New-York tribune., 1918-04-25


factors that may enter the question.
While the immoderate use Of alcohol
andeniably brings in it's train the most
deplorable results, there can be no
doubt that its rational consumption
antagonizes a great deal of mental dis
com fort, lightens the tagged brain and
supplies the loss of much needed en-
tie or no reaction, favors the exchange
of ideas and makes the workingman
forget much that is sordid. 1t is not
necessary that he should be drunk to
bring about these things.
The moderate use of alcohol is for
many man of the present day very
important hygienic measure. So let
US rather, regulate than abolish.
ALLAN MTANE HAMILTON, MD.
LII. D., F. R. S. Z.
Great Darlington, Mass, April 23.,
1918.
The state superintendent of the
Anti-Sa!oon League of New York in
the following letter takes exception
to DR.. Edson's contention that most
anarchists, Socialists and labor agi-
tators are prohibitionists
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: DR.. D. 0. Edison, whom you
mold up as psychologist. manifestly
starts with a preconceived prejudice
against prohibition. A good deal of
sound to those who have read liquor
journals. The Cracker" or the
"stinger" of his article completely be-
trays his animus. He says:
Il beg to draw attention to the fact
that the typical Industrial Worker Of the
World, Socialist. anarchist or labor agi-
tator. is not an alcoholic in any way
will even say is rarely a user of ferment-
ed liquors. - s -1
He is usually prohibitionist.''
If this were true the prohibition
forces would know it. 1t is not true.
We do not question the proposition
that some Of the type DR.. Edison re-
fers to are total abstainers, but there
/ is a great difference between "total
abstainers" and "prohibitionists." as
Dr. Edison knows if he knows anything
about this question.
II DR.. Edson cannot produce the
names to show that there is something
more substantial back Of his claim
than merely overstimulated rhetoric
the public will understand how much
scientific" weight is to be given to
| his other statements, which are not
corroborated or in harmony with hu-
man experience.
WILLIAM H. ANDERSON.
State Superintendent AntiSaloon
League of New York.
! Unless inspired in a mind stimu.
lated by liquor, no literature can be
enduring. How barren, how insipid
our reading matter but for wine
The following letter, devoid Of al
the characteristic wishy-washiness
of teetot9ler's literary expression
is a challenge to our literary pro.
hibitionists to cite the writer's who
drank water and still live:
To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: Should not some attention be
/ paid to alcohol as a mental stimulant
It is accepted by popular opinion
I that the teetotaler should live long, bu'
! never be very much alive.
/ In all the mental output of the un
fortunates consolidated under the
watery sign of Aquarius there is a GER
tain dilution of the color tones, char
acteristic wishy- -washiness, the faded
unaccententuated appearance Of having
soaked too often and too lcng in th'
ablutionary elements.
Attention. Water Drinkers.
Old Horace poll-parrots from the still
older Cratinus-who was probably poll
parroting from a lecturer before thu
Cave Ladies' Tuesday Club--thc decla
B., ration that nothing worth reading wa
ever written on cold water. mo verse;
which are written by water drinker
can please or be long-lived."
Does the reader care to question thi!
declaration? If so, let him confron
the old Roman wine bibber--with al
the summer of the vine in his veins an
with no more govt than was good TO
him. with list of literary master
pieces by famous teetotalers. Th
writer, browsing rather far afield il
English literature, cannot recall on
such clanmy delight anywhere, bu
; then his hatred for the -bibbini
cult has in it something almost ny
drophobic. Perhaps the esoteric of tn
cult can recall much good literatur
not reeking of the wine cup and no
thin and unsubstantial as sick men
cruel.
Hawthorne says that "all the literar
people who really make an essentia
part of ones inner life, including tn
period since English literature frs
, existed, might have ample elbow rool
to sit down and quafr their Castal
. round Chaucer's broad, horizonta
tombstone in Westminster Abbey.
|, Perhaps some good teetotaler. nigh
{ supply an estimate as to how large
. segment of the same broad tombston
i. would be sufficient to acsomm odat
readily the personalities--slightly VI
: dernourished, Of course!--of thos
} Sons Of Memory who preferred H2'
TO Castaly7
And now as a sort Of benediction o
the whole blatant prohibition cor
r troversy, let us each weigh for him
self the words Of the kindsst hea,
that ever found expression in Amer
. can literature heart Of DR.. on
! yer Wendell Holmes:
r II can only gelate the experience c
, my own family. ard that experienc
has been that people may take win
with their meals every day and Nv
: long. prosperous, yrtuous.. health
. and happy lives" y. X. Il.
4 The soul problem has it's tru
solution in religion, not In drink,
IL pointed out for the benefit q