The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-04-30
In England Since War Began
According to Chairman Of
Liquor Traffic Board. e

Correspondents II Associated Prsss)
LONDON, April 29.-The results Of
the resolute methods applied by Eng
land to the regulation Of drink problem
nine months ago. after the first lessons
OF the wars demand had been learned,
are discussed in an interview with .
correspondent OF The Associated Press
by Lord DAbernon, chairman OF the
Central Liquor --Trafac Control Board,
the organization having the work in
hand. e.f i''.
Briefly. in areas accounting for
twenty-nine out Of forty-three million
population over which the board has
extended It's influence It has reduced
public Drunkenness roughly by fifty
per cent. The new regulation how
ever. will not extend beyond England.
Scotland and wnles.
May Wipe Evil Out
One OF Lord D,Abernon's most strik-
ing statements was his forecast that
were the problem Of intemperance at
tackled with .vigor and skill three
fourths Of the drink evil might never
occur.
"That Of course is one mans opin-
ion only" he emphasized. "but be-
lieve It Is fully justified In the light
OF what we have been fortunate enough
to learn. don't want to make the
mistake Of painting the picture In too
rosy light There Is certainly a
tremendous work ahead, even though
the midst does appear to be parting
some.
Bear In mind that prohibition, as
I understand its application In the
United States and Canada Is largely
rural. while these figures have given
refer to the cities. They compare with
your and the CT ladian claims in the
prohibition areas Of reductions Of
about sixty-six per cent.
Zone of the first points to bear in
mind In grasping the situation here is
that In the years Immediately preceding
the outbreak Of war both the con-
sumption Of alcohol and the number Of
convictions for public drunkenness
were steadily increasing.
Business Not Injured.
ALSO, in the past good trade has
always conceded with an increase in
consumption Of alcohol. It Ia disap-
pointing, therefore, to realize that In
1904 increased taxation Of alcohol,
the temperance propaganda. and the
licensing regulations In force. which
heretofore had resulted In an average
annual diminution Of 1000 licenses.
had not been sufficient to counterfeit
the influence Of good trade and high
wages.
an attempting to present fair re-
Election Of the situation, however, !
must give you a brighter side Of the
picture. This concerns the highly
gratifying readiness with which the
public has shown itself willing to
assist in seeing that all should con-
form to the drastic regulations Of the
last nine months.
you may attribute this trulv rc-
markable. attitude. believe. to, the
public's belief that the restrictions
are in reality war necessities, and
their willingness In q great crisis to
subserve personal convenience to
national efficiency.
NOn.Ifeaun8 Approved.
Among the. public at large It Is re-
markable also ttet there is Widespread
and practically general approval Of
such provisions as that prohibiting
treating. When q law interfering with
a right as sacred to the Englishman's
sense Of personal liberty as that Of
treating is not only accepted but vel
coined BY large portion Of the popu-
lace, you may see how the nation Is
welded to win the war. Likewise the
law prohibits the extension Of credit
in alcohol sales and that permitting
the dilution Of spirits. have not only
been approved. but elected little or no
criticism. "a.
1T is true, Of course, that more
difference exists regarding the restric-
ton Of hours. The board has attempt
ed to confine the consumption Of alco-
hol to hours conflicting least with the
working day and coinciding best with
ordinary meal hours.
Zone Of the best outward results Of
the boards work Is the reduction in
the number Of convictions for drunk
enness with aggravations, aggrava-
tons usually, representing disorder
and assault. The reduction IN the
number Of these cases has been even
greater than In the number Of simple
drunkenness. While not explained
this feature Is proving Of vast interest
to all students Of the problem. vi ,hs
No Falling Back. 4 ~
I'VE are not only pleased TO note the
reduction in public intenperance and
Of convictions referred to, but to OBJ
serve that they have been steadily
maintained in areas in which our
orders are In force, there having been
no falling back from the best level
reached" sul
The governments success in induc-
ing Lord D'Abernon 10 assume the
direction OF the important work con-
fronting the liquor trafic board was
considered o good omen from the start.
He is one OF the best known trade and
financial experts Of the empire. He
is also now chairman Of the Dominions
Royal Trade Commission, and has been
governor Of the Imperial Ottoman
Bank at Constantinople and financial
adviser OF the Egyptian government,
as well as the holder Of other appoints
ments Of distinction. ian
,ssr, Curious Slogan. 'iela
Curious as It may seem, one Of his
slogans Is that much may be done for
the cause Of Temperance by placing the
liquor trafic on better financial
basis. The true inwardness of this
idea Is that BY. consolidation Of brew