New-York tribune., 1918-04-23
Physician Opposes Craze

Physician Opposes Craze
Beverly Robinson, NJ. D., who
"hopes it is not yet too la tie to put at
least partial stop to the prohibi-
ton craze" cites the following COM
nlent by Whidden Graham in the
April issue of "The North American
Review" as summing up his views:
"The sentiment in favor of laws pro-
hibiting the manufacture and sale Of
alcoholic beverages has been largely
created by the widespread circulation
Of statements purporting to show that
the use of Intoxicating liquors is the
chief factor in causing insanity, crime,
poverty and disease. This idea finds
expression in the statement, now be-
ing circulated in the press, that "the
Incorporate use Of alcohol is filing
our insane asylums. iails, poorhouses
and cemeteries This assertion is
generally accompanied by the further
statement that prohibition of the liquor
traffic materially reduces the number
of insane persons, as compared with
the number in prohibition terri
tory.
"To correct the mistaken impression
created by the constant repetition Of
these assertions it is only necessary to
examine the official records Of the va
rious states and the United States CEN
sus reports, which show that instead
+ Of alcohol being the chief cause of in
sanity. it is one Of the least Of causes.
Further disproof of the prohibitionlst
claims in regard to the relation of al
cohol to insanity are found in the con-
! clusions reached by eminent allenists
/ and scientific students of the question
and state records showing that prohibi-
I ton does not diminish insanity"
Are fifty glasses of beer day too
much for one man? One German ad-
mits it is, according to Dr.. James Y.
Chalmers, who also quotes an Ameri-
can soldier as convinced that two
glasses is too much for daily con-
sumption. DR.. Chalmers's one fear is
that prohibition will make the nation
too efficient.
To the Editor Of The Tribune:
Your Forum in re "Our Demon
Drink" attracts me.
think group of men consisting of
Christians, distillers, prohibitionists,
saloonkeepers, temperance workers,
brewers, anti-saloonists, moderate
drinkers and down-andout drunkards
who might discuss the question of
/ drink would agree on one point viz:
! that too much beer, wine, whiskey and
| any other kind of intoxicating Nquor
was bad for any one.
At this point would arise the ques-
! ton. "What is too much ?" Here opin-
ions would differ.
In Yorkville, where we are privileged
to live under the shadow Of the three
! big breweries, the number of glasses
| of beer that would be under the too
much mark would put perpetual smile
on Satan's face. AS an old German is
reported to have said: dot man vot
trinks more as fifty glasses day Is a
hog"
In the residential district l have
heard men say that a man ought not
20 take more than five or six cocktails
day.
A young man now in the army said:
"One glass of beer is enough for me-;
when | take two | talk too much"
This "too-much" problem is poser
for many man and many town or
city.
many weak and staggering souls anc
politicians We are hearing about eat.
ing too much wheat and meat. and we
are asked to give up other of our foods
and fancies.
II prohibition comes in, as It seems
likely, as a food, we shall still have
something TO drink. Water is not &c
bad as thirst gu ncher.
Ny only fear about national prohlbl
ton is that it will add SO to the eff
cheney of the nation and pile up wealth
for the people, because the wastage o1
life and money witt be stopped, that oul
moral and spiritual qualities may
weaken.
It does not take very deep studen
Of history to see how easily plenty
prosperity and peace may jeopardiz'
the soul Of a people.
When national prohibition, in 1920, ii
the law Of the land we may well us'
tho prayer in the Litany: "ln all tim'
Of our prosperity, good Lord, dellve'
u.s." JAMES V. CHALMERS.
Andsrson's Point Of View
William II. Anderson, state super
intendent Of the Anti-Saloon League
Of New York, who has been one OF
the hardest workers for dry nation
believes national prohibition is, ths
t .u. L. I;arnua ~ fha tfuIo)