New-York tribune., 1918-05-14
Prohibition T Here, Make the Most Of 1t,
Millionaire Lumberman Declares

apparent. MARIE E. M'LEAN
Describes Various
Classes of Drinkers
Some of the classes of drinkers
which he has observed are outlined
as follows by Matthew C. Rourke.
of the boat Smithfeld at the Belle
vue Hospital, at the foot of East
fwentysiNth street, who writes:
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Some of the most noticeable
classes of drinkers are set forth here
as types:
The moderate drinkers, who ebb and
flow through the saloon doors all day
and arc foolish throng, thoughtlessly
addicted to the nipping habit; and
sooner or later the earmarks of the
bleary eye and frayed trousers are in
evidence.
The night cap and eye opener fends
are the most persistent Of all i'm
bibers. They become deluded with the
belief that they need drink, until
imaginary shackles are riveted upon
them stronger than bands of chilled
steel
The secret drinkers hold some social
members of the church.,
The "single handed" drinkers are
little understood and are frequently
misjudged as parsimonious. They shun
companionship. They do not wish any
joviality with their cup. Apparently
they drink for the love of it and are
often quiet, thoughtful persons.
The periodical drinker is most of all
to be pitied. Some periodicals fail to
ali IL honl ,S,t@ ",
remain driftwood. Some recover them
selves until another spree leaves them
more helpless and hopeless than the
last one. Each time they are stepped
more thoroughly in the dregs.
The habitual drinkers may so on
for years attending to business-with
a spell of delirium tremens about once
year. Thus is the Scripture fulfilled
when it says of drink: cat the last it
biteth like serpent and stingeth like
an adder"
MATTHEW c. ROURKE.
Apropos Prohibition
In Newfoundland
One who doubts the good faith
of the challenge of the pres
ident of the New York Liquog
Dealers Association is Richard C.
Power, executive secretary of the
American Military Hospital No. i,
at III Madison Avenue, who writes
as follows:
To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: The offer of Mr.. Henry j. Kali
tenbach, president of the New York
State Liquor Dealers Association, ITO
pay $4,000 to the Red Cross on the
production of official records such as
would be considered evidence in court
of law to prove that the use of alco-
holic beverages is the chief factor in
causing insanity, crime, poverty and
disease" is worded in such way as
to leave him a very convenient loophole
Of escape. 1t would probably be i'm
possible to produce evidence of the
kind he stipulates, showing that alcohol
is the chief factor in causing insanity,
prepared to produce evidence, as re-
CARDS one point at least, showing alco-
holic beverages to be a large factor
in the cause of crime. In order to
make the following evidence official, |
have written to the Inspector General
of Police in st. Johns, Newfoundland,
for a statement of the figures in his
official capacity.
Of course Mr. Kaltenbach will not
regard this evidence as sufficient to
justify his paying $4,000 to the Red
Cross. His offer is worded in such a
manner that it is perfectly evident
that he has no intention of paying this
money, no matter what evidence is
adduced. because it would be as near
to an impossibiity as one can imagine
to produce evidence on those points
such as would be accepted in a court
of law. Evidence, however, of a kind
that will be readily accepted in the
court of public opinion is overwhelm-
ing, and it is fairly apparent that Mr..
Kaltenbach and his associates in the
liquor business have seen the "hand
writing on the wall" and that they are
considerably worried
The following item. quoted from the
January ID, 1918, issue of "The Even
ing Herald" Of st. Johns, Newfound-
land. shows the record of the Police
Department in the city of st. Johns
for the first year under prohibition:
"The police authorities hand US the
following statement showing a very
decided reduction in the arrests for
drunkenness, rowdyism and larceny
during 1917. also showing a remark
ably improved record the last year,
which they ascribe entirely to the pro-
hibition act being enforced:
Arrests for drunkenness. 422 CT
Drunk and disorderly. 1876 20
Larceny ................. 2OS 1O9
Total arrests .......... 1,10S 483
Before the prohibition act went into
effect in ST. Johns people were per-
mitted to stock up as heavily as they
pleased with liquors, and during the
ensuing year large numbers of Spanish
ships coming to St. Johns to load cod
fish brought wines and brandies, which
the crews surreptitiously sold to citi-
zens. In view of these facts the de-
crease in the number of arrests shows
a remarkable change and one which it
even more so under bonc-dry prohibi-
ton. The peculiar isolation of New
foundland makes it possible for the
principle of prohibition to be tried out
there on it's merits, and it is impos-
sible to interpret these figures other
wise than ms showing that liquor was
responsible for at least half the arrests
made by the police in 1916. Note we'll
that petty thefts decreased SO per cent
under prohibition
st. Johns being my home town, am
thoroughly familiar with conditions
there, and I am convinced that under.
bone-dry prohibition the arrests would
decrease almost to the vanishing point.
Nevertheless my personal views are
rather in favor of the sale of light