The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-09-29
ELIMINATING INTEMPERANCE.

Names OF great weight IN canada are signed
to the widely published call of the Citizens Lib
erty League formed to 'sobtain a sane solution
of the temperance problem The League de
clares that it is not radical organization, but
one which has the best interests Of the country
at heart It believes that the unsatisfactory
temperance act in Ontario should be repealed.
Opposing return to the open bar as it pre-
viously existed in that province, it asks that
notwithstanding beer and wine be sold and that
pure spirituous liquor be obtainable at govern
ment agencies under proper restriction
In this connection it may be added that IN
the province of Quebec the bars have disappear
ed Light wines or beers are served to patrons
seated at hotel tables and few licensed dis
pensers may sell liquors in bottle for medicinal
uses on physician s prescription. In Ontario
pure liquor at reasonable price may be had,
when prescribed by a doctor, at government
dispensary; but vinous and malt beverages are
not to be obtained. The question of the sale
of these will be submitted to the people on the
twentieth of next month.
It NAV be added that laws in Canada mean
more than in the United States. They are more
strictly enforced. They are more cheerfully
obeved. The Dominion thus by reasonable
statutes practically eliminates lntemperance,
securing immensely better results than the
United States has ever been able to obtain Pub
lie drunkenness is not scandal in the cities OF
the Dominion A law permitting the consump-
tion of beverages of light alcoholic content min
innizes intemperance But under prohibitive
law these disappear, and rank and deadly com
hounds. always high priced and often poison
Gus promote drunkenness and crime.
When wars between foreign nations break
ont who paws the cost of then7 The answer is
srecifc and perfectly clear. The covenant pro-
vides that the cost shall be apporhoned among
the league members, and the United States as
the financial magnate among them would De eS.
nected to pay the most. In his explanations OF
the advantages of the league the president ap-
pears to have overlooked this 1ttle polhI, puc
i NAV he one of the reasons why the heart of
tho world will break if we do not enter the
leaeue or if we enter it with reservations re-
leasing us from obligations either to fight or
finance old world wars.
Senator Meyers Of Montana, rises to remark
that cit is impossible to see where this endless
chain Is going to end Should the gentleman
from Montana succeed in finding the end ne
might make further profitable investigation IN
the realm Of esoteric science by discovering the
termination Of circle devls1ng a triangle Win
more than three Sides and tracing parallel
lines that come together somewhere III lhiihlty.
When all is said, the stumbling block In the
wav of reduced cost of living is, as witness In
an investigation recently stated, "labor,s de
mand for more pay and less work Ihls de,
mand has reached the point where 1T is beyond
the bounds of all reason.
The words of W. Wilson'S well-known song,
..The League of Nations seems fated to be
sung to the tune Of "Rule Britannia"
Might does not make right, nor does rlgh'
make might; if they did the world would not De