The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1916-03-15
THRIFT 7 TALK
DRINKING IS
EXPENSIVE
4 DOLLAR CAN BE SPENT QUICK
ER AND WITH LESS TO SHOW
FOR IT AT THE BAR THAN IN
ANY OTHER WAY.

Whatever may be the consensus Of
opinion as to the necessity for anC
desirability of alcoholic liquors as
beverages, no thinking man will deny
that drinking is an expensive habit,
costly both 10 the individual and 10
the state. a dollar can be spent
quicker and with less TO show for il
at the bar than in any other way,
and the man who is a good spender''
and keeps pace with the crowd around
the social glass must keep a pace
that kills.
OF late years the production and
consumption Of liquors and beer has
increased enormously, and from OBJ
seryation one would conclude that
everybody drinks a little and most
people too much. The resultant evils
are widespread and far reaching, even
to the third and fourth generation. for
the cost does not end with the wait
er's check, but with the bills for
police, almshouses, prisons and pot.
ter's fields.
The man who INDUCES this habit
must realize that he is putting a
self-impOsed tax upon his thrift, as
well as a tax upon his energies. Or
what avail to work hard and then
spend to no useful end? Why work
for the man who stands behind the
bar? Why spend days wages in
half an hour, and get nothing for it
but thrill If the state should put
the same tax upon his income that
he puts upon himself he would rebel.
Then, too, he who spends his money
thus must realize that he is simply
putting money in the bank for the
other fellow. II may take q circuit
Gus route to get there, but eventually
it will find lodgment in some bank,
where it will work for somebody, per-
haps harder than he worked for it,
And the easiest way to get it in a
bank quick-to the other fellows ac-
counts to buy the drinks for the
crowd.
Cheering news along this line
comes from government reports on
the consumption of liquor for the past
year. Alcohol is lessening its tax
upon thrift. The consumption of
liquor in 1913 was 143,220,056 gallons.
In 1914 it was 13913S,5O1 gallons,
while in 1915 it was 125,155,17S gal
Ions, net decrease of IS million
gallons in two years. Likewise in the
matter Of tobacco. In 1915 we burned
up six hundred million less cigars
han heretofore in a single year, and
he governments tobacco revenues de-
,reased $2,5O0,OOO One hundred and
sight distilleries went out of busi- |
less in 1915 and forty-one breweries |
,eased TO brew. Forty per cent of |
,ur government revenues have been |
lerived from liquor taxes, and in
915 these revenues fell off over twen-
y-two million dollars.
Whatever may be the cause for this
showing whether be-
ause of the thoughts of war and
What it might mean, or whether as
'eople we are beginning to realize
hat this is a tax; or whether it is
ecause in many places you can't get
lawful drink, the fact remains that
'e are drinking less and saving more.
Whether a man figures that drink
1g is expensive, or harmful, matters
title as long as he stops. This con-
lusion isEvery apt to fatten his pock'
tbook somewhat and pad his pay
nvelope and make him a better citi-
en-. When he concludes that indul
ence in any form of extravaganza
an get him nowhere but downwards,
I, |