The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1926-08-06
WHAT EUROPE OWES.
AMERICA

From Board of Temperance.
The present agitation in regard to
he European debts make pertinent
certain considerations in regard to
he effect of the drink traffic in
europe on the world situation.
1t may. be accepted that American
prosperity in contrast to European
financial difficulties is the direct
:ause of the agitation in Europe for
lebt reputation. Europe believes
he war fathered present American
prosperity. This belief will not sur
rive even a cursory examination OF
the facts. 1t is undoubtedly true
hat some Americans made fortunes
by the increased trade with Europe
before the United States entered the
war. But this prosperity touched a
relatively small group and once
America had INTERVIEWED, it i'm
mediately expended on military
operations and other war activities
sums vastly in excess of the war
profits which had accumulated pre-
viously. 1t also lent to Europe
vast sums which are now matters OF
,abid, if one-sided discussion.
Leading authorities on finance
and commerce, both the theorists
Of academic halls and men of prac
sical affairs, have in numbers ex-
pressed the opinion that Prohibition
is direct cause of Americas
marvellous advance in the last few
years. A great many luxurious ex-
penditures are made possible be-
cause of closing of the saloon, and
in addition to this much OF the
money formerly lost in the saloons
till is now found as savings available
for production purposes, and thus
becoming cumulative wealth.
Few people realize that the ex-
ton was not less than $2,438,-
| 100000 annually, sum which by
natural increase in price would
amount to five billion dollars today.
It is obvious that an expenditure of
this kind, which Adam Smith long
ago described as absolute waste,
cannot be sustained by any country
without general enervation of
business. Europe was perhaps able
to deal with it's drinks loss. before it
sustained it's war injuries, but the
continuation of these losses on
top of the war losses makes a
situation impossible with which to
deal. Great Britain at the present
time is expanding a little short OF
two billion dollars year on drink.
France was in 1921 spending thir-
teen and half billion francs
for liquor. Seven countries of Eu
rope, with an aggregate popu
lation of 16S million, supported a
drink expenditure of approximately
$4,18O, 900, 200.
1t may be said calmly and in q
spirit of the deepest sympathy with
the troubles of Europe that the
Government of the United States has
no moral right to subsidize Euro
pean taxpayers with money taken
from the pockets of Americans so
.ong as Europeans are spending for
drinks sums which in few years
would discharge the American debt
rhe money lent to Europe was OBJ
tained from the pocketbooks of da!
Iaborers in our great cities, corn
| field hands of the middle West,
negro washwomen of the far South
and other persons who are wretch
eddy poor but none the less pat
riotic citizens. Any governmental
measure dealing with the European
debt is disposing of funds of these
people, and America has right to
| demand that money honestly owed
| .hese American taxpayers shall not
be spent on the boulevards of Paris
or the beer gardens of European
provinces.