest taat
fhey have ever been: the terrible
statistics OF infant mortality. certain.
ly caused partly by inherited weak
constitutions and By bad housing; the
overwhelming number of convictions
Tor drunkenness. considerably on the
increase among men and women dur
ing the last four years-and then n
you IKE linking cause and effect and
want TO run hastily over In your mind
the large percentage Of recruits who
have applied for the army and have
been rejected for physical reasons. or
IL you want to consider the impaired
efficiency of the British workman at
this critical moment. I think you will
agree with me that Great Britain
should do something drastic.
IL isn't exactly a question whether
one In q teetotaler OF not. II is a
patriotic question and should be met
and faced precisely as the recruits
and volunteers are meeting and facing
their enemy At the front.
orsst Britain Made Mistake.
l have been enormously Interested
In IL since I came here. particularly
since I had investigated the condi-
tons In France and had seen how
much the suppression OF absinthe and
similar liquors. the limiting OF H.
censes and the ban on home brewing
would do to build up the vigor OF the
French nation.
For there, of course. IL was not "a
question OF drunkenness-Franc was
saved from that by the very step that
condemned Great Britain. When
Great Britain banished wine some
centuries ago II chose the "worser
part"
I'll tell you what has been done
here in London up to date-what
movements have been taken TO meet
the wisdom of the other nations
Russia. with its total abstinence.
France. with its curtailed drinking.
and Germany. with its stringent rules
about serving or selling drink to any
one In military uniform.
Early Closing Hours Help.
Early In the war there was a good
deal OF discussion on the subject ow-
ing to the lamentable amount of
drunkenness amount the recruits, and
then rules were made about closing
hours-no drinks to be sold after 10
o'clock az night-restricted hours for
serving soldiers-near some OF the
training camps rules are so strict that
no one In uniform can get anything to
drink except between 6 and . O'Clock
In the evening-and also In regard TO
women. forbidding drinks to be sold
to them before 1880 o'clock In the
morning.
This last was a necessary rule, for
among the wives OF soldiers and sail
ere the drinking has increased fright
fully. In many cases they had been
partly or wholly supporting their hus-
bands, and now that they are receiv-
ing a maintenance allowance as well
as their regular earnings. they spend
large share OF It in the public
houses.
For these women various organiza-
lions are providing recreation rooms.
The Countess of Essex. formerly an
American, is much interested In one
Of these clubs. which endeavor TO pro-
vide cheerier surroundings than the
public house.
Prohibition Far on.
! have talked to many OF the promi-
ton of really drastic measures, and
have yet TO talk to one-loyal prohibit
Zionist or willing-to-sacrifice drinking
man-who thinks that the day OF alb
solute prohibition is about to arrive
The bishop OF London, who for
years has been attempting TO shorten
the closing hours and limit the pro-
ton and Importation OF spirits, does
hnna ftrrN
striction in the closing hours.
Il have fought for years to reduce
the Sunday hours by three" he told
me. and IL is impossible to get by
the trade. They have enormous power.
enormous influence. IL Il hadn't been
for the war we never should have had
the 10 o'clock closing rule. but now
that they have seen what a good rule
that really is. I don't think the British
people will ever go back to the old
way again"
Less Beer 10 Consumed.
Did you see how much less beer
has been consumed this year than
last" and he turned to his desk to
search through some papers until he
came to the one which said that in
December and January OF this war
year l.813.274 barrels less beer had
been consumed than in the two CORE
spending months Of last year.
Naturally large part OF that de-
crease Is due to the army In France
and to the restricted hours for civil
ians and soldiers alike here. But II
Is a splendid decrease"
And he went on TO tell me a little
Of his experience with the poorest
drinking class. for before he was
bishop OF London he was living in the
heart OF the slums In the east end.
trying 10 reach the souls OF the crea-
lures around him by first attending TO
their material wants and lesening
their miseriea.
He IL a Joyous. undidactic. gentle
optimist. and so ! was more discour-
aged than I would admit 10 find that
he held out no hope OF total prohibi-
ton.
Buainess Pressure Strono.
Nor did the lord mayor OF London
offer any more encouragement
"Begislatively." h. said. ~ r. pos
sible. though unusual However. nm
der the rulings Of the Defense Of the
Realm the government could do a.
But they won't. advisable and admir-