New-York tribune., 1918-04-26
Believes Efficiency Is Not
Impaired by Beer and
Light Wines
Dry Efficiency Will
Win War, Says Another
High Cost of Drinking Now
Makes for. Greater
Temperance

Additional light is cast on the
mooted liquor problem in the sixth
instalment of opinions which The
Tribune presents to-day. From the
ranks opposed to prohibition appear
to come the majority of comments,
possibly Because the burden of proof
that liquor is justifable seems to rest
on them.
In response to a query put to him
by The Tribune yesterday DR.. Simon
Baruch, of 81 West Seventieth
Street, stated his views on the pro-
hibition question as follows:
~ am in favor Of the law prohibiting
the importation, manufacture and sale
of all distilled liquors, because they
are liable to abuse, inimical to health
and destructive of efficiency.
Failure OF the most laudable efforts
to remove the malign menace of al
cohol from the human race, together
with the universal use of coffee, tea.
cocoa, tobacco and ether mild stimu
lants or sedatives, demonstrate that
the craving for stimulants is omnlpo-
tent, and that it is especially dominant
in its most active, energetic and spir-
tied members.
1.-The increasing use of drinks pro-
duced by fermentation and containing
small quantities of alcohol, diluted, ar
pears to offer an avenue of escape from
the menace of distilled intoxicants,
which are always used in concentrated
form, and for this reason inflict local
and general harm to the organism.
THAT the Latin races, accustomed to
the use of light wines, are thrifty and
efficient, and have been practically free
from the demoralizing and physically
depreciating effects Of alcohol until
distilled intoXicants were introduced
among them, is matter of common
2knowledge. Il
Beer No Bar to German Efficiency
"That the Germans, who may be re-
garded as beer-drinking nation, have
not suffered in efficiency is demon
strated by the fact that they have, un-
fortunately. so far held their own in
warning dgainst practically the whole
civilized world.
81 have letters from the military at
taches of the three largest nations en-
gagged in the present war. which show
that mild alcoholic stimulants, chiefly
of the fermented type, are not regarded
as depreciatlng the valor, energy or
capacity for endurance of their SOL
diers.
1T would appear to be good policy
to follow the practical experience of
the largest armies that have ever been
engaged in conflict rather than the
counsel of the we'll meaning advocates
of total prohibition, whose zeal outruns
their discretion.
The manufacture and consumption
OF wine IN this country are insignificant
in comparison with that of beer. |
want to say a word in favor of the en-
couragement of the production Of beer
81 low alcoholic percentage as a prom
ising substitute for the manufacture
and consumption of the dangerous
products Of distillation and the sale of
such beer in places that would offer
attractions not existing in the saloons
OF the day.
"Ir many towns in Denmark may
now be found an afholdjen (temper-
ance home), and in the small villages
the schoolhouse is used at night for
this purpose. A sign bears the legend:
No strong drinks sold here They
close at II o'clock. In Copenhagen
some OF .neSe establishments offer also
rooms for meetings, concerts, theat-
licals, dancing and other recreation.
These unique establishments are IA
yored by the temperance advocates.
They have already reduced the con-
sumption of ardent spirits,
Beer has much to defend itself
against being included as serious
menace, to life and efficiency with bran
dy and other distilled drinks. Beer
of alcohol SO largely diluted that its
possible toxic action is reasonably pre-
ciuded) sufficient nutritive material to
furnish in one quart 4jO calories. We
see mechanics and other toilers sitting
on our sidewalks during tho MO-, ho,,s
washing down their coarse food with
cooi beer from their tin buckets.
although this is common practice
= =. does not appear to diminish work
ing capacity or efficiency; at anv rate
u IS not objected to by their emnlov'
ers. have seen these men Immediate