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

ity Of the happiness produced by al
cohoI Is the peculiar sensation OF los
ing your own will power; its quantity
Is measured by the time elapsed be-
fore you become nuisance to society.
But this Is by no means the greatest
good for the greatest number. The
happiness derived from the use Of in
toxIcants-f such thing be called
happiness-is squarely opposed to the
three moral forces which regulate the
conduct Of civilized countries; the
home, the school and the church. The
saloon sells the drink and its morbid
happiness, and stands as the true
enemy of all the institutions that reg
ulate human conduct, specially OF the
church. A striking illustration is Civ
en- by the city OF Chicago, where there
were in 1918 ], 100 churches, chapel and
missions, against 7,150 saloons. (16)
The production OF alcoholic beverages
Is not less immoral than their sale
and consumption. The food destroyed
for the manufacture Of intoxicants In
America every year Is equivalent to
5000. 100000 loaves Of bread. which
could take care easily Of the bread
lines in every great American city.
Evidently, hunger for the greatest
number seems TO be the motto OF
those who change barley. corn or rye
into alc0hol-in truth, not a nation
building motto.
without the deep rooted political
influence OF the liquor interests, many
Of the private gains and public losses
could be diminished or made lmpog-
siblc. Since liquor is a social inher-
itance, the man back Of the traffic
and many other financial rulers at
the top On OF society, take advantage
OF this drug for specializing purposes.
while the common people forget, or
are made 10 forget, that other things
In life must be conquered. 1t Is sim
ply a political method of holding them
down. DIR. Lees, of London, has shown
that an identical policy was used by
the ruling classes in the Elizabethan
period Ito restrict the growing indie
pcndencc and wealth of the common
people" (16)
1t lis not surprising to find whole
in the United States using to adyan-
tage this classical method. And 1t Isl
we'll within the truth to say that there
is considerable number Of appar-'
emily innocent and altruistic public
officers who are also deyotees OF this
classical method. How such thing
Is possible in America, the land OF
enlightenment. is question difficult
TO answer in detail. The crowds think
that liquor is a necessary commodity
as water or bread. It has been hand-
ed down from generation to genera
ton: It is well preserved and adver-
tlsed; It has good CD taste; and
is sanctioned by the government. The
licensing of the liquor industry may
help to explain the nerpetuation OF
the drink habit among the consumers,
and also the development OF the drink
power among the producers. Previous
10 the establishment OF the public
revenue system in 1862, there was no.
real liquor power. From 1870 to 1890
the number OF malt liquor producing
establishments decreased from 1892 to
1909. but the capital invested In the,
Industry increased from $40, 100000 to
s450,000,000, a change marking the.
elimination of the small producer and
the beginnings OF the corporate manu-
factlre. I'D
AS a consequence of favorable poll
cies, legislation and administration.
the liquor power controls the destiny
OF innumerable towns ana cities, spe-
cially through the able breeding OF the
saloon vote. In the great centers of
population all over the country, the.
laboring classes misuse their political
power under the influence OF alcohol
In view OF this we'll established fact
the saloon has taken the attitude ola.
paternal institution. the democratic
poor MANS club. The laboreri who IFS
not particularly fond Of club life. goes.
there for drink, and for the accurate.
illumination ot his ideals and p1r-
poses. He becomes member OF some
personal liberty society. OF the type
which abounds IN Chicago, gradually
spends his health and money. and nm
fishes his education by selling his vote
TO the saloon keeper or assistants, who
quickly deliver the same 10 the ruling,
power (1sl This corrupt political
,nechantsnl runs smoothly day and
might I'm the United States during