The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1916-03-29
Sense Better Than Sentiment
In the Alcohol Question.
From the New York sun.

! A recent report of the United States pub
lie health service discussing the Sale and
! Use of intoxicating Liquors" furnishes data
| that should give pause to those whose well
meaning effort in the direction of prohi-
bition has been based chiefly on senti-
mental grounds. From the available data it
would appear that the annual per capita
consumption of alcohol in the United States
amounts to about twenty-five gallons, hav-
ing increased from four gallons in 1850 to
over twenty-five gallons in 1910, since
which time there has been a very slight
decrease. The fact that the steady and rapid
increase of alcohol consumption up to 1910
has at last been checked proves conclusively
that the former sentimental temperance agl-
tation by song, drama and literary output
was lamentably unsuccessful and that the
decrease in consumption did not begin un-
til sentiment was substituted by logical dem
onstration of the depreciating action OF alco-
hol upon the physical and mental activities
of the body.
Legislation designed to restrict the manu-
facture, sale and use of intoxicating liquors
has been winning place rapidly only in the
last five years. During the year ending Jan
uary, 1916, eight states began to enforce
statewide prohibition. When the law of
Virginia becomes operative in this year
total of nineteen states will have adopted
this system. The exaggerated data present.
ed by partisan prohibitionists have dam
aged the cause of temperance seriously; for
example, Capt R. P Hobson asserted in
an address at Germantown, Pa, that about
1900, 900 Americans were killed by alcohol
in one year, and that 1000 Americans are
slain each day by alcohol, when the fact is
in 1912 all the deaths between the ages of
| 4 and 81 would be about 1000 a day from
all causes. Captain Hobson also made the
unfounded statements that alcohol caused
1000 American men to murder their wives
each year. and $500 to kill their children.
In nine prohibition states twelve persons
in 100000 population were convicted of
murder and in the twelve licensed states
3.6 in 100000 were so convicted. Georgia,
prohibition state. had 715 prisoners con-
demned for murder, and New York only
forty-two The Hobson argument proves a
veritable boomerang.
Malignant narrow and unrelenting parti-
sanship has been a serious detriment be-
sides causing disrespect for law by reason
of its failure to be enforced On the other
hand, Chief Surgeon Maus of the eastern de-
partment of the United States army reports
that alcohol is the greatest factor making
for inefficiency in the army, and estimates
that it's Introduction would reduce the sick
rate 5 per cent He adds that alcohol is
responsible for practically all the crimes
committed by soldiers; it diminishes capac-
ty for work, marching endurance and accu-
racy in rifle practice, and impars the abil-
ty of officers to command troops. Such
facts are utilized more and more by indus
trial concerns Railroads of Europe and
America that have adopted rules for their
employees in respect to the use of alcohol
are not primarily governed by moral con
siderations, but chiefly by their demand for
efficiency and by Industrial economies.
The public has become convinced that
whatever encroachment upon sO-called per
sonal liberty may be involved in these auto
cratic restrictive regulations is unimportant
in comparison with the safety of the people. |