The daily morning oasis., 1917-12-06
DECREASING DRUNKENNESS.

A decided decrease in drunknness is noted in all
parts of the country. New York, Chicago, San Fran
CISCO and other metropolitan cities report that
for ntoxication and arraignment Of runks in their
police courts have fallen off in a remarkable degree
By close observers the causes of this marked de-
crease in depOrabe condition varied; but to a
great extent the opinion to go to belief that
caused by the occupation of mind given by the big
raging to thousands who had to do little but idle
about and get themselves sOused pastime Touching
upon that feature eastern writer has commented
follows
"a gratifying decrease Of drunkenness is noted.
Not only arrests for habitual intoxcaton at mini
num- but the records of magistrates courts the emp
ness of alcoholic wards in the hospitals and the lessen
led business of the farms treating nsobriety all testify
to prevalence of sobriety unusual for New York.
"And not less interesting than the fact of these
changed conditions is their They not due to
prohibition to any lack of liquor the reserve ac-
cunulated to tide tn edrought resulting from grain
conservation in is ample No doubt the higher cost
of drinking is conducting to its decline But the an
potant cause, as experts agree is work The demand
for labor being constantwhen drinking loses his
job he get another he sobers up, and
this is against habitua drunkenness According to Belle
hospital surgeon, of derium tremens have al
most disappeared.
"The Improvement is the main thing, regardless Of
the agency by which has been effected But that the
agency should be work and that should have sup
piled that work not the least remarkable aspect of the
change. Industry has thus proved a powerful
IacCOf IN aDSnonco IMAM moral propaganda, ana Cne
freak Of fate it is to that the inoustry!
From Tennessee there comes another view of the
decrease which is given voice. the leading newspaper Of
that state the Nashville Amercan) dealing with the sub
lect in this wise.
"The bone-dry law in Tennessee has been the great
est factor in reducing drunkenness in this state. 1t is
true that work has had effect but trial at real
prohibition such as exists in Tennessee will convince
New York that it does need sober the
people Prohibition that makes it next to impossible for
men to get liquor gives them time to Think they will
wonder why they have for long kept their hides full
of liquor and by that ruined their efficiency their
characters and their homes When they have thought
they will LONGER seek the stuff that held them slaves
drunkenness in Tennessee is considered dis
grace by those who formerly considered it pass
port to everything desirable in the world
with the start that New York now has the start
consisting of sober than she has had be-
foretha state could at least make trial of prohibition
New York will find that she get along reasonably
well without liquor"
Those who are fair in the matter can seee that in
Arizona enforcement of the strict prohibition con-
sttutona amendment and the legislation framed in it's
support has had deal to do in diminishing drunkenness.
No will deny that liquor may be had by almost any
who wants it, and has the price But the price has
become prohbitive of itself. To man craving ag|
there is wide difference between dropping into an open
saloon and filling himself at ten cents per glass; and
hunting place where booze is sold surrepttousy a
dollars quart At such prices fewer jags be
built than when sufficient liquor to week
could be bought for dollar
eight hour day if there statute to make them
SIeeD EIGHT hours