Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-09-02
THE REV. II. eREssoN MeHENRY
On Sociological Effect Of Recent lsws

~" SoS'S'SS'SS' SHSSS " VoSoUS S1"S
TNllAT tie adoption oi the eighteenth
- and nineteenth amendments forms the
most important legislation ever adopted in
this country is the opinion of the Rev.
II. Cresson McHenry. sociological expert
and superintendent Of the Protestant Epis-
copal City Mission.
Il consider that the legislation enacted
in the last three or four years Is far more
important and Tar reaching in its effect
than any legislation put through in the last
hundred years." said Doctor McHenry, who
has been engaged in social service work in
this city for the last thirty years.
I'm their effect on the social life and con-
dtion of the people, the two amendments
so hand in hand The one supplements the
other. The adoption Of the eighteenth
amendment made possible substantial gains
amendment in force will not only crystal.
lie this gain, but will almost beyond doubt
result in the eventual abolition of other
great sociological evils such as the sex
problem and the drug menace.
"In the short time in which the eighteenth
amendment has been in force there has not
been full opportunity to study and record
the extent of reform which 1t has accom-
pished, but enough has happened to show
conclusively that 1t has been Il magnificent
move for social betterment.
while you cannot measure the social
conditions of all the people by your Observa-
tions of one class, yet the classes with
which we social investigators come In con-
tact are sufficiently numerous and repre-
sentative to show the general trend Of
changes one way or the other.
"Among social service organizations in
this city the amount of work due to social
conditions has been reduced Is per cent since
the eighteenth amendment went into effect.
Part of this IL accounted for by the fact
that business conditions have been brisk
When such conditions exist. social service
work Is comparatively dull. But even taking
this into account, ! can say without hesi-
tnncy that the need for help from social
service organizations among the poorer class
has decreased by considerably more than 80
per cent.
Decrease In Drunkenness
"As n concrete illustration of the de-
crease in drunkenness apparent to us,
might compare our experiences Of year or
so ago with the present time. Before the
prohibition amendment went into effect. the
Protestant Episcopal City Mission received
on an average of twelve calls day from
persons under the influence OF liquor.
During the month of August we had but
two such visitors. One Of the two happen
to know personally has since given up the
use of alcoholic liquors. The other man,
who was a business man Of some standing
and who consequently did not need our
help, merely called to announce that he was
drunk, evidently with the idea of Impress.
ing us with the fact that he could still get
liquor when he wanted 1t.
'InvestigatiOns over period OF years
showed beyond 4 doubt that the use If
iiouor was responsible for most OF our work.
The great bulk Of poverty, disease and i'm
morality among those whom ! encountered
in my work was due to the use OF alco-
holic liquor.
.It might surprise you to know that the
great majority Of malignant or mcurabe
diseases which we attempted TO combat
among the people whom we met, such 1s
tuberculosis and cancer, were directly
traceable to the use of alcoholic drinks.
And II might be equally enlightening to
know that the decrease In these diseases
since that time has been little less than
astonishing. Not only that, but the people
whom we get 80 afflicted are not In 80
serious a condition as before.
1.-THE effect on living conditions and pOv =
erty has been just MS great. Even though
there Is great opportunity for employment,
the good effects Of the new condition can
be directly paralleled.
THUS, In number Of houses which i
visited before the enforcement Of the amend
ment living conditions we're depiorable.
The houses were In a filthy condition, the
children unkempt and In III health, the
houses miserably furnished, and what fur