The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1922-02-11

Before we had prohibition there
were temperance societies and church
es which devoted 4 good DIAL Of at
tention to individuals who had become
addicted to the drink habit. AS
churches worked upon sinners to save
their souls, 80 temperance societies
worked upon the victims Of drink and
drugs. Some Of them realized that
what had become a habit with the
individual was really a disease and
they found it a pleasant duty to AS
sist in curing him and putting him
back on his feet.
All the while it was argued, and
with force, that the saloon was re-
sponsible for drunkenness, and for
considerable Of the crime that was
committed in its wake. The saloon
was bad. There is no doubt about it.
Now it is, gone. The manufacture and
sale Of intoxicating liquor has been
prohibited by law. But we still have
drunkenness. And we still have crime.
There is more Of both than there
ought to be.
1t does not seem to make any diff
ference how vigilant city, county and
federal officers may be, the manu-
facturers and dispensers Of "moon'
shinc' find way to dispose of their
poison. Instead Of getting better,
"moonshining' is getting worse, and
the quality is becoming more deadly.
Within the past month it has claimed
six wcll-known men here, two Of
whom are said: to have died in
straight Jackets in a terrible de-
lirium. Five of the men were mod
crate imbibers in the days Of the sa-
loon. They were poisoned by "moon-
shine' under prohibition. -.
/ Extreme prohibitionists have held
that we will not fully appreciate tho
benefit Of prohibition. "until tho
drunkards of this generation die off. -
They declare that the young men now
growing up, who will not be tempted
by the saloon, which is gone, and
! who will not know the taste Of liquor,
will be the best vindication Of prohi>
hilton. If that were true it would be
blessing. But is it true7 Police
records indicate that moonshine' is
+ getting the young as we'll as, the mid
dle-agcd and the old. Many Of: the
veteran imbibcrs have, become alb
stainers since aged liquor has become
scarce and too costly for their purse:
There is a disposition on the: part
Of the enemies Of strong drink. to
trust too much to the law to. stop
drunkenness. Restraint by law never
stopped human habit. That's some
thing we should remember. 1t is ap.
parent, too, that thsre will be makers
Of strong drink so long as there are
people who are willing to purchase
and indulge in it. Crime or no crime,
prison or no prison, they will take the
chance, as Adam and Eve did in the
Garden Of Eden, though they were
banishel for it.
No man or woman is secure against
habit or human weakness. There is
a battle on in every heart from the
cradle to the grave. Some folks need
help, others are strong enough to
fight it out for themselves: The cause
Of temperance. in ali things is lost
unless the church and its subordinate
institutions get back to first princi.
pies and everlastingly peg away at
the individual. He is the basis of
society. He can be treated on per.
sonal matters. in tho mass. If that
were true all sin would be removed
by the mere passage Of laws, and or
binary logic tells US that il cannot
be done in that way. Teachers OF
self-restraint are needed now more
than they ever were before. The
cause of temperance requires regener-
alton.