New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-11


and farmers.
Soon after the war started President Poin-
care Of France issued proclamation ordering
the stoppage Of the manufacture or sale OF alb
.lnthe The French Chamber voted nearly
100000 20 reimburse absinthe sellers for
taxes PAID BY them and for the purchase of
liquors in their possession. as preliminary 20
orohibition. The President says he will drink
no sbsinthe while the war lasts.
oTHE KAISER IS AN ABSTAINER-IN
THE MATTER OF ALCOHOL"
Cerrnany's beer output, it appears, has been
curtailed 40 per cent ito save grain for bread
and feed purposes" which would imply that
be.r is not really substitute for food, and dis
matches assert that now there is a restriction
n The sale Of whiskey in Essen, the city Of
Krupp guns which would imply that beer sales
have not really stopped whiskey sales, as we
have been so often told
The Kaiser is an abstainer-in the matter OF
alcohol Further he favors the referendum
ior 4 vot. on wet or dry throughout the Ger
man states.
Beer and whiskey are among the major
curses OF this country" Arnold Bennett cabled
70 this country from England last month. And
h. added: Government can properly give aid
70 the asoirations toward sobriety which all OF
rs even tpDlers and drunkards, have in our
secret souls
King George Of England has just urged
,bstentioa from liquor during the war, and de-
,lares he will not use intoxicants while hostil-
with the statement that he will do without,
thank you at least until the war IS over.
And Secretary Bryan's support of the makers
Of grape juice has long been an international
topic.
Plenty OF excuse, therefore, for prohibition
lists the world over 10 recline in attitudes more
or less graceful and smile indulgenty at the
rest Of mankind But it appears on invesuga-
ton that prohibitionists in this city at least do
not recne.
They have been campaigning for so many
years. have been the butt of so many jokes; so
many distleries, most of them working nights
to supply the demand, have been pointed out
TO them in so many sections of the globe and
Carrie Nation to so many uninterested per
sons seemed 20 accomplish so little after ALL
that as class prohibitionists take little
thought concerning relaxation now the cnahoe
to snatch a little has arrived.
No one has a better right to take resi- II
inclined that way, which he isn't, than DR.. A
A. Hopkins. whom the writer interviewed
few DAYS ago. As a former candidate for Gov
ernor Of New York on the Prohibition ticket
present editor Of The National Advocate
which IS the official organ Of the National
TEMPERANCE Society and the National Inter
Church Temperance Federation; author OF
more than half a dozen books, including
Wealth and Waste" which Is in use IN four
hundred colleges as a textbook on the e00-
nomics Of the temperance question, DR.. hop
hns Is one Of the best qualified men IN tnis
country 70 epitouze present conditions IN THIS
field.
WAR TEACHES WHAT SCIENTISTS
AND ECONOMISTS ALREADY KNEW
Asked what he thought of recent develop
msnts regarding prohibition in Great Britain
Dr.. Hopkins promptly said:
The great governments Of Europe, their
governing classes and good part OF their peo-
pie have learned in eight months OF war what
r,iormers and scientists and economists have
been teaching through years of peace-that
drink is leech upon labor, the curse of CAPT
tai, peril TO national prosperity, the greatest
foe Of industrial efficiency.
The liquor traffic has been robbing those
nations overseas just as it has been and still
robbing our own nation Of the greatest pro-
duetve ability, the surest returns upon invest
nents Of money and manhood. In times OF
Peace this pillage can be borne, perhaps for
long periods; in time of war the burden OF IT
can not be carried. 1t grove too costly for
commerce, zoe heavy for patriotism, too pratt
cal for justice, too unwise for craftsmanship"
But" DR.. Hopkins was asked, does not
the liquor traffic help by the taxation upon it TO
Garry the burdens of war"
Never more than by its taxation does it
help to bear the burdens of government in time
Of peace
Who pays the revenue derived from the
liquor traffic at any timeY asked DR.. Hopkins.
The drinkers-the people. Distillers, brewers
@a baIkeepers are merely the tax collectors