The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-07-07
biton band wagon and never expect to

| bition band wagon and never expect to | ride therein.
 l I do like the water wagon, and during
 the remainder of the limited time I may continue to spend on mother earth l am going to do all in my power-which 1 am willing to admit cannot be much--to ad- vertise the water wagon as safe and
 sane and pleasant conveyance. Why?
 Because the drinking of booze is ruinous 1 to the most of thse who indulge; it is dangerous for the professed moderate
 drinker; while total abstinence is for all absolutely safe I know that booze never 1 did any man any good. Booze never got any man better job. And 1 know that
 booze never contributed anything to the l happiness of any family.
 | It cannot be denied that the efficiency | of a man is reduced in exact proportion l to the amount of alcohol he drinks. The 1 total abstainer ranks above the moderate
 drinker in reliability and efficiency in all classes of work nearly as much as the moderate drinker does above the heavy, regular thinker
 The manager of large Chicago manu- featuring plant recently stated that the moderate use of liquor tends to impair efficiency and reliability, and we do not knowingly employ men who drink, nor advance them to positions of authority if they are employed
 In another large manufacturing plant in Illinois is posted throughout the estab- lishment bulletin signed by the general superintendent and approved by the pres ident, as follows:
 "For the promotion of safety and well fare it is hoped that all employees will avoid the use of intoxicating liquors. 'Under the rules of the Joliet works, any -employe who uses intoxicating liquor while on duty will be discharged. 'In making promotions in all depart ments of the plant superintendents of de- partments and foremen will select for
 promotion only those who do not use in- toxicating liquor."
 A short time ago I read in one of the Birmingham daily papers that the Bir- mingham Typographical union had placed a ban upon booze drinking by appren- tices, and as one-time printer I re- ioiced. That means more fellowpassen- gers on the water wagon, and passen-
 gers with brains and intelligence.
 am not bowling for "Saloonless Nation in 1920" or any other year; but
 for a drnkless nation; but drinkless
 nation will never come until the fact is
 brought home to every man and boy Tn
 this country that business and booze will
 not mix, and that total abstinence Is the
 one safe bet; then and not till then will
 Demon Rum be forever destroyed, the
 political prohibition band wagon rele-
 gated to the scrap heap and the water
 wagon come into its own.
 could write column or two on why
 like the water wagon, and even then
 not give one-half my reasons, but am
 not going to do so.
 I was glancing through book of quo-
 tations, or Seed Thoughts. they were
 called, just few moments ago, and hap
 pened to see one entitled ''The Abstain
 CTS Creed" and as it 90 clearly expresses
 my sentiments have adopted it for my
 self and hope my fellow passengers on
 the water wagon will also adopt it. do
 not know the name of it's author. It is as follows:
 q believe that the demon of strong
 drink is the gigantic foe of God and man; that it ruins man alike for happiness on
 earth and blessedness in heaven and
 that two-thirds of all the pauperism,
 crime and woe on earth may be traced
 to him as his progeny; that he was con
 ceived of Satan. born of the depraved
 appetites of men, and inflicts only suffer- ing upon his victim; that under his rule
 reason is crucified, love dies, and con
 science is buried that man descends into a hell even upon earth, and has no res.
 urrection for his manhood nor redemp- ton for his enslaved soul but in the
 power of God; that no drunkard can enter
 into the kingdom of God or abide His presence who shall come to judge the living and the dead.
 "I believe in the saving and keeping power of the Holy Ghost; that the whole Christian church should unite to assault and overthrow this awful traffic in strong drink, and deliver humanity from the curse of the drink habit; that the only salvation for humanity is in uncompro- missing total abstinence for the individual. and above all the embrace of the gospel of Christ, who alone can redeem body and soul from the slavery of sin, and thrill us with the power of life everlast- ing"
 THOMAS MITCHELL ROGERS.
 Birmingham, July 5, 1916