New-York tribune., 1918-01-09
Sobriety of Americans
Impressed All London
Charges Made by Mcthodists That Troops
Abroad Turn Drunkards Are Baseess as Far as
England Is Concerned, Says British Writer

is thus on the move. is that he should
ask for the nearest Y. NJ. c. A. or SIM
liar "hut" | can assure you that there
is not a city in Britain where he will
not be looked after, if he gives chance
to those whose only desire it is to be
liberately avoids such welcoming hand
and throws in his lot with those whose
irtents arc evil, he may we'll run into
danger. After all we cannot dictate to
those who are our guests. You can
never deprive men and women of the
elemental choice between good and evil.
Moreover, it is not true that our
public houses are open day and night
to catch the unwary. For many hours
of the day and all hours of the night
they are closed boltcd and barred.
But, obviously, if you open those swing
doors for half an hour week only,
there will be men and women, who in
that half-hour will empty down their
throats enough liquor to fuddle their
brains. 1t always has been so. It al
ways will be. And sudden bursts Of
indulgence probably explain the re-
grettablc phenomenon Of bravo mon
occas sonally staggering along the
streets.
They Are the Exceptions
But they have been fewer far. if my
observation goes for anything, than in
days of peace. And this testimony is
supported by the statistics Of the
police. Indeed, the entire propaganda
of temperance would be at fault if
Sunday closing, early closing, restric-
ton Of supply and shutting off redund-
ent licenses did not limit the gigantic
evil of drink.
l shall be asked Yes. but is not
your drink bill rising: Will it not be
over 81 600 ,000,0 900 in 1917, and is this
figure not unprecedented 1t is quite
nprecedented-and much of this
colossal sum goes to brewers profits
now largely water, and the retailers
have so great a regard for heavens
purest beverage that they charge as
much for it as they do for alcohol. 1t
is good business for the shareholders,
but it does not mean, necessarily, that
men are made drunk. The revenue
gets it. by increased taxation returns.
Sweeping Charge Unjust
Close down this whole traffic and
none would be better pleased than my
self. One way of incapacitatng the
Russian army was to let loose once
more the hoodgates of drink A Ger
man. who wants to help his country,
cannot do better than dole out un-
limited beer to the Allied forces But
! have near relatives in the army.
know them to be sober and sef-sac-
rIhcng men, and | think that we
should be careful lest, in our zeal, we
bring on what may be a railing accusa-
ton against people who. in many cases,
are undoubtedly innocent. On the other
hand, if, at certain ports and bases,
these evils do exist as described, then
it is as much the duty of the military
authorities to step in and prevent them
as it is their dtuy to carry through any
other measure of discipline and eff
cheney. Stories have been floating
around even in Engjand--storics, that
Is, of conditions on the lines of conf
munlcations. Everything shall be done
that can be done TO minimize these
moral risks. And much would re-
peat-vcry much has been already ac-
complished.