New Britain herald., 1927-01-15

Series of articles on his daily life
 and work by Benito Mussolini, as
 told to Thomas B. Morgan. Rome
 manager of the United Press. Each
 article in this series has been per-
 sonally revised, corrected and ap-
 proved by Premier Mussolini.)
 I am a total abstainer. I am un-
 compromisingly dry" when it con-
 cerns the brainworker. As regards
 the Italian manual worker. can
 be said to be moist" abstain
 rigidly from all kinds of alcoholic beverages, even from the lightest
 wines, because I feel no necessity
 for them. Wine is never bought for
 my household. At banquets and of- ficial dinners, even though the most
 tempting nectar may be put before
 me, and despite that fact that like
 the taste of good wine. l adhere
 figidly to my rule of complete ab-
 wtinence.
 The effects of alcoholic beverages
 have been very extensively treated.
 Physicians and temperance reform-
 CTS have propounded the evil conse-
 ouences of drinking, that it is al- most universally accepted that indul-
 gence in it must be practiced with
 great caution. Its action on the
 brain has been too well tested
 through many centuries to admit
 discussion. We know that its effect is harmful and often the world is
 called upon to witness some dire
 tragedy traceable to alcohol. Its
 for the brainworker
 Italy through the long ages has been a great wine country. Our wines have been traditional before the days of Caesars Our people have 1ndulged in them and have persisted ps a hardy race. The vineyards scattered on our hills and valleys, are those same vineyards, from which the valorous legions Of the conquerors received their daily ra- tion. Generation after generation have cultivated them and many or their yintages have become famous as the stand and of the world.
 Wine drinking has therefore been heritage of the Italian people. The centuries of cuuvation have taught them it's use. The severe problems of alcoholism which many nations face, are not found in Italy to the same degree as they are elsew here-. We have a problem but it is slight in comparison to some or the coun- tries of Northern climates. In 1act' even our problem is greater III lhe North than 1t is in the south, snow ing that climate has certain lh- fluence on alcoholic consumption: Our people are rather more dlscl- rlined in the use of wine. They drink only the lighter kinds. Heavy wines are but slightly used in Italy, while spirits, such as whiskey, pran- dy and rum never appear III ltalian homes, except after contact, With those countries where such strong beverages are consumed.
 As consider the question or alco- hol, see very little harm in the taking of moderate quantities by the manual worker. It might even do good. We have but to watch the daily routine of millions and millions of our peasants, who are content with their daily demijohn of wine and large portion of bread. They are hardy people. Viewing thelf physical capabilities, it is difficult to say, that their daily consumption has had a harmful effect on their Vigor. The same thing applies to the work' CTS in our factories and on our trans- portation systems. They are indus- trious and laborious people.
 If there be problem in Italy, 1t is in the very occasional abuse. which our laboring class make of al- cohol. It is indeed. an occasional abuse for, our wines being light | it requires the drinking of no small quantity to intoXicate. It is seldom that a workingman takes 1t upon himself, as a habit, to sit down and drink 80 much wine as to be intoxi- cated. When the wine is really pure, that is, when 1t comes directly from the grape, 1t would be hard to in-
 
 overwhelming quantity. Pure wine can be drunk in large quantities be- fore any effect is felt. Our millions in the fields can drink one or two quarts daily and not show the slight est sign of intoxication but rather exemplify an exceptional hardihood.
 There Is therefore little need un- der such circumstances of exercising a control over the amount of bever- age consumed. Light wines and beers can be partaken in Italy re- gardless of quantity but within cer- tain restrictions as to hours. We Insist on having sober nation and a nation ready and fit at all times to perform its daily work. If there should be harm in the quality of the wine consumed or in the manner of it's consumption, the fascist gov- .rnment would soon meet the prob- lem with adequate means. Since our en up the problem of alcoholism, slight thought 1t be. and have enac- ted measures aiming at its com- plete eradication. We are desirious of /disciplining he consumption through all classes ,, of our people. We prevent drunk snness. The fascist government has net this problem in several ways. At our advent of power. q license / 0 conduct bar. hotel. cafe, inn or where alcoholic bev- !, 'rages were dispensed, was granted 'n the basis of one license for every i've hundred inhabitants. Shortly . liter we assumed power we passed | law providing that the maximum init of licenses granted should not 'xceed one for each thousand in labltants. Temporary licenses were