The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-03-12

cnhnl in various forms. the answer
must he in the Affirmative. The COM
servation OF natural resources. the
mines, the soil, and the forests, Is a
worthy aim, indeed; but how about the
conservation OF human beings? Are
not the flesh and blood OF tho people
the most essential national reSouree? ?
The annals OF insanity. crime and pow
erty in America clearly show that the
family. specially among the laboring
classes, ia disInteErating or cannot
be formed at all. 1t il true that there
are important economic factors In the
problem: but alcoholism is common
ly found as determining cause OF
numerous social wrecks.
The burden on society duo to the
poisoning OF the individual and the
family by whiskcy, wine or beer. de-
serves special consideration. Every
Saturday of debauchary in the Amer.
lean cities presents the nation with
an increasing number OF absolute
idiots. who havo to no sheltered.
clothed and fed by the innocent tax
payer. But people do not mind 1t. and
simply so on drinking to each others
health. II they but realized that many
are actually drinking to each others
insane asylum. society would be very
much relieved. The commission of
fifty attributes to drink sixty per cent
of 1906 cases In one OF the municipal
lodging houses Of the city of New
York, and twenty-five per cent of gen.
eral pauperism. 1t also found that
thirty-seVen per cent Of the poverty
within almshouses and forty-five per
cent of the restitution Of children
were caused by alcoholic Intemper-
ance in themselves or In someone else.
The commission was conservative, not
attributing any case to drink unless
1t was obviously the principal and de-
termining cause. (10l The loss of
money to the state of New York due
to insanity is S2.400.000. and TO the
nation. $12,000.000 every year. The
cost Of crime caused by the use OF
liquor in various combinations has
been estimated at $40,000.O00 annual
ly, paid by the local and federal gov
ernments. I'LL
The sums Of money taken from the
public purse to remedy the evils just
mentioned. can be replaced by indus
try and thrift in the course of time;
but among the things that cannot be
replaced, are the opportunities for edu-
cation denied to the children OF the
drinking masses on account Of inher-
ent mental deficiency or because they
have to support their parents. The
number of children that miss educa-
ton for these reasons has not been
completely estimated; but there are
figures for high school attendance in
many states. In forty-six cities and
towns in Connecticut having saloons
the ratio of high school attendance
in 1912 to the total number OF boys
and girls available was 1913 to 10000;
in twenty-five non-llcense towns and
cities the ratio was 1853 to 10000. (12l
In Nebraska. an average western
state, the wet county seats show a
high school enrolment OF twenty-nine
to 1000; while in the dry county seats
the ratio Is sixty-fve to 1000. t13l
The saloon Is without doubt the rival
of the school. Besides weakening the
children by weakening the parents, II
neutraIizes by suggestion and example
the principles taught, and Is partially
responsible for sending an army of
children to the sweatshop.
The last suh-toplc under the social
aspect of the question deals with the
struggle Of labor and capital as affect
ed by liquor. Alcohol is detrimental
to rich and poor alike; yet 1t can new
er be a powerful enemy OF tho capt.
talistlc classes because they have
plenty OF money. and can travel and
pay the doctor whenever necessary.
But the laborer is in the opposite con-
altions. Drink finds him already a
slave whose inlmoblIity Is proverbial.
The habit adds more weight to his
heavy yoke, deprivlng him OF oil the
chances OF liberation. 1.-THE ravages
of intemperance are most plainly to
be traced in classes directly above the
pauper class. 1t Is among artisans
and those capable OF earning good
wnges that the most energy In spent
for alcohol and the most vitality is
burned out" t14) In his splteftl mis-
cry, the drinking laborer cannot un-
derstand his true relation to capital.
All social training Is lost on him; he
Is a stumbling block in the way OF
the refortner and a dangerous weapon
in the hands OF the anarchist.
1t remains for me to show that
liquor has q detrimental influence on
the morals and politics OF the nation.
and therefore impairs its stability.
John Stuart Mill defines the standard
of morality as "+ the rules and
precepts OF conduct which procure tho
greatest happiness In quality and
quantity for all mankind The quail