“Mr. Labaree, a missionary in Persia, writes: If I
had any sentiments favorable to the use of wine
when I left America, my observations during the
seven years I have resided in this paradise of
vineyards have convinced me that the principle
of total abstinence is the only safeguard against
the great social and religious evils that flow from
the practice of wine drinking. There is scarcely
a community to be found where the blighting
influences of intemperance are not seen in
families distressed and ruined, property
squandered, character destroyed and lives lost.”
“While it is true that great good has been
accomplished by thousands of noble workers in
the ranks of the National Woman‟s Christian
Temperance Union, and other organizations
laboring to protect the innocent and uplift the
fallen; much remains to be accomplished. The
most direct and deadly blow that can be given
this monster evil is to PROHIBIT instead of
license its existence.”
prohibiting the sale and use of ardent spirits as a
beverage. Only men of strict temperance and
integrity should be admitted to our legislative
halls, or chosen to preside in our courts of
justice.”
“The saloon is the mortal enemy of peace and
order. This demon has dug more graves and sent
more souls unshriven to judgement than all the
plagues that have wasted life since the plagues
of Egypt, or all the wars since Joshua stood
before Jericho.” [J. Mitchell, Federation of Labor]
“Alcohol is poisonous, increasing greatly the
liability to fatal termination of diseases,
weakening and deranging the intellect, polluting
the affections, hardening the heart, and
corrupting the morals. Alcohol is a disturber
and destroyer of peace thus removing the sure
foundation for good government, national
prosperity and welfare. It counteracts the
efficacy of religious efforts, promoting crime,
pauperism, paralyzing industry, corrupting
politics and the execution of laws.”
Before Prohibition in the United States in 1920
(making the selling and serving of liquor illegal),
the per capita usage in a year was rampant. In
1919 an amazing 22.6 gallons of spirits per
person was being consumed. Alcohol purchases
surpassed those of iron and steel industry,
printing and publishing, lumber, cotton,
automobiles, flour, boots and shoes, public
education, sugar, furniture, church mission
work, soft drinks, and patent medicines. During
the Prohibition period, alcohol consumption
dropped to 2.8 gallons in 1920, 3.1 in 1921, and
Page
“Notwithstanding thousands of years of
experience and progress, the same dark blot
which stained the first pages of history remains
to disfigure our modern civilization.
Drunkenness, with all its woes, is found
everywhere we go. Considering only the
financial aspect of this question, what folly it is
to tolerate a business that is making paupers by
the thousand! The laws of the land legalize the
trade of making drunkards, and then at great
expense provide institutions for converting them
again into sober men! Can our legislators
furnish no better solution of the liquor question?
Let laws be enacted and rigidly enforced
24
[American Prohibition Year Book, 1912, p.26,27]