The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-05-04
TOTAL ABSTINENCE
URGEGED BY BRYAN
European War Has Taught
Many Temperance Les
sons, Secretary Says.

NEW YORK, May 3.-Secretary
Bryan declared In an address under
the auspices of the National Abstain
ers' Union here few days ago, that
the European war had developed that
even patriotism was no match for the
appetite which alcohol cultivates in
Its victims. The secretary was urg-
ing total abstinence and referred to
restrictive measures which some OF
the belligerent nations have taken
against intoxicants.
There has been growing dispo-
sition in this country and throughout
the world to emphasize the evils Of
strong drink" he said, "but 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. It has
been found that patriotism, that COM
polling force which throughout the
ages has led men to offer their lives
for their country. is no match for the
appetite which alcohol cultivates In
its victims. Loyalty to Bacchus, Gam.
brinus and Barleycorn is greater than
loyalty to king or kaiser or czar. The
use of drink has been found to be so
destructive OF efficiency that the bel
Iigerent governments, not on moral
grounds. but purely on economic
grounds have been compelled to re.
sort to restrictive measures. The aero.
plane 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 bust.
ness men were drawing the line more
strictly against the use of alcohol by
employees.
"Wiy?" he asked. Because a clear
brain and steady nerve are required
In every important avenue of industry
and alcohol befuddIes the brain and
paralyzes the nerves.
No employer cares to put business
in the hands of tippler; the man
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 spent
annually for drink in the United States
would built 100 macadam highways
across the continent, and added:
THE amount now expended in paw
ing the road to perdition would, II
spent for good roads, soon lift the mud
embargo from the entire country.
"All who labor In the cause of tenn.
perance seek to lessen the use of in.
toxicating iiquor-some by persuading
people not to drink, some by urging
laws which will prevent the manufac-
ture and sale Of liquor, while still 9TH
ers divide their energies between the
two lines OF work.
"As for myself, while have definite
views as to the means that should
be employed for solving the legisla-
tive problem presented by the LIQUOR
traffic, I shall confine myself tonight
to the first line OF argument, and ap.
peal to those present and to those
whom I may reach through the press
to take their position as individuals
on the side OF total abstinence; for
whatever difference Of opinion may ex-
list as to the relative merits OF diff
ferent Legislative remedies no one
will deny that the total abstainer to
the extent OF his influence lessons the
use of alcohol and by so doing both
reduces the evils of intemperance and
lightens the task of the legislator"