Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1917-09-27
Beer Has Brutaiized Germany

Are the brutalities OF the German gov
ernment attributable TO years OF beer
drinking? Professor Daily, OF Harvard
University, says they are. He is not
alone in his opinion. This symposium
on the effects OF beer drinking by Ger
mans is given publicity by the research
department OF the Board OF Temperance
OF the Methodist Church, which quotes
from Prof. Days article in Munsey's
Magazine, in which Mr.. Daily says:
al venture the hypothesis that lifelong
drinking of mild beer has been one OF
the most potent causes for the amazing
brutalites OF Official Germany. These
crimes have been ordered by men who
for decades have been poisoned by beer.
In times OF peace and quiet, the poison
causes arrangement OF brain tissue, often
expressed merely in some form Of senti-
mentality, plain or maudlin. II, however,
the victim is put under stress, his nervous
disorder is likely 10 lead 10 bad temper
and bad judgment, with endless posi-
bilitieS in the way of loss of dignity,
poise and the sense OF human fellow
ship.
Prof. DAILY points out that Germanic
people are the only group who feed al
cohol to babies and very young children,
and that child grown 10 manhood is 3
drinker OF alcohol and is handicapped IN
his development OF moral character.
Prof. DAILY closes with a quotation from
Moltke, who once said that beer is a
far more dangerous enemy TO Germany
than all the allies OF France"
German writers have not failed TO warn
the people Of the danger OF beer drinking.
Prof. Adolphe StilIe. OF Leipsic. has
made study OF beer drinking in !his
country, as we'll as in Germany, and his
statements are full OF interest. He de-
clares that the influence OF beer drinking
has disturbing element in all kinds OF
German society, and is quite, evident
here in America. He points 10 the fact
that every club, every society, whether
for bowling, music, target practice, dra-
maticS, is, on the inside, simply a beer
club. He tells how many Turnverin
has pledged itself TO take up intellectual
matters and has provided for library
and reading room, but the reading room
soon stands empty while the beer hall is
full. Continuing, he says:
at is plainly evident that all efforts for
advancement among the Germans in
America are drowned in beer, for the
same condition, are reported in all cities.
The German takes little interest inpublic
affairs except when il is question re-
lating 10 beer, Thea ne rises in wrath and
fights for 'person7l liberty that is,
liberty TO drink beer, especially on Sun
day and at band concerts"
Prof. Walter Rauchenbush in an ad-
dress TO the German people delivered in
Germany, warned the Germans that their
brilliant mental capacities were being
dulled and perverted by the insidious in
fluence of beer drinking. He declares
tnat "The most brulual scenes that
have ever witnessed in all my life were
not in America, but in Germany" Prof.
Rauchenbusch then went on TO say 10
his German audience
If we look through our German history
we see that many OF our intellectual
heroes have suffered from chronic al
coholism; and we learn that all our Ger
mon history has been more deeply in
fluenced by the chronic alcoholism OF
some of the chief leaders than most Of
us would think.
"And we see still more tie danger Of
our social drinking habits. So many
abnormally Redeemed faces, so many eyes
with baggy eye-lids Two things struck
me Immediately on my landing in Ham,
burg or Bremen-the immense number
OF uniforms and The immense number Of
corpulent men,"
Without a doubt these Germans are
right Beer has injured Germany. Beer
has brutalized Germany. Beer has had
a greater influence in Germany's inhuman
conduct in this war than the ordinary
man suspects. Beer has made Germany
into what she is today. Beer in this
country is pro-German The German
American Alliance has for IFS chief object
the perpetuation OF beer. Let the coun-
try get rid OF this brutaliziug un-Amef-
ican beverage.