The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1917-10-04
THE TOBACCO RATION

( ton. Tobacco has been the friend Of
/ temperance in modern times. 1t was
said by the Preacher, Give strong
drink unto him that is ready to perish !;
4 let him drink, and forget his poverty,
and remember his misery no more. T"
But the rational modern man, instead
Of drinking to forget his hardships,
lights a pipe, md blows away his
troubles in its wreathing cloud of
smoke. Which is the wiser consola-
ton? In the case of the American
soldier, strong drink, or even wine or
beer, is now forbidden, to be sure. 1t
may be argued by the Womens Chris
| tian Temperance Union that with the
forcible Topping off of one indulgence
an opportunity is afforded to lop off
another. If that is indeed their reas-
oning, il is unfortunate as WEI as fall
lacious, for the attack on the solacing
weed is likely to create the impression
in the soldiers mind that the object of
the Union is not merely to forward his
welfare by discouraging hurtful alco-
holic indulgence, but to deprive him of
all comfort whatsoever; and the con-
clusion is likely to react IN general
determination in the Army's ranks to
evade or defeat the liquor prohibition.
The opposition suggests the familiar
and well founded view of the Puritans'
prohibition of bear batting. They sup
pressed that sport, it will be remem-
bered not because it gave pain to the
bear, but because it amused the people.
Government tobacco rations have
been quite customary in this country
in time of war. They were issued,
though of necessity somewhat spas
medically and occasionally, in the
Civil War. They were issued in the
Spanish War, and the writer of this
can testify from personal observation
that they had an excellent effect then,
for the plain reason that it was ex-
tremely difficult to land food supplies
for the army on the coast of Cuba,
and the lighter tobacco rations which
it was possible to hand out served as
consolation for the shortness and bad
quality of the food. The half-fed and
water-soaked soldier, sitting down in
the weltering tropical camp and filling
his pipe with an inexpensive but pop
uar brand Of North Carolina tobacco,
was in some measure comforted for
the want of sufficient food. His heart
was made lighter in the midst of hard
ship and sickness. He understood that
Uncle Sam had not forsaken him alto
gether. He took up his burdens and
faced his duties with greater willing
ness and cheerfulness.
There is cogent military and war
winning reason for an American to-
bacco ration in France and on the
ocean, at least The majority of our
soldiers and sailors are habitual to-
bacco users. They are not morally
called upon TO discontinue this habit
merely because they have entered the
service of the country. On the other
hand, to deprive them of their tobacco
would be to infiict form of distress
upon them, and thus to decrease their |
efficiency. 1t may be said that they
are better paid than any other soldiers
and sailors, and that they can afford
to buy their own tobacco. But in
France, if they can buy any tobacco
at all, it is not Of a sort that they can
use, being extremely distasteful to
them. The Government, for an ex-
penditure per pound very much less
than that which the individual soldiers
would have 10 make, is able to supply
brands TO which the men are accus
tomesd and which they want Whether
or not it is necessity, its supply man
ifestly increases the mems efficiency
under the circumstances, and is there
fore abundantly justified.
Even as long ago as John Paul
Jones's heroic warfare it was the Gus
tom OF that redoubtable sea-rover to
reward his men with prize Of tobac-
CO when they took or beat an enemy's
ship. The prize was sound policy.
We are not proposing TO make tobacco
a prize now, but TO issue ration for
all. as matter Of national service
and grace. The soldiers ought 10 have
IL Their countrymen will not be-
grudge il to them and their country
women ought not to.--Botson Trans
rript.