Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-02-10
TEMPERANCE

TEMPERANCE
TEMPERANCE has received three notable
J. boosts in the last six months, and maga-
zine articles reflect the increasing public In
terest The Cars edict banlshlng all liquor
from Russia during the war; which It is
rumored may be extended indefinitely after
the war, so satisfactory have been the re-
suits; Gear Daniels edict banlshing all liquor
from the American navy and the recent con-
gresslonal vote on a constitutional prohibl-
tion amendment, all national issues
which have attracted the widest attention.
Our matter-of-fac acceptance of total alb
stinence in the navy last fall makes q notable
contrast to the hue and cry raised by the
abolition of the army canteen is years ago
This last is far more drastic measure, In
that it affects officers az we'll as men and
turns the warships into literal water wagons,
whereas the army can always find solace in
saloons on the edge of the reservations 1t is
only another indication of the tremendous
growth of the temperance movement in the
last decade.
Summing up the progress of temperance for
the Review Of Reviews %, DR.. f. c. Igle-
heart of the Anti-saloon League, writes:
ITO many persons tho most significant moral
and political event of a generation the
majority vote given to the national constitu-
uonal prohibition bill in the House of Repre-
sentatives. The proposed amendment calling
for nationwide prohibition failed to receive
the required two-thirds majority, but 1t OBJ
tanned 1877 affirmative votes to 1S9 cast against
it, This a noteworthy event, since 1t
marked the highest point yet reached in this
country in the long crusade against the sale
of liquors.
"slxty years ago nine Northern States went
dry in single year Most of them lapsed into
license, and up to 1907, out of IS that tried the
experiment, only three-Maine, Kansas and
North Dakota-retained prohibition.
1.-The majority vote cast by the national law
makers at Washington in favor of nationwide
prohibition emphasizes the widespread hatred
of the saloon. 1t expresses the rebuke of
millions of voters of this country, who believe
that there have been persistent interference and
corruption of American politics by the brewers
and dlstiilers' assocations-the first and worst
of all trusts
Russia going dry by imperial proclamation
and hostility to drink q 9. general meas
ure will hasten the passage of this national
law"
distinguishing the Cocktail
Although the temperance people did not
muster the necessary two thirds vote for
carrying the prohibition amendment, they are
rather cheered than discouraged by the fact
that they did receive a majority vote, and
they are talking with confidence of the time
when cocktail and liquor glasses will be ex-
hibited in our museums as extinct curiosi-
ties La Follette's comments (2):
1.-THE defeat of his resolution was expected by
Representative Hobson, but the heavy support
1t received undoubtedly will encourage the dry
supporters to try again with the new Congress
to obtain adoption of the resolution for sub
mission to the voters Of a constitutional amend
ment under which all traffic in alcoholic bev-
erages would be brought to an end"
There Is an interesting analysis of "Why
Arizona Went Dry" (S) in The New Republic,
by Carleton Parker which gives a sense of
the many complications and interweavings
which go to accomplish any political achieve
ment:
ARIZONA has but 5000 voters. The State
went dry by about 4500. Using the Bartenders'
Union as an agent the Royal Arch obtained
the passage through the convention of the
state Federation of Labor of a wet resolu-
tton. This success. however, held bareback.
The local unions around the State, amid much
passing OF resolutions, bolted these convention
instructions.
Negroes have always been barred from all
but the Mexican saloons, and II Is but reason
able that they should hurl themselves into the
liqugiks sintrenchment. One Negro leader said:
I douh see how 1 am expected to get patriotic
over place I'm not allowed to go into The
Negro population almost to voter, dug out
its hatchets and with Joy sharpened them for
the now humble and petitioning saloon man.
1.-The Mexican considers that to steep himself
for two days (after payday in the combination
of denatured alcohol and aniline dye, locally
known red eye and then to wreck his
cabin, is to achieve as much of heaven a
poor can hope. A large per cent. of the
a rough 100 per cent deport themselves as de-
scrlbed Hence the mine managers and their
following were not out labOring night and day
to uphold the integrity of the mining camp
saloon,
"The vets imported the many times ex-
Mayor of the wettest town in the United States,
and he cited quotations from the Scriptures
which showed that practically all the revered
figures of tradition had lived with regard TO
beverages either a dissolute and disorganized
life had spent their literary efforts extolling
such existence. The drys' met this by NOV
ing picture film, entitled Ten Nights in Bar
room' shown nightly to thousands which por-
trayed such highly colored and regretful ac-
tvtles In the saloon business that people who
had never seen a saloon were exceedingly dis
turbed."
The Widow IN Town Topics, who is IN
elined to take a conservative, If not reao-
tionary view of matters is very resentful
over the progress of prohibition, which she
terms ian interference with personal lib
erty' ~:
'In Washington, d. c., there are already
some silly little laws that interfere with per-
sOnal liberty. Somebody got through a law
that woman could not have a drink unless
she ate something 1t did not seem to be the
moral of 1t, but the Htoxcation of it.
III she ate she would not whoop or howl
cry or laugh. or tomahawk. At first she had
to eat 80 cents worth. But the stomach when
deeently filled refuses food. whether food
means morals or not. the law OF 80 cents
was cut to 25 cents,
"At San Antonio. Tex. the law did not say
either man or woman, but II you wanted a
drlnk-oocktail or anything else-you had to
get IL yourself at the bar. The walters would
not serve you. This law seemed to hit women
particularly, as-as yet-there mighty few
women wanting this sort OF refreshment enough
to go to a bar and. with foot on the brass
rail- ask for Il and drink It. But II you had a
man with you he could go to the bar and get
Coz AV.Ha