DUKE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2017 with funding from Duke University Libraries https://archive.org/details/prohibitionadvan01hayl Prohibition Advance in all Lands Works by Mr. Guy Hayler “ The Prohibition Movement.” Record of the great Prohibition Convention, 1897. Large octavo vol., 400 pages. 6/- “ George Proctor, the Teetotaler.'’ A Story of the Temperance Movement. Octavo vol., 280 pages. 3/6 “ The Master Method.” An Enquiry into the Liquor Question of America. With Introduction by Dr. G. W. Kitchen, Dean of Durham. Octavo vol., 120 pages. 1/. “ Famous Fanatics.” Illustrating the work of celebrated Total Abstainers. With Introduction by the Rev. William Durban, B. D. Octavo vol., 214 pages. Cloth Gilt, 2/6 ; Paper Covers, !/• “ Temperance Outlook throughout the World.” Report to International Good Templar Supreme Lodge, Wash- ington (United States), 1908 Large octavo vol., 96 pages. Paper Cover, 4d. “The World’s Fight against Alcoholism.” Report to International Good Templar Supreme Lodge, Hamburg (Germany), 1911. Large octavo vol., 104 pages. Paper Cover, 4d. Also tlie following POPULAR PENNY PAMPHLETS “ Evolution of the Temperance Movement.” “The Real Hindrance to Progress.” “Temperance in the British Colonies.” “ Prohibition ; Does it Prohibit ? Whom to ask ? “ The Degradation of Ashington.” “Temperance and the Co-operative Movement.” “ The Gothenburg System.” “ Prohibition : Is it Practicable ? ” TO BE HAD FROM Mr, E, P, GASTON, Hon, Sec, International Prohibition Confederation, 133, SALISBURY SQUARE, LONDON, E.C, Prohibition Advance IN ALL Lands A STUDY OF THE WORLD-WIDE CHARACTER OF THE DRINK QUESTION BY Guy FIayler (President International Prohibition Confederation) 151233 Westerville, Ohio, U.S.A. American Issue Publishing Company London, England ; International Prohibition Confederation 133, Salisbury Square, E.C. 1914 Send out the summons East and West, And South and North, let all be there. Where He who pitied the oppressed Swing's out in sun and air. Leave studied wit and guarded phrase For those who think but do not feel ; Let men speak out in words which raise Where’er they fall, an answering blaze Like flints which strike the fire from steel Ho ! every true and living soul. To Freedom’s perilled altar bear The Freeman’s and the Christian’s whole Tongue, pen, and vote, and prayer ! One last great battle for the right. One short, sharp struggle to be free ! To do is to succeed — our fight Is waged in heaven’s approving sight ; The smile of God is victory. — -John Greenleaf Whittier. lit V- • > TO ROSALIND, COUNTESS OF CARLISLE, IN GRATEFUL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF Comradeship in Struggle AND Never-failing Kindness and Help in all times of Perplexity and Difficulty, A True Leader and a Steadfast Friend, this work IS INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR. 151233 See the efforts of man as he onward advances, The wave soon runs back Or is broken in spray ; But the effort renews, and in spite of mischances. To-morrow is still In advance of to-day.” — Thomas Luke Lynch. Preface At the request of the Executive Committee of the Inter- national Prohibition Confederation, I have prepared the following statement on the “ Prohibition Advance in all Lands.” The work is sent forth, not in any way as a complete study of the position of the Temperance and Prohibitory movement, but rather as a survey of the ever-widening struggle against the liquor traffic which is being carried on in all parts of the world. In my many visits to the various parts of the Continent of Europe, the United States of America, and Canada, together with my visit tO' Egypt, Palestine, Malta, etc., I have not only become acquainted with the leaders of the movement in these countries, but I have been able by personal investigation to learn much respecting both the evils of the liquor traffic and the efforts which are being put forth for its suppression. I have found a general concensus of opinion among the workers in all parts that the liquor traffic must be destroyed by National Prohibition or Local No-Licence; that such palliatives as so-called ‘‘ Disinterested Management,” Gothenburg or Norwegian Systems, Dispensaries, Municipalisation, National- isation, etc., as a means to the suppression of drunkenness and all its horrible by-products, are transcendant frauds, and that in the hands of the liquor interest they become powerful obstacles in the way of progressive Temperance legislation. In the preparation of this work there has been poured in upon me, from every quarter of the globe, numerous books, pam- phlets, magazines, and newspapers, placards. Consular reports, official documents, reports of Parliamentary proceedings and Commissions of Enquiry, Copies of Acts of Parliament, and various other information referring to the past and present de- velopments of the prohibitory and liquor legislation throughout the world. I have not been able to use a tithe of the information sent to me, but with my long study of the question and with the kindly help of so many friends, every effort has been made to prepare as complete and as reliable a work as difference in language and method of work renders possible. viii. I acknowledge the exceptional help of the following : — Mr. Charles H. Roberts, M.P., in reading the whole of the proofs ; Mr. L. Larsen-Ledet (Denmark), Pastor A. Brend (Faroe Islands), Mr. Petur Zophoniasson (Iceland), Pastor Th. Aarseth and Mr. Arne Halgjem (Norway), Hon. Edvard Wavrinsky, M.P., and Mr. A. Bjorkman (Sweden), Miss Elisabeth von Grewingk (Russia), Herr Franziskus Hahnel (Germany), Mr. Albert Schuller (Hungary), Mr. Tadenoz Strumillo (Poland), Mr. P. Van der Meulen (Holland), Madam Keelhoff (Belgium), Dr. Legrain (France), Mr. A. R. Ecroyd (Spain), Dr. R. Hercod (Switzerland), Professor Pavoni (Italy), Mr. D. M. Domian (Palestine), Mrs. E. Human (Ceylon), Mr. James D. Neilage (Burma), Mr. Thomas Searle (South Africa), Mr. Charles M. Dimbleb}^ (Cape Colony), Rev. D. H. Mackinnon (Nova Scotia), Mr. F. S. Spence (Ontario), Mr. J. H. Roberts (Quebec), Mr. W. W. Buchanan (Manitoba), Rev. E. C. Dinwiddle (U.S.A.), Mr. William E. Johnson (Ohio), Dr. Wilbur F. Crafts (Washington), Mr. F. D. L. Squires (Chicago, 111 .), Professor Charles Scanlon, A.M. (Pittsburg, Pa.), Mr. B. E. Hockert (Conn.), Mr. Ernest H. Cherrington (M'ester- ville, O.), Mr. John W. Cummings (New York), Rev. G. Y'. Eichelderger, D.D. (Mississippi), Mr. H. P. Paulsen (Mass.), Rev. C. H. Williams (West Indies), Dr. \'ictor Delfino (Argen- tine), Mrs. Carrie von Domselaar (Uruquay), Rev. John Dawson and Mr. J. Harrison (New Zealand), Mr. F. W. Finlayson, M.P. (Western Australia), Mr. J. R. Mann and Mr. J. O. Barrett (Victoria), Mr. H. H. Tapscott (South Australia), Archdeacon Boyce (New South Wales), Mr. Tom Honeyman (Scotland), Rev. J. Macmillan, D.D. (Ireland), Mr. Theo. C. Taylor, M.P. (Rad- cliff), Mr. Frederick Grubb, Secretary Anglo-Indian Temperance Association (London), Mr. John Newton, Secretary Native Races and the Liquor Traffic United Committee (London), Mr. Edward Page Gaston, F.R.G.S., Hon. Secretary' International Prohibition Confederation (London), and a host of others. I can only hope that this volume may be of service in the struggle against Alcoholism ; it will then have amply repaid me for my labour and expense. GUY HAYLER. South Norwood Park, London, S.E. September, 1913. Introduction Mr. Hayler, in the pages of this volume, has reviewed the movement for the restriction of the liquor trade, both at home and abroad. “ Let observation, with extended view. Survey the world from China to Peru. ” He has brought together a large body of useful information illustrating the movement towards Prohibition, which is at work in different parts of the world. It is not by any means an easy task to give brief and accurate summaries of the Temperance position in a number of foreign countries. Mr. Hayler is responsible for the facts which he gives and for the inferences from the facts which he draws. But his accounts have been checked and revised by Temperance reformers resident each in their respective countries, and the out- come is a comprehensive account, from the Prohibitionist stand- point, of the measure of progress which has been secured. It is difficult to keep pace with the varying fortunes and phases of the Temperance movement. Changes produced by new legislation and by successful No-licence campaigns, are so' incessant that information soon grows obsolete; and social reformers must welcome the opportunity of bringing up to date their knowledge of the Temperance achievements of different lands. Let it be frankly admitted that over large tracts of territory the Prohibitionist harvest is light, and it requires in many cases the eye of faith to detect the growing seed. Still, the reader of the following pages will probably be far more impressed by the mass of effort and accomplished work that has to be chronicled and recorded. For English reformers, I should venture briefly to single out for special attention two salient points. In the first place, we have not yet in England sufficiently realised the growth of the Temperance movement on the Continent of Europe. That movement largely rests on a scientific basis and on the experi- mental investigation of the action of alcohol. It is led by men of intellect, doctors and others, who as soon as their attention is aroused, find that the ravages of alcoholism are visible enough in their own country. In view of this experience, and in the light of the high consumption of alcoholic liquors in those lands, it is ludicrous for us in England to be told at this date that our salvation lies in the continental cafd or the German beer-garden. The second inference that is to be drawn is that for England the policy of No-Licence and the principle of Local Option con- stitute the real fighting issue of Temperance reform. That principle has indeed at last been accepted by the British Parlia- ment through the passing of the Temperance (Scotland) .'\ct, though the application is limited as yet to one single part of the United Kingdom. There are doubters who are still unconvinced that permissive powers are ever likely to be utilised under the industrial conditions of our country, or that the suppression of the liquor trade, if it were obtained, would ever be justified by results. It is idle to argue with the prophets and the pessimists. They had best be pointed to the wide range of successful No- Licence experiments, especially in the United States, in the British Dominions, and in Scandinavia. These successes are found among peoples of different characteristics, under diverse conditions, and with much variation of detail. They afford ample ground for the belief that the weapons of Temperance reformers, if used with energy and conviction, will not fail them in the task which they have in hand. CH.-\RLES ROBERTS. House of Commons, London, S.W. Contents Advertisement ... ... ii- Lines by John Greenle.^f Whittier ... ... ... iv Dedication ... ... ... ... ... ... ... v. Lines by Thomas Luke Lynch ... ... ... ... vi. Preface ... ... ... ... ... ... vii. Introduction by Mr. Charles H. Roberts, M.P. ... ix. List of Illustrations ... ... ... ... ... xv. Quotation : Rosalind, Countess of Carlisle ... ... xvi. Part L Introductory Chapter I. The Struggle for Sobriety ... ... ... ... 3 Chapter II. The Principle of Prohibition ... ... ... ... 7 Chapter III. International Temperance Organisations ... ... ii Chapter IV. International Work Among the Young ... ... ... 15 Chapter V. Prohibition Appeal to all Nations ... ... ... 19 Xil. Part 1 1 . Europe Chapter I. “ The Mother of Parliaments ” ... Chapter II. The British Isles Chapter MI. Denmark and its Dependencies Norway Sweden European Russia The German Empire Austria-Hungary Poland Chapter IV, Chapter V. Chapter VI. Chapter VII. Chapter VIII. Chapter IX. Chapter X. The Netherlands, Belgium, and 1'rance ... Chapter XI. Spain and Portugal 27 41 53 94 10: 1 10 Chapter XII. Switzerland, Italy, .\nd Monico ... Chapter XIII. The Balkan States, Montenegro, Roumanta, and Greece 12: 139 xin. Part III. Asia Chapter I. Arabia, Palestine, Persia, Syria, and Turkey ... ... 147 Chapter 11. China ... 152 Chapter 111. India 161 Chapter IV. Ceylon ... 171 Chapter V. Burma, Cochin China, Siam, and Tibet ... 179 Chapter VI. Japan, Korea, and Siberia ... ... 187 Chapter Vll. Hong Kong, Phillippine Islands, the Straits Settlements, .AND THE Federated Malay States ... ... 195 Part IV. Africa Chapter I. The Brussels General Act and Prohibition ... 203 Chapter 11. North Africa 209 Chapter 111. East and Central Africa ... 215 Chapter IV. West Africa ... 223 Chapter V. Union of South Africa ... 234 Chapter VI. Coloured People and the Liquor Traffic 242 XIV. Part V. America Chapter I. British North America ... 251 Chapter li. The Maritime Provinces 257 Chapter III. N.W. Provinces and Newfoundland ... 263 Chapter IV. United States of America ... ... 267 Chapter V. New England States ... 275 Chapter VI. Eastern States ... 279 Chapter VII. Middi.e States ... 283 Chapter VIII. Southern States' ... 287 Chapter IX. Western States ... 291 Chapter X. Mexico, Central America, and the West Indies ... 295 Chapter XI. South America ... 299 Part VI. Australasia Chapter I. The Commonwealth of Australia ... 307 Chapter II. The Australi.an States ... 311 Chapter III. Papua and the Pacific Islands ••• 317 Chapter IV. The Dominion of New Zealand 323 Index ••• 331 List of Illustrations Portrait of the Author ... ... ... Frontispiece. New Zealand's Example ... ... ... ... ... 2 Liquor Map of Europe ... ... ... ... ... 26 Samlag Map of Norway ... ... ... ... ... 52 Bolag Map of Sweden ... ... ... ... ... 62 Temperance Map of Asia ... ... ... ... ... 146 Prohibition Map of Africa ... ... ... ... ... 202 Prohibition and Local Option Map of North America 250 Local Option Map OF Australasia ... ... ... ... 306 EDITIONS PRINTED First Edition ... ... ... ... September, 1913 American Edition ... ... ... ... January, 1914 Second Edition ... ... ... ... February, 1914 “What is the main thing we are fighting for? The power of the people to break the power of the liquor traffic in their midst. What does that spell ? Prohibition ! I am not afraid of the word. We should use it as often as we can until the world becomes familiar with it and learns its true meaning. . . . Day after day I have seen how in the early morning hours the darkness is greatest before the dawn. Then as I watch in the silent grey of the chilly morning, suddenly, with a great leap, the sun flashes forth in exultation, flinging flaming gold all over the heavens, so that the whole world seems to break in joy that light has triumphed over darkness.” — Rosalind, Countess of Carlisle (1906). PART I INTRODUCTORY B NEW ZEALAND'S EXAMPLE. ! THE SHADES: “Had we done thus, perchance oar Nations had not died.*’ This illustration was published by The Patriot, New Zealand, during- the great Contest in 1911, when 255,919 voted for National Prohibition and 202,623 voted against, showing a clear Majority of 53,296 against the Liquor Traffic. CHAPTER I The Struggle for Sobriety “ Alcohol, judged by experience and known by its fruits, must be con- demned as food. In all climates, temperate, torrid or arctic — in all depart- ments of labour, civil, naval or military, in mine, field, workshop or study — it has been found productive of weakness, of increased sickness, and of excessive mortality. Alcohol cannot nourish because it does not contain the matter of the body to assimilate to it ; it cannot warm, but, on the contrary, narcotises and chills ; and it antagonises the known ends and qualities of drink : nor does alcohol aid digestion. The vulgar estimates of the value of wines and beers as diet are extravagant and untrue." Dr. F. R. Lees ( 1871 ). On every page of the great volume of the past the student may find traces of the evils arising from the use of intoxicating liquors and the beneficial influence and power resultant upon the practice of total abstinence. Large numbers of people, like the Nazarites and Rechabites, the Brahmins, Buddhists and Moham- medans, have practised total abstinence from intoxicants and have reaped a rich and blessed harvest. We have full experience coming down to us through the ages, that intoxicants are not only harmful but degrading and destructive and that total absti- nence is self-protective, beneficial and elevating. Plutarch declares upon the authority of Eudoxus that “ wine was wholly forbidden to the Kings of Egypt.” The chief priests were also required to abstain at all times from the use of strong drink. Herodotus tells us that ” The early Persians were strangers to the taste of wine, they drank water only.” Lycurgus, the Spartan law-giver had the vineyards destroyed to prevent the making of wine. Laws of the great Roman Empire prohibited women from ev'er drinking intoxicating liquors, and similarly prohibited, except at festivals, all men under thirty years of age. The empire of China, i,ioo B.C., at a solemn assembly of the States ‘‘ Forbad the use of wine, as that proves the cause of almost all the evils which happen on earth.” It was also decreed that all the vines should be uprooted to prevent the making of wine and effectually to remove the curse from the country. From those early times to the present day grape wine has therefore never been reintro- 4 duced into China. Japanese were enjoined “not to drink strong- drink.” The Catechism of the Shaman, or the Laws and Regula- tions of the Priesthood of Buddha, contains the following : “This law commands us not to drink any intoxicating liquors Thou shalt not bring it to thy nose to smell it, nor shalt thou sit in a tavern, or together with people who drink spirits. ” Buddha’s fifth rule of life declares, “ Obey the law and walk steadily in the path of purity and drink not liquors that intoxicate or disturb the reason.” Mohamet also prohibited the use of wine under any circumstances and enforced this law with all the power at his command. The following appears in the fifth chapter of the Koran, the Prophet’s book to his followers : — “ Oh, true believers, surely wine and lots, and images and divining arrows are an abomination of the works of Satan, therefore avoid them that you may prosper.” Professor Max Muller has said “What Confucius was for the Chinese, Zoroaster for the Persians, Pytha- goras and the Seven Sages for the Greeks, Moses for the Hebrews, Mohamet was for the Arabians.” .Above all, these prophets, sages and legislators, were total abstainers from the use of intoxicating liquors and they enjoined this principle upon their followers, who may to-day be counted by the hundreds of millions, in many parts of the world, still true to the foundation principle upon which their separate faiths were established. From the days of St. Paul, through those of St. Augustine, St. Francis of Assisi, to Martin Luther and John Wesley, Temperance has been a leading characteristic, and the drunkenness of the people has called forth the strongest denunciations of these reformers. Martin Luther declared : “ The man who first brewed beer was a pest for Germany. . . I have prayed to God that He might destroy the whole beer- brewing business, and the first beer-brewer I have often cursed.” Swedenborg declared: “Total .Abstinence from intoxicating liquors is more desirable for the country’s welfare, and morality, than all the revenue to be derived from licensing the manufacture and sale of so pernicious a drink.” While John Wesley declared the liquor sellers to be “ poisoners general,” and stated: “ It is amazing that the preparing or selling of these poisons should be permitted, I will not say in any Christian country, but in any civilised state.” During the nineteenth century the principle of total absti- nence was greatly extended among all classes of people and it is o-ratifying to be able to record the fact that the principle is being recognised more and more as the safest and best course of life 5 for every individual. The training of the young in total absti- nence principles — first undertaken and still continued by voluntary organisations, has been greatly strengthened and extended by a study of the ill effects of alcohol upon the human system. This study is now incorporated in the public educational systems of many European countries, the British Empire and the United States of America. The medical profession has been very active in recent years in its propaganda against the habitual use of in- toxicants and some remarkable experiments and statements have been made by leading scientific men and women throughout the world. The heads of large industrial concerns and labour leaders are eager to secure sober workmen, not only in the interest of the workers individually but for the general advancement of industry and the national well-being. In the social, political and religious life of the people, investigator after investigator declares that in- toxicants are a hindrance to all advancement, while total absti- nence is recognised as a sure sign of progress and stability. To- day, Kings and Queens, Emperors and Empresses, Princes and Princesses, Presidents and their wives, together with scientific, political, religious and other national leaders have adopted this principle of life, and have derived an enormous advantage there- from. Hence it is not too much to claim, that so far as the individual is concerned, the victory is won. The question which now confronts the nations of the world is the warfare against Alcoholism and all that this word means. The fight is taking more definite shape every day, and as the people become alive to the evils, so they will determine that all articles which science and experience prove to be degrading and destructive must and shall be prohibited. For centuries the most enlightened nations have recognised that the liquor traffic could not be permitted to have a free course; the freedom of Trade, so much prized by manufacturer and worker, has been found absolutely impossible In connection with Alcohol, Opium and other intoxicants. In some countries this interference has gone no further than a tax placed upon the manufacture, importation and sale of these articles. But in a greater number of countries the licence system has been intro- duced with a view to limiting the number of those engaged in the traffic and bringing the acknowledged evils flowing therefrom within a measurable proportion of control. The restriction and the remarkably low cost of production have made the traffic an easy prey for Governmental taxation, and enormous sums have been raised from this source by practically every nation throughout the world. 6 Many nations are awakening to the fact that when the evils resulting from intoxicants are considered and the huge cost of maintaining its victims is taken into account — vast as the sums are that are received as revenue for permitting the manufacture, importation and sale of these articles — it is too dear a price to pay for so dangerous a traffic. All kinds of legislative experi- ments are being tried, covering increased taxation, both of the article and the licence ; increased punishment to the victim and to the victim-creator ; more care over the conditions under which intoxicants can be sold ; the elimination of private interest ; and the substitution of company, municipal or national ownership, but in every case the evils remain. The fact that the evil lies in the intoxicant itself is overlooked by these reformers. The only true and effective remedy is in the Prohibition of the manufacture, importation and sale of all intoxicants for beverage purposes, and it is gratifying to know that this principle is being more and more adopted in many parts of the world. Owners of land and house property have long since had the power, which many of them have used, to prohibit the opening of liquor-shops, opium dens and the like upon their estates. The people in several countries have secured the right similarly to protect their homes and districts from the terrible evils arising from these pests of society. A few countries have adopted a more drastic method for dealing with such evils, and by entire Prohibition have secured enormous advantages to all concerned. Year by year remarkable progress in this direction is being recorded. “ The years have never dropped their sand On mortal issue vast and grand As ours to-day.” CHAPTER II The Principle of Prohibition “ Virtue must come from within ; to this problem religion and morality must direct themselves. But vice may come from without ; to hinder this is the care of the statesman .” — Professor F. W. Newman ( 1870). Constitutional Prohibition is defined, in its usually accepted sense, as “ the forbidding by legislative enactment of the manu- facture and sale of alcoholic liquors for use as beverages.” It is of primary importance to bear in mind that this Prohibition deals with the traffic in liquors; that is, with the act of barter and sale, and not directly with any personal liberty which may be involved in the individual act of drinking under lawful conditions. The idea of Prohibition is not a new one. ‘‘ Thou shalt not kill,” ” Thou shalt not steal,” ‘‘Thou shalt not bear false witness,” and many other prohibitions have come down to us from the earliest historical times. These protective principles have been engrafted upon the laws of every civilised community, and it is impossible to imagine what the world of to-day would be without them. Modern civilisation has added many other prohibitions in the interest of our common humanity. The legal prohibition of anything harmful is solely on the ground of its evil effect upon society. Polygamy, once recognised as lawful, and even considered by some as necessary, is now prohibited by nearly all the great nations, because of its proved injustice and evil consequences ; so that womanhood to-day enjoys emancipation from the tyranny and brutality of past ages. The brigands of Italy once regularly collected tolls from the workers, the tradesmen, the merchants, and others, sharing the proceeds with the Government. This is now prohibited, and one of the fairest countries of Europe is free from an intolerable bondage. Highwaymen, murdering innocent victims for gain, are fast disappearing from the highways of the world, because of the prohibition adopted by every civilised nation. s The traffic in human flesh and blood was once legalised, Governments receiving large sums of money from this inhuman barter. To-day Slavery is prohibited by all the great races and freedom proclaimed to all people, irrespective of colour, race, or nation. Prohibition as a principle, therefore, refers not only to the alcoholic liquor traffic, but to many other things (such as opium) which though widely spread, are evil in themselves, or in their results destructive to the best interests of mankind. It must be ever remembered that men and women living in a civilised state of society, and enjoying its benefits and advan- tages, must pay for it by a surrender of many of their pre- dilections, for the welfare of the whole. The Bill of Rights of Great Britain declares that “Govern- ment is constituted for the protection, safety, prosperity and happiness of the people, and not for the profit of private interests of any one man, family, or class of men.” Various other countries have declared in similar terms. The traffic in alcoholic liquors is permitted to-day to comparatively few persons, every one of whom is protected by law, largely because of the great sums of money which are paid into the various Governments ; money largely wrung from the most degraded and dangerous portions of the community. The evils resultant upon the sale of this dangerous poison are not vague or unknown ; they are wide-spread and fully estab- lished. The sober are made drunken, while crime, pauperism, insanity, suicide, murder, premature death, and incalculable economic waste, ever follow in its train. Prohibition is based on the physiological fact that the habitual use of alcoholic beverages is injurious to the human race, and the sociological fact that the traffic in intoxicating beverages is at war with the public good. The aim of Pro- hibition is permanently to outlaw so pernicious an evil by Con- stitutional means. It is therefore held that the harmful manufacture, importa- tion and sale of all intoxicants should be prohibited by all countries, working co-operatively to this common end, because of the proved evil results both upon the individual and the State. Prohibition has the strongest economic and moral argu- ments and the weight of logic on its side, but its greatest claim on the suffrage of the citizen is its recognition of the supreme value of human life to the State. 9 'Hie duty of good citizens in every country is to see that no evil is permitted to continue which undermines the home, makes void the work of educational forces, and invariably militates against the physical and moral well-being and industrial pros- perity of the people. Such an evil effect the liquor traffic is widely admitted to produce, and the duty of every patriot is to use his influence and citizenship to apply the final and complete remedy, viz. : National and International Prohibition. Why are such severe repressive measures throughout the world proposed against the traffic in alcoholic drinks? An adequate answer may be found in three authoritative statements : — (i) That the proved evil effects of the drink traffic in all lands where it exists are of exceptional magnitude and gravity. (2) That these evil effects are practically inseparable from the traffic. (3) That these evil effects are by no means confined to those who participate in the traffic, either as buyers or sellers of drink, but extend, in a serious degree, to society in general. Dr. F. R. Lees, dealing with the question “ Is Prohibition Right? ” says : — “ If the traffic in drink, or any other thing tends by law to “ evil, then it is right to suppress it. If the body-politic be “ diseased, it must be cured, and it can be cured only by the “ removal of its essential cause. In fact, man’s own existence — “ the very justification of his being is, that he shall resist evil, “and overcome defect by knowledge and thought. If not, “ evil will destroy him. Prohibition in himself — and Prohibition “ in union with others — is his only essential right. It is but “ another name for self-defence ! and if a worm, a dog, or a cat, “ or even a leaf, exercises this right, how insane it must be to “ deny the right to man, the head and crown of things ! ’’ In the preceding argument the endeavour has been to develope the following points: — (i) That Prohibition is an established legal right of the State, and as such, has been upheld repeatedly for centuries by the Sovereigns or Courts of Justice of various countries. (2) That it is in harmony with those views of Government upon which social philosophers of all schools of thought are generally agreed. (3) That its purpose is not primarily to reform the moral conduct of the individual, but to relieve society of the burdens and dangers imposed upon it by drink, and thus indirectly, but nevertheless effectively, to accom- plish a moral reformation. (The International Prohibition Confederation regards with sympathy every effort put forth from any quarter for the genuine advancement of the general cause 10 of Temperance and Total Abstinence). (4) That the traffic In drink is attended by evils of exceptional gravity, which are in- separable from it, and which are in no wise limited to those who participate in the traffic. (5) That these evil effects are of three kinds : (a) moral evils, including a probable average of two- thirds of the criminal offences throughout those countries of the world where intoxicating drinks are generally used, and the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives each year; (b) economic evils, aggregating a wastage of almost incalculable millions in money each year; (c) political evils, having a vital bearing on the most important civic problems of the day. (6) That the questionable pleasures and profits conferred upon the few by the traffic are in striking disproportion to the evils it inflicts upon the many. Therefore it is well to repeat that the Constitutional Prohibi- tion of such a system as the alcoholic liquor traffic is proposed solely on the ground of its evil effects upon society. CHAPTER 111 International Temperance Organisation “ We are living in an age of altruism, the greatest word in our vocabulary to-day is ‘ Brotherhood ! ' It is reaching out toward the common good of all men. We are learning that every man is his brother’s brother. That manhood is more worth than money : that the greatest wealth of a nation consists, not in material things, but in a clean, noble and efficient citizen- ship, and that Government should give its protection to no traffic that injures or destoys its citizens.” — IT. A. Brubaker, U.S.A. ( 1913 ). The rise and progress of the modern Temperance movement is one of the marvels of a wonderful century. Commenced in the dawn of the nineteenth century by humble working people, it has developed into one of the greatest agencies for the uplift of humanity and the progress of nations. The theories of the scientific world have been altered and made to harmonise more with the facts, while the ideas of religious, moral and political thinkers have been greatly changed for the better, through its instrumentality. From the small village or town society for the reclamation of the drunkard, the Temperance movement has become an international educator of the races. The catholicity of the Temperance movement is remarkable. It links together in a fraternal bond of union, people of every nation, irrespective of colour, education, politics or religion, and through the agencies of these bodies, the peoples of the earth are being linked together not only to drive the means of intoxi- cation from the commerce of the world, but to secure peace and goodwill among nations. At one time, and that time not so far distant, inter- nationalism was a word of terror, not only to monarchs and governments, but to huge bodies of people in every nation. It was a word which spoke of revolution, the destruction of existing authority, and the creation of other forms of government in keeping with the education and advancement of the age. In the very near past, the visit of men and women from one country to another for the holding of international gatherings to discuss subjects of national and international importance, was looked upon as brooding ill for the peace of Europe, and was watched with the keenest scrutiny by detectives from the various Govern- ments, who dogged the foot.steps of each delegate and spied 12 upon their proceedings to ascertain the objects and plans aimed at. Whilst there may have been some cause for uneasiness, or even fear, in the political and revolutionary character of the old Internationalism, many of whose leaders felt it was only by the bomb, or the sword, that their wrongs could be redressed and liberty secured, the newer Internationalism, embracing Tem- perance and Prohibition, is based upon an altogether different ideal and principle. It means the salvation of the people from the most terrible self-inflicted evils of intoxication. It means the closer knitting together of the nations in a more real brother- hood of man, and by the abolition of breweries, distilleries, liquor shops, opium dens, and the like, the bringing into being, not only between man and man, but between nation and nation, of the great principle of “ doing unto others as you would have them do to you.” Among the many agencies in this silent and wonderful revolution against intoxicants has been the International Tem- perance Congresses held from time to time — London 1846, New York, 1853, London 1862, Hanover 1863, Philadelphia 1876, Paris, 1878, Brussels 1880, London 1882, Melbourne 1888, Chicago 1893, Newcastle-on-Tyne 1897, and London 1900. In 1885, largely through the instrumentality of Miss Charlotte Gray (the Good Templars’ Continental Missionary), the Inter- national Congresses on Alcoholism were commenced at Antwerp, and large and important gatherings, under Royal and Govern- mental patronage, have since been held at Zurich 1887, Chris- tiania 1890, The Hague 1893, Basle 1895, Brussels 1897, Paris 1899, Vienna 1901, Bremen 1903, Budapest 1905, Stockholm 1907, London 1909, Scheveningen 1911, and now Milan 1913. It is impossible to gauge the enormous good done by all these gatherings, but without doubt the greatest help to the inter- national extension of the movement has resulted from the forma- tion of the International Order of Good Templars, the World’s Womens Christian Temperance Lnion, and the International Prohibition Confederation. For several decades the Good Templar Order was simply an Anglo-Saxon organisation. Established in LTica, in the State of New York, in 1851, it spread through the United States and Canada. In 1867 Mr. Joseph Malins joined the Order in Phila- delphia, and upon returning to England in 1868, opened the first Lodge at Birmingham. Largely through the great organising ability of Mr. Malins, the movement spread with remarkable rapidity throughout the British Isles, the oversea colonies and dependencies of Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and 13 India, China, Japan and the Continent of Europe. The Order is now firmly established in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Denmark, Germany, France, Switzerland, Roumania, and almost every other country, thus making- it a truly international organisation. With more than 12,000 branches and an aggre- gate of some three-quarters of a million of members. The ex- tension of the principles of Total Abstinence and Prohibition by means of this agency is both powerful and certain. Like the Good Templars, the World’s Women’s Christian Temperance Union was for a number of years almost exclusively an American and English organisation. The first Union of Temperance Women was formed at Cleveland, Ohio, in 1874, and the second at Newcastle-on-Tyne in 1876. Then followed the establishment of similar Unions in Canada, and other parts of the United States. In 1884 the National Union of the United States decided to send Mrs. Leavett on a mission round the world to form Women’s Temperance Unions in every land. Remarkable success followed Mrs. Leavett ’s labours. Unions being formed in New Zealand 1885, Australia 1886, Japan and China 1887, Ceylon, Mauritius and Madagascar 1888, South Africa, the Congo, etc., i88g, and Egypt and Palestine i8go. In 1880 and following years, by the aid of Miss Gray (the Good Templars’ Continental Missionary), Women’s Unions were established in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and other Conti- nental countries. In i8gi the first World’s Women’s Temper- ance Convention was held at Boston, Mass., U.S.A., at which it was reported that Unions had then been established in nearly thirty countries, with an estimated aggregate membership of about 200,000. To-day, largely through the persistent work of the various W.W.C.T.U. missionaries, the Women’s Temper- ance Movement is represented in forty countries, and has an estimated aggregate membership of about 450,000. This wonderful movement among the women of so many nations has lifted the Temperance cause to a position it never before attained. The home life and rising generations must feel the enormous advantages of a sober motherhood and sisterhood, and this eventually must greatly assist in securing the prohi- bition of the manufacture, importation and sale of all intoxi- cants. With a view to focussing all this splendid effort for Tem- perance into a united attack upon the traffic in intoxicants, Mr. E. Page Gaston, F.R.G.S. , convened a meeting in London in igo8 to consider the question of International Prohibition. It was there determined to hold an International Prohibition Con- 14 ference in connection with the Anti-Alcoholic Congress that was to be held in London in igog. The call for this Conference was signed by forty-nine persons, representing organised Temper- ance opinion in thirteen countries. At this gathering it was resolved to establish the International Prohibition Confedera- tion, an organisation which has now become a great power in linking up the many agencies at work in each country, and in disseminating facts regarding the advance in each country, thus furthering that newer Internationalism for the brotherhood of man and the progress of the world. To-day there are forty-three countries officially connected with the International Prohibition Confederation, representing an estimated aggregate membership of over ten million men and women. The Independent Order of Rechabites, a Temperance Benefit Society, is fast becoming a great world-wide organisation. Established at Salford, England, in 1835, with less than a hundred members, it has grown until now it has a membership of nearly 1,000,000, with branches in England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, the United States, Canada, West Indies, India, .A.us- tralia. New Zealand, Africa, Denmark, and Germany. Under the National Insurance Act (recently passed into law By the British Parliament) nearly 350,000 abstaining men and women have become insured in this Society. The funds available for sick, funeral and other benefits, at the end of April, igi2, stood at no less a sum than ;^5,i88,03g ($25,g40,ig5). The Order of the Sons of Temperance is another great Benefit Society, but at present almost entirely an Anglo-Saxon organisation. It has about 500,000 members spread throughout England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, the United States, Canada, and other countries. The Band of Hope and Juvenile Temperance Movement has long been truly international, and many millions of children, in almost every land, are being taught to abstain from the use of alcohol and all other intoxicants and narcotics. The grow-th of this modern Temperance Movement is really wonderful, and the unity and zeal displayed by every section are warrant for .a much greater advance in the near future. The linking together of individuals, societies, and nations, for such a purpose, must mean victory in the end. The driving out from the commerce of the world as articles of beverages, all these harmful drugs, will be a great lever for the lifting of the whole human race to a much higher plain of civilisation and happiness. CHAPTER IV International Work Among the Young “Teach the youth of to-day the truth about alcohol and kindred drugs ; teach them to cherish the noblest in personal and national life ; teach them to keep themselves free from all that destroys or debases the highest capacities with which we are endowed ; teach them to find the joy of life in the use of these powers rather than at the low level of sense gratification, and by so much is national life enriched, and the race set a long way on its course of upward progress .” — Miss Cora Frances Stoddard, Scientific Temperance Federation, Boston ( 1909 ), Three methods of attempting to interest the young in Total Abstinence principles have been adopted. First, Juvenile Tem- perance Societies ; Second, Temperance teaching in the Sunday Schools, and Third, Scientific Temperance Instruction in the public schools respecting the action of alcohol upon the human system. In reference to the first, it was Temperance reform- ers alone who organised on behalf of the children, but it was done with a willingness and enthusiasm beyond all praise. This department of Temperance enterprise extended to many lands, until many millions of young people were enrolled in the ranks of the total abstainers. In the next place, isolated action in con- nection with a Sunday School over which a total abstainer might be the superintendent, gave place to denominational action and the formation of Sunday School Temperance Organisations, and this was followed by the Association having charge of the pre- paration of the International Sunday School lessons, deciding that there should be issued every quarter a “Sunday School Temperance Lesson’’ for use in all the Sunday Schools through- out the world. The last and most far-reaching step of all in this effort to reach the young, has been the adoption of Scientific Temperance Instruction in connection with a number of Govern- ment Educational Authorities in various parts of the world. The United States of America, the British Isles and Colonies, and several of the Continental nations, have adopted either compul- sory or voluntary methods of teaching, and the movement is only in its initial stages as yet. Thus this important branch of Temperance education is being brought more and more before the children, who would otherwise grow up to manhood and 16 womanhood without the slightest conception or knowledge of the dangers attending the drinking of alcoholic liquors. The World’s Sunday School Temperance Lesson has a very unique history, for it has not only been extensively used through- out the world, but has resulted in the International Sunday School Association adopting, in 1907, the following Temperance Pledge for all lands : — “ That I may live my best service to God and to my fellow men, I pledge myself and promise God never to use intoxicating liquors as a drink, and to do all I can to end the drink habit, and the liquor traffic.” The Temperance lesson is translated into almost every known language, and distributed to the editors of all the religious papers and Sunday School magazines throughout the world. With thousands of the lessons is issued much useful information for the teachers, to assist them in the preparation for laying the question before their classes. Temperance is thus brought, not only before the children, but to the minds and hearts of hundreds of thousands of teachers, who, but for this lesson, might never have heard of the Temperance question. The following is the special instruc- tions issued for the quarterly lesson of November, 1910, and shows the thoroughness with which this subject is handled : — ‘‘The World’s Sunday School Temperance Lesson.” Text: Matt. xxiv. 32-51. Golden text : ‘‘ Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation.” (Matt. xxvi. 41). ‘‘ For use of teachers and workers in the Sunday School who desire facts as to the great temptation of the use of alcoholic liquors and the legalised liquor traffic.” Then follows a list of ‘‘Facts Concerning Alcohol,” by Heinrich Quen.sel. These facts are divided as follows : — Mothers Should Know : (i) That alcohol retards the physical and mental develop- ment of children. (2) That alcohol leads quickly to fatigue, and causes dulness and inattention in school. (3) That alcohol pro- motes disobedience to parents. (4) That alcohol causes sleep- lessness and nervousness. (5) That alcohol endangers the moral nature of the child. (6) That alcohol weakens the resist- ance of the body and thus favours attacks of disease. (7) That alcohol prolongs the duration of sickness. (8) That every penny spent for spirituous drinks would be used far better for strengthening food ; milk, for example. (9) That the greater part of all mentally diseased, idiots and cripples have to thank the alcoholism of their parents and grandparents for their pitiable condition. (10) That domestic happiness and fidelity in marri- age are endangered and often undermined and destroyed through alcoholism. 17 Teachers Should Know : (i) That no alcoholic drink, whether beer, wine or distilled liquor, contains any nourishing' or strengthening value worth mentioning. (2) That the alcohol contained in all spirituous drinks is a poison which impairs the vital processes of the cells and tissues of the body and therefore injures the health of the user in proportion to the strength and amount. (3) That alco- holic indulgence causes serious acute and chronic diseases of the vital organs, particularly the heart, liver, kidneys, and stomach. (4) That the use of alcohol makes one more liable to contract infectious diseases, the destructive tuberculosis and syphilis. (5) That alcohol in every form and amount is particularly in- jurious to children because of their growing bodies, and is to be absolutely withheld from them. (6) That the use of alcohol disturbs mental faculties and markedly interferes with the ability to receive mental impression — the child’s ability to learn, and therefore (7) Every use of alcohol by the child influences un- favourably the results of instruction ; it renders the pupil dis- obedient and refractory. (8) That alcohol, by weakening the higher brain centre involved in reflection and self-control, leaves the way open for the expression of the lower impulses, (g) It is self-evident that in the latter conditions the moral nature of the child is greatly endangered. (10) The teacher must there- fore be well convinced that an energetic campaign against alcohol would open the way for a general advance in culture and health, and, therefore, a practical co-operation of the whole teaching fraternity in the solution of the alcohol question is from every standpoint urgently desirable. School Children Should Know : (i) That no alcoholic drink, whether beer, wine, brandy, or any other, contains any nourishment or strengthening value worth ^ mentioning. (2) That the alcohol contained in all alcoholic drinks is a poison which disturbs the life processes of the cells and tissues and is therefore injurious to the health. (3) That the use of alcohol induces serious acute and chronic diseases of all the vital organs, particularly the stomach, the kidneys, the liver, the heart and the brain. (4) That the use of alcohol leads to mental and physical fatigue. (5) That the habitual use of alcohol, instead of quenching thirst, leads ever to a fresh feeling of thirst. (6) That whoever wishes to be efficient must not get the habit of using alcohol, which leads easily to the saloon. (7) That the sober worker usually outstrips his fellow workmen who use alcohol. (8) That alcohol intoxica- tion, by disordering the mental faculties, leads easily to unlaw- ful conduct, as well as to debauchery, (g) That every expendi- ture for alcoholic fjrinks diminishes the meuns for attending- 18 institutions of learning as well as other necessary provisions for education. (lo) That efficiency in manufactures and other industries is impaired by alcohol, as is the power to compete in the markets of the world. Working Men Should Know : (i) That whisky possesses no nutritive value whatever and therefore can afford no strength. (2) That all alcoholic drinks, on account of the alcohol — poison — they contain, may exert a brief temporary feeling of warmth and excitability, but they soon induce sleepiness and lower the body temperature. (3) That alcoholic drinks, on account of the same poison, weaken muscular power, steadiness of the hands, and the whole mental and physical working ability— make one slow and inattentive, and diminish the power of self-preservation. (4) That the regular use of alcohol increases the liability to all kinds of diseases and delays recovery. (5) That the regular use of alcohol particularly favours liability to consumption. (6) That the regular use of alcoholic drinks causes an early loss of working ability. (7) That “ Blue Monday ” is almost without exception to be attributed to [Sunday] indul- gence in alcoholic drinks. (8) That nearly half of the accidents occurring in working hours are caused by the use of alcohol, (g) That the regular use of alcohol draws from the workman’s pocket a large amount of money that is wasted and would much better be spent for food and clothing and other useful things. (10) That the regular use of alcohol greatly endangers health and prosperity. CHAPTER V Prohibition Appeal to all Nations “ The sole object of government ought to be the greatest happiness ot the greatest number of the community. This end is promoted by encour- aging every industry and institution calculated to confer benefit ; and discouraging, and even sternly repressing, those of a pernicious, immoral, and dangerous character ; in a word, by such wise legislation as shall tend to promote the physical health, the social comfort, and the intellectual enjoyments of the people .” — Jereiyiy Bentham ( 1748-1832 ). At the second biennial conference of the International Pro- hibition Confederation, held in connection with the Thirteenth International Congress on Alcoholism at Scheveningen, The Hague, Holland, in September, 1911, and attended by repre- sentatives from about one-half of the nations of the world, it was unanimously resolved to send to every ruling Sovereign throughout the world, a Memorial-Petition in favour of Pro- hibition, together with a copy of the writer’s report on “ The World’s Fight Against Alcoholism,” presented to the Inter- national Supreme Lodge of Good Templars. The Memorial- Petition is probably one of the most important documents ever issued to such high authorities, and the replies received have been most encouraging. The Memorial-Petition was as follows : — ‘‘ Whereas in the opinion of this Conference, the revenue derived ” by Governments licensing the manufacture of, and traffic in, ‘‘ alcoholic liquors, opium, and other intoxicants, equals but a ‘‘ fraction of the financial waste and loss directly resulting there- ‘‘ from ; and ‘‘ Whereas in the opinion of eminent jurists, physicians, scien- ” tists and other observers; opinions confirmed by official re- ‘‘ ports and statistics, and concurred in by this Conference, the ‘‘consumption of such intoxicants is a direct cause and the most ‘‘ prolific source of lawlessness, crime, vice, pauperism, insanity ‘‘ and suicide, and resulting in a great loss of life and property; ‘‘ and Whereas indulgence in such intoxicants, in addition to inflict- ‘‘ing directly and indirectly upon the community an almost in- ‘‘ calculable financial loss, constantly results in the degradation ‘‘ and destruction of the individual, the disintegration of the 20 “ family, the demoralisation of society and the weakening of “ the State ; and “ Whereas in far-reaching and continuously disastrous effects, “ no other interest and custom existing among civilised nations “ is productive of so much human suffering and so retards pro- “ gress and prosperity; and “Whereas in our opinion the appalling and increasing evils “ resulting from the habitual use of intoxicants are such as, in “the interests of humanity and good government and the safety “of the State, imperatively demand Governmental considera- tion and action; therefore be it “ Resolved that this Conference hereby most respectfully but “ urgently requests the properly constituted authorities in every “ Nation throughout the World to make prompt and thorough “ investigation by competent specialists as to the economical “ and ethical effects resulting from the use of alcoholic and other “ intoxicants, including fermented, distilled and malt liquors, “ opium, et cetera; and it also respectfully requests that during “ such investigation public evidence be taken, and that, when “ the collective reports giving the results of such investigations “be made, they be fully made public; and if the ascertained “ facts be such as to warrant the expressed opinions of this Con- “ ference, that prompt and effective measures be adopted for the “ suppression of the manufacture, importation, exportation and “ sale for improper uses of all intoxicants throughout all the “ nations of the World; and that in addition to the action of “individual Governments, an International Conference be “ officially called for giving universal effect to this International “Prohibitory Movement.” Accompanying the Memorial-Petition was the following letter, signed by the President, Treasurer, and Hon. Secretary of the Confederation, and worded according to the status of the various Sovereigns or representative rulers — “ We pray that Your Majesty may graciously deign to “ bestow attention upon the Memorial-Petition which we beg “ to attach to this letter. We are assured that, in your desire to “ serve the best welfare of your subjects, the destroying power “ of intoxicants throughout the world will receive your Govern- “ ment’s most careful and sympathetic consideration.” “ As the legal Prohibition of the harmful traffic in intoxi- “ cants is receiving careful attention on the part of various “ Sovereigns, and other Statesmen in many lands, we would “ pray of Your Majesty that every consideration be given to the “ great remedial principles which are being thus widely and “ successfully applied, to remove one of the greatest obstacles “ from the way of the further progress of the human race.” “ We w'ould furthermore express the hope that the litera- “ ture which we are venturing to send Your Majesty mav be 21 “ found worthy of preservation in the archives of your Govern- “ ment. ” “ We should feel highly honoured at receiving any expres- “ sion with which Your Majesty might deign to honour our “Confederation; and assuring you of the highest appreciation “ in which we shall hold whatever you may find it possible to “recommend in this reform movement.” Among the many replies received, the following from Great Britain, Germany, Belgium, Sweden, Austria, Portugal, Switzerland, Mexico, El Salvador, and the United States of America, will be of interest : — Great Britain. — On the return of King George V. from the Durbar in India, His Majesty’s private secretary, under date of February 6th, acknowledged receipt of the Petition at Buck- ingham Palace; and the Home Office at Whitehall, London, wrote on February 13th, 1912 — “ I am directed by the Secretary of State to acquaint you “ that the Memorial and Resolution adopted by the second “ biennial Conference of the International Prohibition Con- “ federation, addressed with other papers to the King, have “ been referred by His Majesty to the Secretary of State, and “ shall be duly noted in this Department.” Germany. — On behalf of Emperor William IF, the German Embassy in London “ is instructed to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of a “ letter, dated January i6th, with enclosures, which the Con- “ federation has been good enough to address to His Majesty “ the Emperor. ” Belgium. — The Minister of the Royal Palace at Brussels writes on January 22nd on behalf of King Albert of Belgium : — “ You have addressed to the King a letter under date of “ the i6th inst., accompanied by a Memorial and Report rela- “ tive to the resolutions adopted by the ‘ Second Biennial Con- “ ference of the International Prohibition Confederation of “ London.’ 1 have the honour to inform you that by order of “ His Majesty, your letter and the documents have been trans- “ mitted to the proper Ministry. Please to accept, Monsieur “ le President, the assurance of my most distinguished con- “ sideration. ” Sweden. — The private secretary to His Majesty Gustavus V. writes from Stockholm on February 8th ; — “ I have been directed by His Majesty, the King of “ Sweden, to acknowledge receipt of your letter of January 22 “ i6th last, and enclosures, and to inform you that His Majesty “ is highly interested in the matter and thanks you for your “ communication. The letter has been handed over to the ‘ proper Swedish authorities and the literature forwarded, and “ which may be sent, will certainly receive the same’s best ‘ ‘ attention. ” Austria-Hungary. — The Imperial and Royal Austro-Hun- garian Consul-General in London writes that he “ has pleasure in informing you that, according to a communi- “ cation just received from the Foreign Office in \'ienna. His “ Majesty the Emperor of Austria and Apostolic King of “ Hungary, has been graciously pleased to accept a copy of “ Mr. Guy Hayler’s work on Prohibition, and has commanded “ that the same be placed in the Imperial and Royal Library. “ I am instructed to convey to you His Majesty’s thanks for the “ work presented to him.” Switzerland. — The Chancellor of the .Swiss Confederation writes from Berne that ” the Federal Council has observed with much interest the ” memorial-petition annexed to your letter, and the Council is ‘‘ always interested in any proposal indicating advances in the ” sense of this memorial. The struggle against the abuse of ‘‘ alcohol is organised in Switzerland by the legislative acts as ‘‘ indicated by the copies of the laws which we are sending to ” you.” Portugal. — The private secretary to His Excellency Dom Manuel D ’.Arriaga, President of Portugal, writes from Lisbon on February 7th : — ‘‘ His Excellency the President sends his thanks for your ” circular of the i6th ultimo re Prohibition Confederation, which ‘‘ he approves of as one of the best for the welfare of human- ” kind.” Mexico. — The secretary to His Excellency, the late Presi- dent Madero, writes from the City of Mexico on February ist : — ” The President of the Republic has received your attentive ” favour of the i6th ultimo, and in reply says that he has read ‘‘with interest the matters related to therein; and that the ‘‘ Government is taking those measures which it esteems most ‘‘ proper to combat the vice of inebriety, and as you may note ‘‘ from the press of this country. The accompanying documents ‘‘ which you have sent to us have been remitted to the .Secretary ‘‘ of the Interior, that note may be taken of the same, and ‘‘ equally any future matters which you may send, so that data ‘‘ may be obtained on all material bearing on this subject.” 23 El Salvador. — The President of the Republic of El Sal- vador, His Excellency Senor Don Manuel Enrique Araujo, writes : — “ I am gratified to acknowledge your attentive letter of the “ i6th January, accompanied by a Memorial on the destruction “ of intoxicating substances throughout the world, which I have “ read with every attention. The accompanying documents “ have been duly placed in our archives, as you desire. For the “ purpose of co-operating in every sentiment of the noble and “ humanitarian work which your Association has entered upon, “ I will procure all of the necessary data, investigating this “ subject from the ethical and social point of view, as the “ iMemorial so fitly recommended. “ Felicitating your distinguished Corporation, and wishing “ for it the best success in its humanitarian labours.” U.N’iTED States. — On behalf of His Excellency, President Taft, the Department of State at Washington City, U.S.A. , writes on February 6th : — ‘‘The Department acknowledges, by reference from the ‘‘ President, the receipt of your letter of the i6th ultimo ‘‘ addressed to him, in which you enclose a copy of the Memorial- ‘‘ Resolution adopted by the Second Biennial Conference of the ‘‘ International Prohibition Confederation, which met at The ‘‘Hague, September 11-16, 1911.” South Africa. — The Governor-General’s secretary writes from Cape Town, as follows : — ‘‘ I am desired by Lord Gladstone to acknowledge, with ‘‘ thanks, the receipt of your letter of the i6th January. It is ‘‘ needless to say that His Excellency is in strong sympathy with ‘‘the cause of Temperance. He is, however, unable to comply ‘‘ with your specific request, as it would involve matters of policy ‘‘ which devolve entirely upon the responsible Government.” In line with a suggestion made by Lord Gladstone, the attention of General Botha, Premier of the Union of South Africa, has accordingly been directed to the matter by the Con- federation. ” Australia.- — The Official Secretary of the Commonwealth of Australia writes from Melbourne : — ‘‘ I am directed by His Excellency the Governor- ‘‘ General to inform you that a copy of your communi- ‘‘ cation has been forw'arded to the Premiers of each of the ‘‘ States of the Commonwealth for their information and any ‘‘ action their Governments may be disposed to take in the ” matter.” 24 In thus making and distributing copies on his own initiative, Lord Denman, as the Australian representative of His Majesty King George V., is rendering one of the most notable services to the cause of prohibition which has been extended officially in recent years. Russia. — In reply to a request for information, the Imperial Russian Consulate General in London writes June 5th, 1913 : — “ I beg to assure you of my extreme sympathy with the “ object which you have in view. There is no reason why the “sale of alcohol should be permitted when the sale of opium “ is prohibited. The crux of the question is that the Govern- “ ments of civilised States are nearly all interested in the sale of “ alcohol. You may be sure of the sympathy of the Russian “ public at large with your movement.’’ China. — Replying to a memorial sent by the International Prohibition Confederation to the Government of the Republic of China through the Chinese Legation at Washington, U.S.A., calling attention to the increased consumption of alcoholic liquors, etc., since the suppression of the opium traffic, the Secretary of His Excellency writes, April 13th, 1913 : — “ His Excellency the Minister of the Republic of China is “ deeply impressed with the earnest desire and noble and Christ- “ ian motive of the International Prohibition Confederation. He “ has read through the leaflets and is confident to say that your “ suggestions and leaflets will give greater impetus to the efforts “ of our citizens and Government. He requests that further “copies of the leaflets might be sent to him.’’ PART U EUROPE PaoJig/r/DU LO'^rc/^ffAT/D CHAPTER 1 The Mother of Parliaments ” “ The drink traffic is the most favoured monopoly in the country. It is a State-favoured, a State-established, a State-protected and State- endowed traffic ; it is sing;led out of all others for these special favours, so that to-day we are ridden and driven by it, whipped and spurred by it. It beg-gares us, it demoralises us, still we go on heaping it with honours and dignities and privileges — but the one hopeful sign is that every year it lives it is being found out. Labour know it to-day as its great foe, social science regards it as its deadliest obstacle, and at last even the churches have come to recognise that the old alliance of beer and the Bible is a curse to humanity and a degradation of the people.” C. Silvester Horne, M.A , M.P., London ( 1913 ), From the earliest days of the English Parliament, the liquor question came under consideration and Acts were passed to mitigate the evils of Alcoholism. To simply enumerate the many laws passed dealing with the subject would be tO' show a long catalogue of failure and impotency, only repressive measures having any semblance of success. In 1327 it was determined to limit the number of liquor shops and in 1495 to give the Justices power to prohibit them in any given locality. In 1553 it was determined that no city or town should have more than two liquor shops except London which might have four, Westminster three, York eight and Bristol six. In 1556 the distillation of spirits was prohibited for a time. In 1604 repressive laws were repealed to gain an increased revenue, but two years later (1606) these laws had to be re-enacted because of the enormous evils flowing from the liquor traffic, and in 1623 further repressive measures were adopted. In 1686 a general licensing Act was passed, the pre- amble of which stated “That the ancient, true and principal use of Alehouses was for the lodging of wayfaring people and for the supply of the wants of such as were not able by greater quan- tities, to make the provision of victuals and not for the enter- tainment and harbouring of lewd and idle people to spend their money and their time in a lewd and drunken manner.’’ But only four years later (i6go) it was determined to permit any person to set up a distillery on giving ten days’ notice to the Excise and paying the required duty. In 1699 Distillation was again prohibited for a time because of the scarcity of grain for food. 28 In 1725 the College of Physicians memorialised Parliament as to the increasingly fatal elfects of spirit drinking, and in 1727 such heavy duties were placed upon all alcoholic liquors as to almost amount to their entire Prohibition. The reduction in the revenue decreased yearly to such an extent that in 1732 these duties were abolished and another great outburst of drunkenness was the result. Lord Carteret declared that on his way to Parliament he had observed persons everywhere lying about in the street insensibly drunk, and Smollett remarks of this time “ you may get drunk for one penny, dead drunk for twopence and have clean straw for threepence. ’ ’ Taxation was again resorted to in 1736 to reduce drunkenness, ;^T ($5) per gallon being placed upon Gin. In 1757 distillation was again prohibited on account of the scarcity of food. In lybo the dis- tilleries were reopened and in thirty-two years the consumption of spirits rose from 60,000 gallons to over 2,000,000 gallons per year. For two years, 1796 to 1798, distilleries were again closed. During the whole of 1809 the distilleries were also closed in Ireland and it is recorded that the consumption of spirits was reduced by nearly one-half. In r8i3-r4 distilleries were again closed in Ireland because of the scarcity of food, and with their savings from drink, it is stated the inhabitants were able to purchase more necessaries of life, than in the years of plenty when the distilleries were open. In 1818 Legislation was passed by which greater facilities were granted both for distilling and vending of spirits, with the result that there was an increased consumption amounting to over 120 per cent, during five years. In 1828 the whole question was again before Parliament, all the old liquor laws were repealed and a general licensing Act adopted. Only two years were allowed to pass before the ques- tion was again under consideration and the Beer Bill of 1830 passed, by which some 30,000 Beer-shops were opened through- out the country. The evil became so great that in 1834 James Silk Buckingham, the member for Sheffield, demanded that a Parliamentary Committee on drunkenness should be appointed. This was done, and the Committee recommended many restric- tions, the reduction in the number of liquor-shops ; partial Sunday Closing, and a National system of Education, including Temperance I'eaching for all the children. Althougli there was no direct practical legislation upon the Committee’s findings, the indirect results were very great indeed. The publication of the speech of Mr. |. S. Buckingham and the evidence submitted to the Committee, was of great value and roused many to the danger the country was in from .Alcoholism. In 1835 the Beer 29 Act was amended so that in cities and towns of more than 5,000 inhabitants each beer seller was compelled to get a certificate of good character from six rated householders. In 1839 “The Metropolitan Police Act” was passed by which it was enacted that all drinkshops should be closed till one o’clock in the afternoon on Sundays, Christmas Day and Good Friday, and it prohibited (he sale of spirits for consumption on the premises to any boy or girl under 16 years of age. In 1848 “ The Sale of Intoxicating Liquors on Sunday (regulation) Act ” enacted that no drink should be sold throughout the United Kingdom before half past twelve o’clock on Sunday. In 1854 what Is known as the “ Forbes-Mackenzies ” Sunday Closing Act for Scotland was passed and during the same year (1854) a Parliamentary Select Committee made a strong recommendation respecting the common sale of alcoholic liquors. In i860 a great retrograde step was taken in passing the “ Refreshment and Wine Licence Act,” by which any shop-keeper could claim a licence to sell foreign wines for “ off ” consumption. And confectioners, eating-house keepers, drapers and others were entitled to obtain a wine licence for consumption on the premises. Persistent opposition succeeded in preventing this measure from being made applicable to Scotland. The same year (i860) the retailing or using of spirits in jails was abolished, the hawking or selling of spirits in unlicensed places prohibited, and the Mines Regulation Act contained clauses prohibiting the payment of wages in proximity to places where intoxicating liquors were retailed. In 1867 “ The County Court (Amendment) Act ” contained clauses, enacting that no debt for liquor consumed on the pre- mises could be recovered by law, nor any security taken for payment. In i86g by Sir H. Selwin-Ibbetson’s “ Wine and Beer-house (England and Wales) Act,” which raised the rating qualification, hundreds of beer-houses were closed throughout the country. No less than 300 were closed in Liverpool alone. In 1871 a Licensing Suspensory Act” was passed prohibiting the granting of any new licences for twelve months. The “ Licensing Act ” of 1872 reduced the hours of sale from 21 hours to 17. In the same year (1872) two Acts were passed prohi- biting the payment of wages In public-houses to coal and other miners. In 1874 rlrink selling by grocers and other licensed shop-keepers, after public-houses were closed, was prohibited. In 1876 brewers and distillers were disqualified from acting' as Licensing Justices. In 1878 the Irish Sunday Closing Act passed closing all public-houses in Ireland on Sunday, excepting those in Dublin, Belfast, Cork, Limerick and Waterford, 30 In i88i “The Welsh Sunday Closing- Act” was passed, and the same year the Admiralty announced that spirits would no longer be issued in the Navy, to officers, or youths under twenty years of age. Since then a great revolution has taken place in reference to the serving of liquor in the British Navy, money being substi- tuted (1913) for Rum unless the sailor wishes otherwise. In 1883 Parliamentary Election Committees and political meetings were prohibited from being held on licensed premises. Another measure was passed during this year w'hich enacted that no wages should be paid to any workmen, at or wdthin drink licensed premises or offices or gardens belonging thereto under penalties not exceeding ;/'io ($50) for each offence. In 1884 Municipal Election Committees and meetings were prohibited from being held on licensed premises. In 1886 an .Act was passed prohibiting the sale of alcoholic liquors to children under thirteen years of age, “ for his or her own consumption.” In 1887 farmers and others were prohibited from supplying intoxi- cating liquors as part payment of wages. The same year (1887) an Act was passed for Scotland which enabled the authorities to close all licensed premises at 10 p.m. except in towns with 50,000 inhabitants and in 1903 this power w'as extended to the whole of .Scotland and exercised throughout the whole country. In 1889 “ The Protection of Children’s .Act ” was passed prohibiting children under ten years of age, selling, singing, playing or performing for profit on licensed premises, and pro- viding that no boy under 14 or girl under 16 should be emplo3’ed on licensed premises after 10 p.m. in summer, or 8 p.m. in wnnter. In 1892 “ The Small Holdings (Agricultural) .Act ” decreed “ That no dwelling-house or building on the holding shall be used for the sale of alcoholic liquors. ” In 1894 Parliament voted ;^5oo as a donation to the .Army Temperance .Association and also passed an .Act prohibiting District and Parish Council election committees and meetings being held on licensed pre- mises. In 1898 Inebriate Reformatories were established and power given to the authorities to send habitual drunkards to such institutions for a period of three years. In 1901 “ The Intoxicating Liquors (Sale to Children) .Act ” was passed prohi- biting the sale of alcoholic liquors in unsealed vessels to children under fourteen j'ears of age. .Altogether some 400 .Acts of Parliament have been passed dealing with the liquor question ; yet the problem is unsettled, and must remain unsettled until Parliament is wise enough and strong enough to prohibit the manufacture, importation and sale of all intoxicants for beverage purposes, CHAPTER II The British Isles “ It is in vain that every engine is set to work that philanthropy can devise, when those whom vve seek to benefit are habitually tampering with their faculties of reason and will, soaking their brains with beer or inflaming them with ardent spirits. The struggle of the school, the library and the church, all united against the beer-house and the gin-palace, is but one development of the war between heaven and hell. It is, in short, intoxica- tion that fills our jails, it is intoxication that fills our workhouses with poor. Looking then at the manifold and frightful evils that spring from drunken- ness, I think I am justified in saying that it is the most dreadful of all the evils that affect the British Isles. I am convinced that if a statesman who heartily wished to do the utmost good to his country were thoughtfully to inquire which of the topics of the day deserved the most intense force of his attention, the true reply — the reply which would be exacted by full delibera- tion — would be that he should study the means by which this worst of plagues can be stayed. Surely such a question as this, inclosing within its limits consequences so momentous, ought to be weighed with earnest thought by all our patriots . — Charles Buxton, the great English brewer ( 1854 ). The first practical steps taken in the British Isles to secure the suppression of the liquor traffic, dated from June, 1853, when the United Kingdom Alliance was formed at Manchester. The passing into law, in the State of Maine, of an enactment prohi- biting the manufacture, and sale of all alcoholic liquors in that State, created a strong impression among a large number of Temperance reformers in favour of a similar law for the United Kingdom. A strong and aggressive agitation was organised throughout the country, and, the first President, Sir Walter C. Trevelyan, closed up all the public-houses on his estate in North- umberland. The beneficial effects of this step became so appar- ent that a number of other landowners did the same with equally good results. Sir George Trevelyan, speaking after sixty years’ experience of prohibition, says : — “Drinking shops are an evil in themselves, and they can “ be abolished and can be extinguished without any disadvan- “ tages to the public which, in any degree, can be weighed “ against the enormous disadvantages and evils of their exist- “ ence. This may be to others a matter of theory, but it is to “me a question of experience. Sixty years ago Sir Walter “ Trevelyan took the matter into his own hands and suppressed “ all the public-houses over the whole of his estate. Since then “generations have grown up with the tastes and habits which 32 “ were formed under a new system, wdth self-respect, frugality, “ and a high standard of comfort for themselves, and, w'hat is “ much more important, for their wives and children. And I “ venture to say that the most minute, and even the most “ malevolent, scrutiny could never discover in that district any “ evil whatever has resulted from the suppression of the public- “ houses. On the other hand, the most superficial observer will “ see signs on the very face of the country of innumerable bless- “ ings which have resulted from the change. My neighbours “ have good health, good wages, good honour, good houses full “ of furniture, and have saved money. They are neighbours “ indeed, and not dependents — there is not a single pauper on “ the estate. The Agent of the adjoining estate of Sir Arthur Middleton says ; — “ .A^s to Belsay and Prohibition, I may say that there has “ not been a public-house for over fifty years, and the improve- “ ment is very marked. On the neighbouring estates of Sir “ John Swinburn and others there are no public-houses, so that “ we have an area of about one hundred square miles without “ this curse. The people are industrious and generally well off. “ Another important fact — you don’t meet a policeman every “ time you choose to take a walk, and I believe there is not a “ policeman within this area, except at Bolam, and he is a private constable.” In igii an Official Return was issued by the Government showing that in 3,903 Rural Parishes in England and Wales, with a population of 575,219, there was no public-house for the sale of intoxicating liquors ‘‘ on ” the premises. It is also well known that in a very large number of these places there are also no places for the sale of these liquors '‘off ” the premises either. In addition to the Rural districts, there are many suburbs and areas in the large cities and towns, throughout the United Kingdom where Prohibition has long been in force by the will of the landowner. ‘‘ The Artizans’, Labourers’, and General Dwellings Company ” was established in 1S67 with a view to laying out estates with houses free from the evils of the public-houses and this has been most successfully carried out. In London this Company has four large estates upon which over 2,000 houses have been built, inhabited by some 10,000 persons. Similar estates have also been laid out by Lord Row- alan in London and in Scotland, and by the Toxteth Park Estate Company in Liverpool, and other companies in Birmingham, Manchester, Hull, etc. It Is also a notable fact that practically all the Garden City Associations have laid out their new cities without a single site being set apart for a public-house, 33 England and Wales. — The first step taken in Parliament to give the people power to suppress the liquor traffic was made in 1863 by the late Sir Wilfrid Lawson, Bart., M.P., when he moved the following resolution : “ That in the opinion of this House, the laws under which licences are granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors are eminently unsatisfactory and deficient in power to protect the public, and, therefore require immediate alteration.” Only twenty-one members could be found at that time to support the motion, and it was defeated by a majority of 66, the division being a very small one. In later years Sir Wilfrid Lawson proposed a ” Permissive Prohibitory Liquor Bill ” which would have given the ratepayers of given districts power to prohibit the issue of liquor licenses in their respective districts. The Bill aroused an enormous amount of public opin- ion in its favour but failed to pass the House of Commons. On the invitation of Mr. John Bright, M. P., Sir Wilfrid Lawson proposed a resolution in favour of Local Option. The resolution was as follows : — ‘‘ That inasmuch as the ancient and avowed object of ” licensing the sale of intoxicating liquors is to supply a supposed ‘‘public want without detriment to the public welfare, this ‘‘ House is of the opinion that a legal power of restraining the ‘‘ issue or renewal of licences should be placed in the hands of ‘‘the persons most deeply interested and affected, viz., the in- ‘‘ habitants themselves, who are entitled to protection from the ‘‘ injurious consequences of the present system by some efficient ‘‘ means of Local Option.” The resolution was defeated, the vote being : for, 185 ; and against, 273. In 1880 a general election took place and the liquor question was brought very prominently before the people and a much larger number of candidates were elected in favour of Sir Wilfrid Lawson’s resolution ; so that when later in the year, the resolution came before the House again, it was adopted, the vote being : for, 229; against, 203. Similar resolu- tions, but calling for Government action, were adopted in 1881 by a majority of 42 and in 1883 by a majority of 87. In i8gi the Welsh Local Veto Bill passed its Second Reading by a majority of 7; for 187; against 180. In 1893 Sir William Harcourt intro- duced the first Government Measure giving a veto power to the people over the issue and renewal of liquor licences, by two- thirds majority. Hotels, eating-houses, railway stations bars and chemist shops were exempted. The Bill was withdrawn. In 1895 Sir William Harcourt introduced the second Govern- ment Measure, similar to that of 1893, but giving the additional option of reduction where Prohibition was not carried and the D 34 abolition of appeals to Quarter Session. This Bill was also with- drawn. The liquor party were successful at the General Election in 1895 and again in 1900, largely due to the unfortunate war in South Africa. A most retrograde Licensing Act was passed in 1904, which for the first time in English History conceded the right of compensation upon the refusal to grant a liquor licence by way of renewal. In 1906 another General Election took place and the people swept the liquor party from power by an enormous majority. Two years later (1908) Mr. H. H. Asquith introduced the third Government Licensing Bill which was by far the most advanced legislation dealing with the drink evil, ever proposed by a British Government, and although there were many things in the Measure to which the Temperance party objected, the main provisions were so satisfactory that the whole of the Temperance Organisations rallied to the support of the Government. The liquor party were most determinedly opposed to the Measure and the greatest fight ever waged for the people resulted in the Nation being robbed of its victory by the action of the reaction- ary House of Lords in rejecting the Measure, which passed the House of Commons by the unprecedented majority of 237. For, 350; against, 113. The position taken up by the House of Lords in rejecting the English Licensing Bill and other Government Measures brought about a constitutional crisis, which after two General Elections in 1910, ended in the curtailment of the powers of the House of Lords. In both of these General Elections the liquor question was prominently before the electors and a large majority of the Members pledged themselves to support the Direct \'eto, Sunday Closing and the Government Temperance Measure. They also promised to oppose so-called “disinterested management,” Municipalisation, and any other scheme for the public manage- ment of the liquor traffic. A large and important deputation of Temperance reformers waited upon the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. H. H. Asquith, M.P., at the end of 1908, after the rejection of the Licensing Bill by the Lords. Mr. Asquith in his reply said : — “ I am here to-day to tell you, and I do it in the plainest “ and simplest language, that in the opinion of His Majesty’s “ Government, the Licensing Bill, in its main provisions, repre- “ sents not the most, but the least, measure of reform in regard “ to this great and growing evil with which you, and we, and “ the country, ought to be content. We have not abated one jot “ of our interest or of our determination in regard to this matter, “ and when the time comes — and it cannot be far distant — when “ we join issue and come into the open field, there is no measure 35 “in regard to which we shall appeal more confidently to the “ people of this country to determine between its own elected “ representatives and an irresponsible body, than this measure “ of Temperance Reform. It will be in the forefront of the “ controversy, and if, as I not only hope, but believe, the people “ decide that controversy by determining that they will be “ masters in their own House — I cannot doubt that one of the “ first fruits of the victory will be that the measure will take its “ place upon the Statute Book, then we shall be emancipated “ once and for all from all the thraldom of this dominating and “ paralysing interest.’’ Having waited over four years for the Government to take action, and nothing having been attempted, so far as England and Wales is concerned, a great National Convention was held in London on November 13th, 1912. Over 2,500 elected repre- sentatives attended from all parts of England and Wales, with fraternal delegates from Scotland and Ireland. A large and influential deputation was appointed to present a Memorial to the Prime Minister, demanding the early fulfilment of the repeated pledges to deal with the liquor question. The deputa- tation was received on December iith, 1912, and in reply to the Memorial and address, Mr. Asquith said : — “ I am very glad to have the honour, with my Right Hon. “ friend, the Home Secretary, of receiving this representative “ Deputation, and I know that I need not assure you of my ‘ sympathy with the object which you and we alike have in “ view. . . . And I believe that the Liberal Party, if it remains “ in power and in control of the legislation of the country — and “of course one great difficulty and obstacle has been removed “ by the passing of the Parliament Act — will, in the years to “ come, show itself as zealous, and be able to prove itself more “ practically effective in the direction of Temperance legislation “ than has been possible owing to those obstacles now passed. “ During the present session of Parliament a Bill has been passed “ through the House of Commons dealing with this matter in “ Scotland, which when it receives the Royal Assent will be a “ substantial contribution to the progress of Temperance “ Reform. . . . The next session cannot be a long one- — ^it must “ be a short one. It would be a most dishonest thing, under “ those conditions, if I were to say to you now that there is any “ reasonable prospect — I will not say of introducing — but of “ attempting to carry through the House of Commons into law “ any large measure of Temperance legislation. You must take “ this plain statement not, I hope, in any sense as a discourage- “ ment, but as a simple recognition of parliamentary conditions “ which no Statesman could possibly ignore, and not as indi- “ eating any abatement in the desire of my colleagues and my- 36 “ self, as soon as tijne and opportunity offer, to effect this great “and long-delayed social reform.” Great disappointment followed this announcement that nothing of a practical character could be attempted in 1913. But it was resolved by all the Temperance organisations to continue the agitation throughout the country, and especially that of educating the people on this great question. It is officially stated that nearly 400 Educational Authorities have adopted the Temperance Syllabuses issued by His Majesty’s Government. This means that definite Temperance instruction, showing the action of alcohol on the human system, is now being given to a very large number of children in the public .schools throughout Great Britain and Ireland. Scotland. — The Prohibitory movement makes steady pro- gress in Scotland. In all walks of life — commercial, ecclesias- tical, educative, scientific, social, moral — the tide is unmistakably rising against the traffic in alcohol. The practice of abstinence is continuously on the increase, the drink bill is decreasing, there is not the same open drunkenness which used to be and which was a great stigma on the country, it is almost an impossi- bility to get a new licence, and there has been a steady decrease in the number of licences, and that without compensation. For the five years ending 1911 there was a decrease of 481 licences. In Scotland there are 149 Licensing Courts, 74 County juris- dictions, and 75 Burghs. In the County areas the number of licences at December, 1911 (the returns for 1912 are not yet published) totalled 3,859, being one to every 489 of the popula- tion ; in the Burghs (cities and towns) there were 6,510 licences, or one to every 432 of the population. Taking Scotland as a whole there is one licence to every 453 of the population. There are great variations in the number of licences issued. In the Counties the numbers vary from one to every 2,329 inhabitants In Nairnshire, one to every 218 in .Ayrshire; and in the Burghs from one to every 1,137 Clydebank, to one to every 113 in Cupar-Fife. During recent years, while every phase of the man^’-sided Temperance question has been in evidence, greatest attention has been given to the question of legislation. The Government went into power in December, 1910, pledged to grant a measure of Temperance Reform to Scotland. It was expected that their promised Bill would have been introduced in 1911, but the Gov- ernment’s hands were too full. Early In the session of 1912 (March 12th) the measure was introduced by Mr. McKinnon M'^ood (Secretary for Scotland) and Mr. L^re (Lord .\dvocate). The Bill was practically identical with the Temperance (Scotland) 37 Bill introduced for several years at the instigation of the Scottish Permissive Bill and Temperance Association, and which had three times received a second reading by the House of Commons and had twice been approved by the Scottish Grand Committee. It must not be supposed on that account that the Bill was all that many Scottish Temperance Reformers desired. In many respects it is a weak measure and but a poor substitute for Pro- hibition. The chief provisions of the measure are that on the request of ten per cent, of the electors in any area under the Bill — (country parishes, small burghs, and wards of burghs having over 25,000 population) — a poll must be taken on three resolutions: — (i) No change; (2) Reduction (reducing licences by 25 per cent.); (3) No' licence. A simple majority is sufficient to adopt No. I and No. 2, but the majority in the case of No. 2 must constitute 30 per cent, of the electors. To adopt No. 3 the majority must be three-fifths of the votes recorded, and not less than 30 per cent, of the electors in the area. The measure enacts that licensed premises shall not be opened before ten o’clock in the morning (the opening hour at present is 8 a.m.). There are also some provisions for the better regulation of Clubs. The Bill was read a second time by the House of Commons on April ist by a majority of 53. For, 153; against, 100. Scot- land gave 40 votes for and seven against. The measure went into Committee on April 24th, and was reported to the House on June i8th. Many attempts were made in Committee to weaken the Bill, but all happily failed. A strong attempt to insert an option in favour of “ disinterested ” management failed by 37 votes to 26, the Scottish vote being 34 against, 18 for. The Bill passed its Report Stage on October 8th and 9th, and the Third Reading was passed on the latter date by a majority of 157, Scotland giving 45 votes for and eight against. In the House of Lords the Bill was badly treated. Amend- ments were adopted extending the time notice from five to ten years, giving an option of “ disinterested ” management, in- creasing the majority necessary to adopt No Licence from three- fifths to two-thirds, etc. On the Bill returning to the House of Commons, all the amendments (?) inserted by the Lords were rejected, although a most determined effort was made to have the option of “ disinterested” management retained. The Lords refused to allow the Bill to become law, and consequently it was dropped for the session. In the 1913 session the Government re-introduced the Bill. On reaching the House of Lords a compromise was effected and it was passed as an agreed measure. The changes are very few. The time limit is extended to eight years from June, 1912 ; the majority required to carry no-licence is reduced to 55 per cent. ; 38 while the qualifying number of electors is increased to 35 per cent. Clubs must close from 2 a.m. to 10 a.m. Great credit is due to Mr. McKinnon Wood, the Secretary for Scotland, for the tact and skill displayed in piloting the Bill through its various stages. Despite strong opposition from avowed foes and pretended friends, he stood nobly to his promises and rejected all attempts to make the Bill of less effect, and in this he acted in strict accord with the desires of the vast majority of the people of Scotland and the Temperance reformers of the United Kingdom. Ireland. — Three years after Dr. Lyman Beecher preached his Six Sermons in the L'nitcd States, the Rev. Dr. John Edgar of Belfast, inaugurated the Temperance Crusade in the United Kingdom by issuing his now historic appeal in August, 1829. Father Mathew entered upon his mission in 1838; and in half a decade five million persons had taken the total abstinence pledge, whilst the annual decrease in the consumption of spirits amounted to one million gallons, resulting in a marvellous re- duction of crime, on account of which the then Chief Secretary — Lord Morpeth — declared that “ the duty of the military and police was almost entirely confined to keeping the ground clear for the operations of Father Mathew.” The subsequent recrudescence of the Drink Habit was most largely due to the continuance of the liquor traffic licensed by the Government. Father Mathew sorrowfully recognised that tragic fact and became a \’ice-President of the United Kingdom Alliance, which, in his own words, ‘‘strikes at the very root of the evil.” ‘‘ I trust in God,” he added, ‘‘that the associated efforts of the many good and benevolent men will effectually crush a monster gorged with human gore.” In 1859 a remarkable wave of religious revival swept over Ulster, causing the public-houses to be emptied of customers and the owners of not a few of them to throw their stock-in-trade into the river or the street. At annual demonstrations or on holi- days drinking and disorder were conspicuous by their absence ; and every magistrate and judge of Assize called attention to the absence of criminal charges in the Courts of Justice. Most men had vision enough to recognise in such a social transformation the benefits bestowed by total abstinence. But public-houses were allowed to remain. Some were re-opened, new licences were sought and granted ; and the old temptations were mercilessly plied, with the natural results. There has been ever since on the part of earnest people a growing demand for the power to safeguard themselves from the first and worst foe of the home, the Church, and the nation. The 39 Rev. John MacMillan, D.D., Moderator United Free Presby- terians of Ireland, writes July, 1913 : — “ In my own denomination we have been calling for Local “ Option and Prohibition for many years. Other Protestant “ denominations are prosecuting Temperance work with vigour. “ The Roman Catholic Church has of late years exhibited much “ activity. It is now a rule with the bishops to require from can- “ didates for confirmation a total abstinence pledge which is “ binding until the person has reached the age of twenty-one “ years. ” In 1878 the Irish Sunday Closing Act was passed, closing all public-houses in Ireland on Sunday, excepting those in Dub- lin, Belfast, Cork, Limerick, and Waterford. In 1906 the Irish Sunday Closing Act, which had formerly been adopted from year to year, was made permanent, with reduced hours in the five exempted cities and earlier closing on Saturday throughout the whole country. In 1902 the issue of new licences in Ireland was suspended and the Act has been renewed every year since, so that from that year nO' new licences have been issued. On account of the present political position in Ireland, the legislative aspects of the Temperance crusade have been in a great measure lost to view and the issue has been greatly con- fused. May a better day soon dawn ! The Channel Islands. — In both Guernsey and Jersey there has been a great improvement, from the Temperance standpoint, during the past twenty years. Both Islands enjoy a substantial measure of Local Option in reference to new licences, which is repeatedly in operation, and a strong effort is being made to secure a direct popular vote over both new and old licences. Treating has been made illegal “ either before, during, or after a public election,” and legislation is proposed to close all liquor saloons on the day of elections. The local Temperance Federa- tion, consisting of the Good Templars, W. W.C.T.U. , and others, defeated a proposal to introduce the so-called ‘‘disinterested management ” into the Islands. The Isle of Man. — Many efforts have been made to secure more drastic Temperance legislation in the Isle of Man, but these have been defeated by the privileged Legislative Assembly and the Governor. The House of Keys (the popularly elected Par- liament) is overwhelmingly in favour of some legislative changes in reference to the Liquor Traffic, and has twice defeated pro- posals for establishing so-called ‘‘ disinterested management.” The last time this particular proposal was before the House of Keys (February, 1913) the vote was — For, 4; and Against, 18. A large majority of the members of the House of Keys are total abstainers. 4o The North Sea.— For very many years a number of floating liquor shops called “ Coopers ” plied their nefarious traffic among the fishermen of the North Sea. The loss of life and property, and other evils arising from this traffic became so great that an International Convention to consider the matter was held at The Hague, Holland, in 1887. At the conclusion of the Convention the following official statement was issued : — “ llie six Powers bordering on the North Sea, viz.. Great “ Britain, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, and Denmark, “ have come to an international agreement w'hich applies po that “ part of the North Sea which is outside territorial limits. (Inside “ territorial waters each country can make its own laws.) The “ arrangement is shortly as follows : — “ The sale of spirits to fishermen and other persons on “ board the fishing vessels is prohibited. Fishermen are equally “ forbidden to buy spirits. Idle exchange or barter for spirits “ of any article, especially the fish caught, nets, or any part of “ the gear or ‘ equipage ’ of the fishing boat, is also prohibited. “ Vessels which ply on the North Sea for the purpose of selling “ to fishermen other articles (not spirits) will have to be licensed “ by the Government of their own country, and to be liable to “ strict regulations with the object of insuring their not having “ spirits on board for sale. “ The six countries engage to propose to their respective “ Legislatures laws to carry this arrangement into effect, and to “ punish those who do not conform to it.” Each of the countries speedily agreed to the findings of the Convention and the prohibition of the liquor traffic on the North Sea went into effect in November, 1887. The benefits arising from this international agreement has been repeatedly testified to by all concerned in the welfare of the men and the fishing industry. CHAPTER HI Denmark and its Dependencies “ Our land is not to the same extent as ten or twenty years ago the schnapsland par excellence ’ as it has been called in the past ; the drinking of brandy has diminished by several per cent, and the use of light beers, under 2% per cent, alcohol, is increasing, while the strong beers, of 4 to 6 per cent, alcohol, are losing ground. When the local veto law is passed, as it will be, we in Denmark will sweep out all brandy retailers in the country ; and then the turn will come to the towns and cities, for 8 per cent, of our whole population, and I think the eighth part of the grown-up persons, belong to total abstinence unions, besides all those who are in no such union, but never take a glass of strong drink. In this feeling, in this spirit, we seek to solve this question to help the tempted by taking off the temptation." Rev. N, C. Dalhoff, Chevalier of the Dannehrog, Copenhagen ( 1909 ). Prohibition has made wonderful advance in the three principal dependencies of Denmark, and even the mother country is becoming more and more awake to the evils of the liquor traffic. The Faroe Islands have banished the traffic by a popular vote; Iceland, by an act of its Island Parliament, supported by a popular vote, and with the sanction of the King of Denmark, has prohibited the manufacture, importation and sale of alco- holic liquors ; while Greenland has a most thorough and efficient Prohibition law in force. Denmark. — The basic principle upon which the licensing laws have been established date from a time long before the establishment of any Temperance movement. The spread of Temperance organisations and a rising public opinion for reform caused the Government in 1903 to ask Parliament to appoint a Commission to consider the licensing laws with a view to some improvements. The Commission — composed of Temper- ance workers and opponents — having considered the question — unanimously agreed that reforms were necessary. They recommended that the number of saloons should be reduced in Towns and Cities to a fixed maximum, as the proprietors die, and that under certain conditions the Municipalities might still further reduce the number. In the Country areas the Com- mission recommended that Local Option should be adopted,! by which by a two-thirds majority of the people, men and women should have power to prevent the opening of any new liquor shops, and to abolish old licences upon the death of the pro- 42 prietor, or if he sells to another person. It was recommended that the licensing laws should come up for revision every five years. A Government Bill embodying these recommendations was introduced into the Folketingel (Lower House) on January 17th, 1908, but failed to become law. In 1909 this measure was again introduced, and adjourned until 1910, when it was adopted by the Lower House by 74 votes against ONE. Some amend- ments to the Commission recommendations were adopted, the chief being that a majority in each parish — but not less than 25 per cent. — was substituted for the two-thirds majority. The measure failed to pass through the Landsting (Upper House). A petition signed by nearly 450,000 men and women (more than half of the adult population) in favour of the measure was pre- sented to Herr P. Munch, the Minister for the Interior, who not only had charge of the Bill, but was the absolute sovereign in all licensing matters. When the measure was rejected by the Upper House, Herr Munch said : — “ Although this measure is defeated, I will arrange for a “ vote to be taken in the parishes, and in every case 1 will give “ my decision in accordance with the wishes of the people.” Mr. Larsen-Ledet, who has done so much for the move- ment in Denmark, Editor of the great daily Temperance news- paper, Reform, says : — ‘‘Local Veto thus stands, and will stand; that is the ‘‘ victory, and the traffickers foam. Our next demand is for a ‘‘ plebiscite for or against National Prohibition.” Through the action of Mr. Ledet and his friends, with the active co-operation of Mr. Ledet’s daily paper, a number of contests have taken place every year since 1907, with the follow- ing gratifying results : — Year. For Prohibition. Parishes. Voters. Agfainst Prohibition. Parishes. Voters. 1907 12 3.920 -> 320 190S .30 10,612 ■> 1 . 155 1909 24 7.560 0 977 1910 36 7.760 5 2,584 1911 29 7.911 10 4,020 1912 21 4.195 0 1,221 1913 (to June) 27 7.172 8 3.771 Totals ... 179 49.130 27 14,048 Two successive Governments having failed to secure the passage of any new licensing law, owing to the opposition of the Upper House of Parliament. A Committee, representing both 43 Houses was appointed to consider the question. This Com- mittee spent a considerable amount of time in dealing with the matter, and eventually a compromise Bill was agreed upon and presented to Parliament and passed. The new law fails to give the people a direct popular vote over the liquor traffic, but in other ways the new law is considered to be an improvement. In reference to this new law, Mr. Larsen-Ledet says : — ^ “ We did not get Local Option. The Upper House said “ ‘ No,’ and at last we were obliged to take what we could get. “ The new law refers all licensing matters to the town or parish “Councils (both elected by universal suffrage). The Councils “ all over the country have now discussed the question, and “ their decisions show that Temperance sentiment is much “greater than we had thought. We have 1,138 Parish Coun- ‘ ‘ cils ; eight of them have decided that new licences shall be “given for life, some say ten years, but the great majority of “ the Councils have decided that no licence is to be given for “ more than five years. That means : the liquor traffic has the “ rope about its neck. Further, I feel sure that not many of the “ Councils will give any licences before a general vote of the “ people is taken. The Upper House could take Local Option “ out of the Bill, but it cannot take it out of the people’s heart. “ The law says that the Councils can fix a limit of age under “ which spirits cannot be sold to young men and women. The “ limit fixed by the majority of the Councils is from 18 to 20 “ years of age. The Councils can also fix the closing hours of “public-houses, and the majority have decided that the houses “ must be closed from eight to ten hours during the day and “ night. The Temperance Party of Denmark say they must “ be closed the whole twenty-four hours. As far as we can see “ at present, every election to the Councils will be largely fought “ on this issue, and the liquor traffic will have less and less “liberty of action. In a few years we will get a new State- “ constitution. The Government Bill is now before Parliament. “ This new constitution will give every man and woman, over 25 “years of age, a vote to send representatives to both Houses, “ and nobody will have more than one vote. That will mean a “great step forward to State Prohibition.” The granting of liquor licences will now be made by the Parish Councils, the members of which are elected by the people who are on the register of voters ; these include both men and women. Indirectly therefore the people have secured some measure of Local Option over the liquor traffic. The first elec- tions for the Councils under the new law took place in March, 1913, and resulted in 178 total abstaining candidates being elected in the towns, and an overwhelming majority in the rural 44 parishes. The Councils have since met and determined their policy in reference to the liquor traffic. In all the towns except five it has been decided to reduce the number of public-houses to a fixed maximum, and to grant no new licences until this num- ber has been secured. In the rural parishes nine out of every ten are reported to be taking drastic action against the liquor traffic. In the towns of Denmark there are some 3,600 public- houses, and by the decision of the Councils over 900 have been closed, and in addition over 500 clubs have been closed where intoxicating liquors have been sold, the Councils having refused to issue any licences for these places. The proprietors of inns have also been prohibited from selling spirits to any except those who are proved to be bona-fide travellers. The maximum number of licences fixed by the towns varied very greatly. Four have fixed the number at one public-house for 200 to 300 inhabitants; 65 for 350 to 500; and seven for 600 to 1,000. Four towns and two counties have determined that no child under 16 years of age shall be supplied with alcoholic liquors. Three towns and two counties have fixed the age at 17, and 17 towns and 69 counties have fixed the age at 18. The Parliamentary elections for members to the Lower House (the Folketing) were held in May, 1913, and resulted in a considerable gain to the Temperance party. Of the 114 mem- bers elected, 34 are total abstainers, a gain of eight, and 80 of the members have pledged themselves to support a national plebiscite on the question of National Prohibition. Others, who are in favour of a National Plebiscite, request that a commission of inquiry into the liquor traffic should first be held. The sentiment in favour of Prohibition is becoming stronger and stronger in every part of the country and among all classes of society. The Radical party, which forms the Government party, has unanimously resolved to ask for a Parliamentary Commission, but they have also unanimously agreed with the Social Democratic party to support the demand for a national plebiscite on the question of National Prohibition. A number of labour organisations, small farmers, and farm labourers, have unanimously resolved to work in favour of National Prohibition. The Temperance organisations are, however, very far from being satisfied with the new law, and already an agitation is being organised for an alteration, especially for power to prohibit the Hquor traffic altogether. Denmark had in 1911 a population of 2,757,016, of whom about 150,000 are subscribing members of the various Temperance Societies. The Rigsdag (National Parliament) consists of two chambers, the Upper with 66 45 members, and the Lower with 114 members, of whom 34 are known to be total abstainers. Faroe Islands. — By the Treaty of Vienna of 1814, the Faroe Islands became part of the Kingdom of Denmark, although in fact they had really been Danish from 1366. The Islands have for very many years had their local Parliament, the Lagthing, and in addition the people send one representa- tive to the Rigsdag at Copenhagen. In March, 1907, an Act was unanimously passed by the Lagthing, and received the hearty approval of the King of Denmark, by which every parish of the seventeen inhabited islands out of the twenty-five, was given the power of suppress the sale of Intoxicating liquors. The vote was immediately taken and showed that in every parish there was an overwhelming majority in favour of Prohibition. In several of the parishes there was not a single vote in favour of the liquor traffic. The total vote was as follows : — For Prohibition i) 54 i Against Prohibition 64 Majority for i )477 In consequence of this vote the whole of the liquor shops were closed on January ist, 1908. Although the population on these Islands is only about 20,000, this number is greatly increased during the fishing season by the addition of a number of fishermen and others from Scandinavia and Great Britain, who visit the Islands for business purposes. In former times there was a great amount of drunkenness, both among the natives and the visitors. All this is now altered. Pastor Arthur Brend stated in 1911, after three years of Prohibition : — “ The difference now is most marked. We no longer “ witness the blasphemous drinking orgies that were provoked “on exciting occasions simply by the facilities for purchasing “ intoxicating liquors. The Prohibition now in force is abso- “ lutely genuine. It is no use to say that Prohibition cannot “ prohibit, for if any student of the problem wants to .see that “ Prohibition can and does prohibit, just send him to the Faroes. “ The drink trade as a trade is utterly banished. Of course, “ anyone who wishes to import liquor can do so, but only for “ his own private use. He must not sell it to others or trade “ with it in any way. The new law is rigid concerning this, so “ that there are practically no violations.” During this year (1913) another vote will be taken, but there is no doubt as to the result, for the people, it is stated, have become so prosperous and contented, that there is really no one bold enough to advocate a return to the old bad days 46 of the common selling of intoxicating liquors. The people have learned wisdom under the beneficent regime of Prohibition. Greenland. — This is a vast Island-Continent largely within the Arctic Circle. The inhabitable portion is under the authority of the Kingdom of Denmark, while the trade is a monopoly of the Danish Crown. The population in igii was 12,968, of whom about 400 were Europeans and the remainder Eskimos. The Government is in the hands of Parish Parliaments and the Danish Rigsdag. Both the local and national authorities have prohibited the importation of any kind of intoxicating liquors ; in fact the introduction of spirits for any purpose whatever is made a penal offence. Every Parish has an inspector, and no one is permitted to land at any place without a special permit. The inspectors report that the laws respecting intoxicating liquors are thoroughly enforced, and that very few attempts are made to smuggle such liquors into the country, first because there is no demand, and second because the penalties are so verj' severe. Iceland. — A very large portion of Iceland is uninhabitable, a vast area is practically covered with glaciers and lava beds. There are no large cities or towns, and the farms are few and far apart. The population in 1911 was 85,089, of whom 7,500 were located in Reykjavik, the capital. There are no railways, the principal mode of travel being on horseback. .All bread- stuffs have to be imported, but potatoes are grown in some parts. The chief industries are connected with cattle, sheep and horse breeding, together with the produce from the fisheries, .\lthough an inseparable part of the Kingdom of Denmark since 1397, Iceland has its own local Parliament — the .\lthing — which con- sists of 34 representatives elected by the people and six repre- sentatives appointed by the Crown. The Danish Resident Minister is also a member of the .-Althing. The history of Tem- perance among these people is of very recent date, very little effort having been put forth either for total abstinence or Tem- perance reform until the introduction of the International Order of Good Templars in 1884. Since that date wonderful progress has been made. Thousands of persons have become total ab- stainers, and several earnest Temperance reformers have been elected as members of the Althing. In 1899 the whole of the old licensing laws were repealed and an entirely new system established. By the new law the manufacture of intoxicating liquors was prohibited as from the ist of Januar}-, 1900. No person under the age of 16 was permitted to be served with intoxicating liquors, and treating or selling on credit was strictlv 47 forbidden. A system of high licence was introduced, with a very complicated method of local option. Some good followed this, but the evil still remained, so that an earnest appeal went from the people to their elected representatives demanding the total suppression of the liquor traffic. In 1905 a Bill was introduced into the Althing providing for the entire prohibition of the im- portation and sale of intoxicating liquors. After some con- sideration it was resolved to refer the whole matter to a special committee to investigate and report. The following is a full translation of the remarkable report which this committee pre- sented to the Althing, and which that body unanimously adopted : — “ Report of the Committee about the Bill for the Prohibition of Alcohol. “ The Committee which was appointed to consider this Bill “is in harmony with the idea that the use of intoxicating liquors “ is of no advantage to society, but, on the other hand, causes “great misery, as it is generally accompanied by squandering “ money, loss of work, poor health and offences against decency “ and morals to a great extent when the community as a whole “ is considered. “Other nations are also, one after the other, becoming “ conscious of this evil, so that doctors and political economists “ are forced to acknowledge that this evil is the greatest burden “ that can be put upon any nation. In many parts of the world the great effort is to exterminate the liquor traffic. The public “ generally are becoming aroused to the fact that the use of “ alcohol is detrimental both to the physical and mental faculties “ and strongly desire to destroy the old-fashioned but distorted “ opinion that the moderate use of alcohol is upon the whole “ harmless and even useful. All reforms must have a beginning, “ and unless a strong effort is made by the majority of sober, “ thinking people to convince men and women that unless they “ cease using alcoholic liquors the liquor traffic will never be “ uprooted. Alcohol, as well as other intoxicants (for instance, “ opium), have a captivating effect, and create a strong craving “ for their use, and will be procured as long as they are sold. The “ experience has already revealed that the only certain means “to hinder the use of alcohol to any extent is to reduce the “ number of places where it is sold. And the only means to “ uproot altogether the use of alcohol is to forbid the prepara- “ tion and importation, and withdraw all sale of it. “ We Icelanders are used to follow in the steps of other “ nations in our progression. But in this case we are further “ on the way than most of them. This progressive struggle, “the abstinence struggle, commenced mainly in this countrv 48 “ about twenty years ago. Since then it has constantly been the “ strong endeavour to enlighten the public about the hurtfulness “ of the use of alcohol. The Althing has contributed to this effort “ with pecuniary aid, and at the same time has made several laws “ with the aim of restricting the sale of alcohol. If nothing had “ been done in this direction then there is no doubt that the sale “ of alcoholic liquors would have increased a great deal, because “ trading stations have become numerous, and communications “ have increased considerably. In the year 1891 we had 39 “ trading stations, and in these there were 139 shops, but in “ 1903 the trading stations had increased to 282. If all the “ business houses at these stations sold alcohol the use of it “would be a great deal more than it is now; it has rather “ diminished than increased in these last decades. The laws “ that came into force on the loth February, 1888, about inn “ licences and the sale of alcohol, were a great help. They limited “ in various ways the sale and hindered the increase of public- “ houses. By the laws that come into force on November nth, “ 1899, about licensing and the sale of alcohol, a large progress “ was made toward decreasing in number the places where alcohol “ was sold, and by this the sale of spirits has been less every “ year since these laws came into force. In the year 1899 alcohol “ was sold at 54 trading stations in this country, but now, in “ 1905, as far as we know, aclohol is sold only at 12 trading “ stations, and there are in all 30 shops which sell spirits. .At “ the same time there are now not more than five or six licensed “ innkeepers in the whole country. Furthermore, all manufacture “ of intoxicating liquors is prohibited in the country by the law “ which came into force in January, 1900. “ Our nation in this way is further on than most nations, “ but the difficulties are also considerably less here than many “ other places. As far as the means of subsistence are con- “ cerned, there is no particular reason why all sale of alcohol “ should not be cut off in this country. Here it Is therefore easy “ to avail ourselves of the only means of exterminating the evil “ consequences of the liquor traffic by prohibiting the importa- “ tion of alcoholic liquors. We are conscious of the many “ objections against such an act, and we shall, therefore, give “ our opinion upon the most frequent objections. It is said that “ Prohibition is not necessary, that the laws now In force will “ in time mostly uproot the use of alcohol, and if that fails then “ we could forbid the sale of it. But we are of opinion that the “ only effective remedy for its extermination is to forbid the “ importation of all intoxicating liquors and to grant no licences. “ It is a frequent objection that the public treasun,- cannot stand “ the loss brought on it By losing this source of revenue. But “ what is the public treasury rather than a joint property of the “ nation? How can it be counted an advantage to the societv to 49 “ squander large sums of money to its own evil, though the “ public treasury is gaining something by it? In the year 1901 “the importation of alcohol amounted to 511,000 kroners “ (;^28,650 or $143,250). If there is added to this waste of money “ all the indirect financial loss resulting from the use of alcohol, “ then it is quite safe to affirm that the use of alcoholic liquors “costs the nation at least one million kroners a year (;^56,250 “ $281,250). This is the loss, then; but instead of this sum the “ public treasury only gets about 100,000 kroners a year “ (^5,625 or $28,125). It therefore evident that it would be “ a manifold benefit for society to rid itself of this great evil. “ It would be better for the whole nation both morally and “ financially were the loss of the liquor profit to the treasury “ made up by the increase of taxation on other goods. But it is “ granted that the importation of other goods liable to duty “would increase a great deal if the importation of alcohol was “ cut off. Therefore it is likely that it would not be necessary “ to raise the duties to any serious amount to compensate the “ public treasury for the loss. “ Now we will finally turn to the objection which is most “ maintained, and it is that Prohibition of alcohol is a breach of “ personal liberty, and that such laws would consequently be “ disregarded and not have the desired effect. We cannot “ approve of this opinion. All social order rests on one founda- “ tion — common interests. From this starting point social order “ decrees various limitations of liberty. Without such limitations “ no social life could exist. Along with social protection must “always be social duties. If society considers it necessary “ to make laws with the aim of decreasing or uprooting some “ national evil, whether it is a contagious disease, immoderate “ use of alcohol, or anything else, yet we consider it every man’s “ duty to submit to necessary regulations, even if they are con- “ sidered strict. When the public good is at stake everyone “ must submit. Most sanitary laws contain regulations which “ limit a personal independence more than the prohibition of the “ use of alcohol would do; nevertheless we are very well aware “ that there are personal rights which ought to be inviolate, as “ liberty of speech and opinion, but we do not agree that the “ liberty of using alcohol is so valuable that it may not be “ abridged. As all sale of opium is prohibited except by “ doctor’s orders, without which it is not allowed to be procured, “ though some of the great nations use it a great deal, likewise “we consider that the importation and sale of alcohol ought to “be strongly prohibited, as detrimental use of opium is not “ known here, but the injurious use of alcohol is very common. “ The laws now in force about brewing and selling of intoxi- “ eating liquors limit a great deal of the people’s liberty con- “ cerning the use of alcohol. If this limitation is legitimate, 50 “ then the extermination must be legitimate also. Nevertheless, “ we consider it right and prudent that this question should be “ determined by the majority of the people — of at least two- “ thirds. When such is the result then we believe that Prohibition “ will have the desired effect. It is now known that the national “ desire in this country is inclined to Prohibition, and it is the “ opinion of many who are best acquainted with this case, that “ there is a majority in favour of it. Therefore we consider that “ a vote should be taken on this question, and that the Govern- “ ment should command and direct the arrangements for “ the voting. Having consulted the governing body of the “ International Order of Good Templars, who are well “ acquainted with public opinion on this question, they have told “ us that it would be desirable that such voting should take place “ in the spring of 1907. We make that our proposal, and that “ the voting take place at the poor law district assemblies in the “ country and the civil meetings in the towns, the Government “to issue precise directions.” The committee which signed this very valuable report con- sisted of Judge Gudmundson (President), Dr. Bjornsson, Banker Gunnarsson, the Rev. Arni Jonsson, and the Rev. Mangus Andresson. The Althing unanimously adopted the report, but altered the date of taking the vote from 1907 to 1908. The contest was immediately entered upon by both the Tem- perance and Liquor parties under very difficult conditions. When it is remembered that Iceland has such scanty means of com- munication, with farms ten and twelve miles apart, with no popular gatherings to raise the enthusiasm, or even the ordinary public meeting in many parts to enlighten the people and organise them for the contest, it is marvellous how the Temper- ance people covered the country with sound information and won a great victory for Prohibition. The voting took place on September loth, 1908, and the result was as follows : — For Prohibition 4.645 Against Prohibition 3.181 Majority for 1,464 The victory was celebrated by great rejoicings throughout the country, and on January loth, 1909, special ser\ices were held in the State Churches, at which the Te Deum was sung by the people in thankfulness for the triumph over the liquor traffic. A Bill was immediately introduced into the Althing giving effect to the vote, and this Bill, prohibiting the manufacture, importa- tion and sale of intoxicating liquors which contained more than 51 two per cent, of alcohol, was passed. A deputation was appointed to wait upon the King of Denmark to secure His Majesty’s approval of the new law. It has been stated in the public press that when the Bill was presented for his signature, the King said : — “ Few, if any, of my actions since I became King have “ given me more satisfaction than that of signing the Prohi- “ bition law for Iceland, and if the Parliament of Denmark will “ pass a similar law, I shall be more willing yet to approve.” When Prohibition became certain of being adopted, the State Minister resigned, declaring that in his opinion : ” If the law is passed it will be impossible to enforce it.” The King accepted the resignation and appointed a Good Templar, Mr. Bjorn Jonssen, to fill the vacancy. In taking up the office of Prime Minister, Mr. Jonssen declared ; — “ I hope the Prohibition law will be the first law I shall ‘‘ have to sign as Minister.” And it was. No sooner was the Prohibition law placed upon the Statute Book than the liquor party began an agitation for its repeal, and brought before the Althing a demand for another plebiscite upon the question, but on all points they have so far been defeated. It was wisely determined to give the new law a fair and satisfactory trial before considering any amendments or alterations. The prohibition of the importation of intoxicating liquors went into effect on the ist of January, igi2, but the sale of such liquors will be permitted until the ist of January, 1915. CHAPTER IV Norway “ Of all the countries in Europe, Norway is next to Finland, the one where the least amount of intoxicating liquor is used. The reason for this is due in great measure to the enlightened and energetic work of the Temperance societies. In addition to the Samlags there are three or four licenses one of which is not attached to a person, but to the estate. This is ‘ Borregaard,’ which is owned by an English company. Can these people be fully aware of the fact that they are publicans (brandy sellers) in Norway, and that they are supporting a business which is a hindrance and a curse to the whole Norwegian people ? ’’ — Arne Halgjejn, G, C. T. of Norway ( 1910 J, There can be no shadow of a doubt that the whole trend of public opinion in both Norway and Sweden is toward Prohi- bition, and either country may be the first to put it into operation. Whatever good may have followed the establishment of the Liquor Company System has long since passed. The Liquor Companies of to-day are out to do the greatest amount of trade they can, and are ever found fighting the Temperance reformers, so as to maintain their own against the growing demands for the prohibition of the whole traffic. The advanced position of Prohibition sentiment in Norway may be judged from the fact that the newspapers of other countries are taking note, and re- porting the progress of the agitation. The London Daily Citizen, under the heading, “The Fight for Prohibition in Norway,’’ has a long paragraph, in which it is stated : — “ A great movement for the total prohibition of the traffic “ in alcohol is on foot in Norway. Some members of the Cabinet “ are themselves total abstainers, and the most prominent figure “ in the present-day political life of Norway, M. Castberg, “ leader of the Radical Party, is pledged to support the Pro- “ hibition of spirits. Better still, a united action of Norwegian “ workmen, in union with their Continental comrades, is well in “hand to counteract any attempt by capitalistic influence to “ force alcohol on a people against their will.’’ For several centuries, really down to the middle of the nine- teenth century, the Norwegians were noted for their intemper- ance. There can be no doubt that this was due to the facilities for obtaining intoxicating liquors, as practically no restraint whatever was put upon the traffic. From i8i6 to 1845, dis- tillation and selling were open to everybody in the towns, and to 54 all owners of taxed property in the rural districts. No special places were set apart for the sale of spirits ; almost every trades- man in the country dealt in all kinds of intoxicating liquors, especially brandvin — a strong alcoholic spirit resembling gin and whisky. Under this system of free distillation, a spirit still was set up in almost every home in the country. The amount of drunken- ness was enormous, entailing all the horrors of alcoholism, so much so that the Legislature — the Storting — was compelled to adopt repressive measures to prevent the utter demoralisation of the entire people. .-Xn Act was therefore passed in 1845 which greatly curtailed the right to distil spirits, and placed a heavy tax upon all distillers. From that date distillation in the homes of the people ceased and sobriety increased. This Act also gave power to the Municipal Councils to issue licences for the sale of intoxicating liquors and to demand the payment of a licence fee. All licences issued between that date and 1866 were con- sidered to be life licences, and if issued to married persons would continue to the surviving husband or wife, providing the licence fee was paid every year. The largest dealers in alcoholic liquors became the holders of these licences ; all others were prohibited from selling. Merchants who had secured the right to deal in foreign goods under the Commercial Law of 1842, were per- mitted to sell spirits in quantities of not less than 40 litres. Wine and foreign beers were dealt with in a similar manner. Beer brewed in Norway, however, could be sold without tax or licence. By an Act passed in 1854, Local Veto was given to the country districts, and so extensively used that in 1892 only 27 licences for the sale of spirits existed in the whole of Norway outside the large towns ; a remarkable testimonial to the determination of the people when they have the power to free themselves from the tyranny of the liquor traffic. In 1866 an Act was passed which prohibited the issue of any more life liquor licences and gave power to Town Councils to issue liquor licences for one year only. The growing popular opinion against the liquor traffic became so persistent, that in 1871 the legislature again took the matter into their consideration, and an Act was passed granting the power of selling spirits to Spirit Companies (Brandevins samlag). These companies were founded as joint-stock enterprises, from which the shareholders were to receive only five per cent., with no further claim upon the surplus profits. The surplus profits, if any, were to be distributed to public-utility purposes within the community in which the Samlag existed. The servants were to be hired upon fixed wages. Persons being visibly drunk were forbidden to buy intoxicating liquors, and any 55 persons who were known l:o be drunkards were not permitted to be served at all. Those granted life licences since 1845 were still entitled to sell spirits. The number of these licences was decreasing yearly, but those who had been granted licences under the Act of 1866 for one year only, were refused any further licences. The great decrease in the number of places licensed for the sale of spirits and the strictness in the enforce- ment of the liquor laws, together with the spread of total absti- nence among the people, brought about a decrease In the con- sumption of spirits and a corresponding increase in the sobriety of all classes. Liquor Companies were formed in every town in Norway, where spirit shops had been established by private persons. At first there was a great struggle for supremacy between the new companies and those holding life licences. In the end the compan- ies won, and in the great majority of cases the old licensees be- came managers or servants of the Samlags, or else were paid out by the Liquor Companies. Merchants still retained the right tO' sell not less than 40 litres, and there was no alteration in the law regarding the sale of wine and beer. By an Act passed in 1882, no one was permitted to sell wine or beer without a licence from the local Town Council, but upon appeal to the Supreme Court it was decided in 1884 that all persons retailing wine and beer prior to the passing of the Act had a life privilege, providing they paid the tax and kept within the rules laid down. In 1904 an increased tax was levied upon all beer and wine retailers, and power was given to start companies for the sale of beer and wine, the surplus profit to be distributed as in the case of the spirit companies. In such cases the Town Councils have power to prohibit any private person selling beer and wine, except those who still retain their life licences. The expectations of those Temperance reformers who sup- ported the establishment of Liquor Companies do not appear to have been realised. Drunkenness was still enormous and the control of the Liquor Companies by the local Councils and the Police appears to have been anything but satisfactory. Consul- General Mitchell, reporting to the British Government from Christiania in 1893, said : — “ The original philanthropic object of the Associations has “ been departed from, and the old licensed victualler has been “ replaced by hundreds of holders of five per cent., shares, “ politically and otherwise interested in the distribution of larger " surpluses from the sale of spirits, and by municipalities well “ content to improve and embellish their towns without recourse “ to communal taxation.” 56 Under these circumstances it is not to be wondered at that a demand went up to the legislature for more stringent legisla- tion over the sale of intoxicating liquors. In response to this appeal an Act was passed in 1894 extending Local Veto to the towns, the voting to be taken every six years on a universal suffrage, every man and woman over 25 years of age to have a vote. This Act also provided that 65 per cent., of the surplus profit of the Companies should be paid to the Government for a public life insurance fund, 15 per cent, for local poor relief, and the bal- ance of 20 per cent, for other local concerns. The merchants’ rights were also altered so that they could not sell less than 250 litres at one time. A tax of 1,000 Kroners (about ;£^56 or $281) was also imposed, to which the merchants very much objected, and by far the larger number refused to submit, so that this part of the traffic is now in the hands of a very few persons. Towm Couiicils were also given the power to licence merchants to sell spirits by retail on the payment of a fee of at least 10,000 kroners (about ^^562 or $2,800), but this has only been carried out in Christiania, no one in any of the other towns being willing to pay so high an annual fee for the privilege. When this Act was passed, there was considerable trouble between Norway and Sweden, which eventually resulted in Norway becoming independent of Sweden. This difficulty raised a great doubt as to what action would be taken by King Oscar II. in reference to the Act. At this time Alderman Joseph Malins, the International head of the Good Templars, was presented to the King at the Palace in Stockholm, and ventured to refer to this important matter, to which the King replied, “We all know the evils that come upon our people through intemperance, and we shall all help to remove those evils. As to this Act, the Norwegian Act, I have approved it. If the people do not want these houses, let them put them away.’’ There are 64 towns in Norway in which Samlags have existed, and in some of these towns there have been repeated con- tests between the Temperance party and the liquor companies. In a table compiled by A. Th. Kia^r (Secretary), Royal Statistical Bureau, Christiania, and largely circulated, the following is given as the result of the contests between 1895 and 1904 : — Towns and Prohibition. Voters and Prohibition. .Majority For. Against. For. Against. against. 27 32 139.479 216,399 76,920 When it is remembered that all votes not cast for Pro- hibition are recorded as being against, the above figures are not conclusive evidence as to the views of the people on the liquor 0/ question. In Christiania there was a total electorate of 102,620, of whom only 18,608 went to the poll in favour of Prohibition, but the other 84,012 were recorded as being against. Again, in Bergen there was a total electorate of 28,762, of whom 14,172 went to the poll in favour of Prohibition; the other 14,590 were recorded as being against. Omitting Christiania, but including Bergen, the result of the contests are as follows : — Towns and Prohibition. Voters and Prohibition. M^ority For. Against. For. Against. for. 27 31 139)479 132,387 7,092 Thus, counting all the halt, lame, sick, dead, and those away from home on business or pleasure, as against Prohibition, there was still a substantial majority of 7,092 in favour of Prohibition. At the present time (1913) there are 37 towns in which Prohi- bition has been adopted. There are 27 towns in which the Sam- lags are not yet prohibited, but contests are being held in 23 of these during 1913, including the larger centres of population like Bergen, Drammen and Kristianssand. During these contests a very singular difficulty has devel- oped itself. It appears that when the Samlags were voted out of Sarpsborg and Fredriksstad, it was discovered that an English paper company — Messrs. Partington and Co. — had an old privileged liquor licence which they declared permitted them to sell intoxicating liquors even though the people voted down the Samlags. With an ever-increasing Prohibition area, this English company developed an ever-increasing liquor business, and put an end to any further Temperance legislation in Norway until some means could be devised to prohibit this privileged traffic. The President of the Norwegian Total Abstinence Society, ex-Minister Aarrestad, and others, made earnest pro- tests. Petitions went from the Good Templars and others to the Government demanding legislation in reference to this matter, and in 1909 the Government appointed a Parliamentary Committee to consider what action should be taken. In the meantime, appeals were sent to Messrs. Partington and Co., but without success. In 1910 the Government determined to test the validity of these privileged licences in the High Courts, with a view, if possible, to bring them to an end. The result of this lawsuit is expected at an early date. Another difficulty arose in 1910 by the action of the French Government in reference to money matters. The need of money to develop new railway lines — which are very costly in mountain- ous countries like Norway — necessitated the launching of loans on the French Bourse. M. Fallieres. then President of the 5 S French Republic (who is one of the greatest wine-growers in France), opposed the loan, and the French Government deter- mined that the money should not bp advanced unless the Nor- wegian Government agreed to a Treaty lowering the duties on French wines and spirits. Spain and Portugal also threatened to introduce prohibitive tariffs on Norwegian dried codfish and other articles, unless the duties on their wines were reduced. At the same time a demand was made for a modification of the Local Veto law by which the spirit traffic (and even that of wine and beer) has been voted out of about half of the townships. The Norwegian Government and Parliament very reluctantly agreed to lower the duty — twelve Members of Parliament bravely voted against this being done — but they resolutely refused to make any alteration for the weakening of the Local Veto law. Dr. Hercod, writing in L’ Abstinence at this time, said — “ The Norwegian Government has supported the treaty with “ a heavy heart, but the Norwegian people, justly susceptible, “ will not forget the injury done to their pride, and almost to “ their national honour. Already there are protestations and “ their impressions will be lasting. The 250,000 organised ab- “ Stainers of the North and whose numbers are constantly “ increasing, will not stop in their triumphant march, and will “ be able to do without the French gold.” In answer to the demands of the people, the Government in igi2 appointed a Commission to investigate the whole liquor question of Norway, with a view to more stringent regulations, or the entire prohibition of the spirit traffic. The Commission has taken a large amount of evidence and is expected to present the report during the sitting of the 1914 Parliament. The Tem- perance Reformers are expecting drastic proposals against the liquor traffic, and have suggested steps towards entire Pro- hibition. The Norwegian Parliamentary elections which took place October, 1912, resulted in a great victory for the Prohibitionists. .About 45A per cent., of the Members are pledged total abstainers, with an advanced Temperance programme to submit to Parlia- ment, while the Radical party, which is also pledged to some sound Temperance legislation, has a majority in the new Parlia- ment. Even in the last Parliament some useful legislation was passed, including the prohibition of the sale of alcoholic liquors on railway trains, and the exclusion of distilled liquors from the National Exhibition to be held in Christiania in 1914. It has also been announced that the Government has determined that in future all forms of alcoholic liquors shall be prohibited in all army encampments, drill-grounds, and barracks. 59 The population of Norway in 1910 was 2,391,782, of whom nearly 270,000 are subscribing' members of the various Temper- ance organisations. The Storting consists of 123 members, elected by the suffrage of both sexes of 25 years of age. One quarter of the elected members form the Lagting, and the other members form the Odelsting. In the recent General Election it is reported that a majority of about one hundred of those elected declared themselves in favour of drastic reform in reference to the liquor traffic, and M. Castberg, leader of the Radical party, although not a teetotaler, has pledged himself to “do everything in his power to drive from the Norwegian shores the spirit traffic, which is the most dangerous enemy of the people.’’ In addition to the ordinary Temperance party, the Labour and Socialistic parties of Norway are reported to have made Prohibition a plank in their programme. It has been repeatedly stated (by persons interested in securing a monopoly of the liquor traffic under the strange and misleading title of “ Disinterested Management’’) that the Good Templars and Temperance reformers of Scandinavia have sup- ported the Liquor Companies’ monopoly. Our co-workers in these countries are too far away to see these attacks upon their consistency ; the writer therefore has ventured to send a series ol questions to some of the Scandinavian leaders. Tire following are the questions sent, together with some of the replies received. No replies in any way controverted the opinions herein expressed. The fact is, there are no countries in the world where the Tem- perance forces are more united than in Norway and Sweden. QUESTIONS. (1) “ Do the Good Templars and Temperance organisations support the present company system of selling intoxicating liquors? ’’ (2) “ Can you state who are the people who organise for the abolition of the Samlag or Bolag? ’’ (the company liquor shops.) (3) “ When the company system has been abolished, who are the people who endeavour to re-establish the Samlag and Bolag? ’’ (4) “ Have there been any steps taken in either Norway or Sweden in recent times to alter or repeal the legislation under which the Samlags and Bolags are conducted? ’’ (5) “ Has there been, or is there now, any movement in favour of strengthening the law regarding prohibition in lieu of the company system? ’’ 60 ANSWERS FROM NORWAY. The following answers have been received from Mr. Johan Hvidsten, G.Co. (Kristinia), Mr. Louis Monsen, G.Sec. (Trondhjem), Mr. G. Krogshus, Editor of the “ Goodtemplar- bladet,” the official organ of the Grand Lodge, the Rev. C. V. Duckett (Yoss), and Mr. Ivar Aasen (Bergen) : — (1) “Not at all.” “No.” “No.” “No.” “No, the direct contrary is the truth. They are all unanimously against it. Any member would be expelled from the organisations if he supported it.” (2) “It is always the Good Templars and Temperance organisations.” “ All the Temperance organisations are work- ing for the abolition of the Samlags, because they see danger for the country in the present state of things.” “ The Temperance organisations and the people who are in sympathy with the Tem- perance movement.” “ In Bergen 1 am just now a member of a committee for abolishing the Samlag. The representatives on this committee are elected from all the Temperance societies. They are all for abolition.” (3) “ They who are against the Temperance and prohibition movement.” “ All who have a financial interest in ‘ the Trade.’ ” “Certainly no Temperance organisations.” “Never Temper- ance men or women.” (4) “ The voters have the right to decide, whether they want the Samlags in their community or not.” “The latest alteration was in the Act of May 17th, 1904, which tried to diminish the town’s interest in the Samlags by taking au'ay 65 per cent, of the income for the State, 10 per cent, for the country, 15 per cent, for the town of the Samlag, leaving only 10 per cent, for distribution by the directors of the Samlag.” (5) “ An official Commission is now working, and the result will, 1 think, lead to steps being taken in favour of Prohibition, especially regarding brandy.” “The goal of the Temperance people’s endeavours is Prohibition.” “The State as w'ell as the municipalities are regulating the sale of intoxicants with the intention of restricting the consumption.” “The Samlag is getting more and more unpopular, as they have not answered to the expectation of the people.” “ We are waiting for the report of the official Commission, but plans are ripe for securing the prohibition of the spirit traffic by 1920.” Similar answers have been received from Mr. Arne Halgjen, G.C.T. , and President of the Norwegian Temperance Federation (Haugesund), and Pastor Ivar Th. Aarseth, I.\'.T. (Larsnes). ANSWERS FROM SWEDEN. The following members of Parliament, having seats in the Tapper House of the Rigsdag, have jointly signed the following answers to the questions Hon. Edvard Wavrinsky, I.C.T. 61 (Stockholm), Hon. Aug. Lindh, G.E.Supt. (Kil), Hon. Oscar Olssen, G.Ch. (Linkoping), and the Hon. Alfred Starner, P. G.E.Supt. (Koping) : — (1) “No.” (2) “'^All total abstinence societies unitedly and each for itself.” (3) “ Those interested in the traffic and in the support of the drinking habits, with supposed effective restrictions.” (4) “The opposition to the Bolag system has grown so strong that the Bolags themselves have found it necessary to apply to the system stronger and stronger restrictions— to the ‘ on ’ sale as well as the ‘ off ’ sale — going even so far as to limit the ‘ on ’ sale to real meals, and the ‘ off ’ sale to persons with special certificates giving permission to buy limited portions of liquors at prescribed shops.” (5) “A Royal Commission is (a) preparing a Local Option Bill with vetO' power for a qualified majority of men and women of age in each community ; (b) considering a re-organisation of the Bolag system in order to diminish to the utmost the ruining effects of the same, to be applied to those communities where Local Veto cannot yet be obtained ; and (c) investigating how Prohibition may be introduced and carried on.” The above statement is also signed by A. Bjorkman, Director of the Swedish Temperance Bureau ; and a similar state- ment by Bro. Eriksson, G.Ch. (Mjolby). The following important statement is made by Miss Emilie Rathou, a member of the Royal Commission, now sitting in con- nection with the liquor question. Miss Rathou’s answers are as follows : — (1) “ No, they do not.” (2) “ In Sweden the local authorities in four towns have abolished the Bolag. In the rural districts the Bolag does not exist.” (3) “ The liquor party.” (4) “ In both Norway and Sweden Royal Commissions have been appointed, and some stringent legislation which will influ- ence the Bolags is expected.” (s) “ The entire Temperance movement, both in Norway and Sweden, are working for the abolition of the whole liquor traffic, consequently also the Bolags.” _ 'Die above statements will surely stop the friends of so-called “ disinterested management” from alleging that the Good Tem- plars of Norway and Sweden support their proposals, CHAPTER V Sweden “ To find the right solution of the alcohol problem is the central task of all social efforts. Industrial problems, questions arising from falling birth and death rates, can be settled only when the use of alcohol has ceased. The Swedish people must head the movement, first by enlightenment as to the evil, and finally by its abolition thrsugh prohibitory legislation.” Professor Cvrt Wallis, Stockholm ( 1912). It is generally believed that Sweden is within a very few years of attaining entire Prohibition. There are many indica- tions which favour this view. The Royal Commission which has to prepare a measure of Local Veto, has also to report upon the question of the possibility of a general prohibition. To prevent, if possible, any prohibitory legislation, all kinds of schemes for a reform of the Gothenburg system are being put forward. That suggested by Dr. Ivan Bratt is considered the most dangerous. One of these proposals is that “ everybody who would buy liquor shall have a licence, and that every sale shall be registered.” Dr. Bratt also proposes that official alcohol bureaus shall be established in every town where Samlags are permitted, ‘‘for the special purpose of looking after the liquor traffic, curing the drunkards, and furthering the development of Temperance.” A very strange and almost impossible combination. Dr. Hercod says : — ‘‘That the propositions of Dr. Bratt are well meant, that ‘‘ he wishes sincerely to fight alcoholism is undeniable, but he ‘‘ does not seem to see that for the sake of a perfectly useless ‘‘ and very dangerous liquor he is proposing restrictions upon ‘‘ individual liberty which would be far more unbearable than the ‘‘ introduction of Prohibition.” A common ground of agreement between the Prohibitionists of Sweden, Norway, and Denmark has been arrived at, and an effort is to be made to secure Prohibition for the three countries at the same time. If this can be brought about, it will be a very great achievement in the world’s history. That the question is thoroughly understood by the three Governments is borne out by the utterances of the highest authorities in the land. The Crown Prince of Sweden (in 1911) declared at Hessleholm 64 “ I do not hesitate to say that the people which first frees “ itself from the influence of alcohol will in this way acquire a “ distinct advantage over other nations in the peaceful yet “ intense struggle. I hope it will be our own people who will “ be the first to win this start over the others.” The history of the liquor question in Sweden is a remarkable one. Prior to the year 1800 the Swedish Royal Family were granted a national monopoly of the production of the native spirit Branvin, as a means of raising revenue for the support of the Royal household. Early in the seventeenth century Emanuel Swedenborg, the great religious and moral reformer of Sweden, entered his solemn protest against raising revenue in this manner, and declared that ‘‘Total abstinence from intoxicating liquors is more desirable for the country’s welfare and morality than all the revenue to be derived from licensing the manufacture and sale of so pernicious a drink.” Later, the nation abolished the Royal prerogative over the manufacture of Branvin, and went to the other extreme by permitting every homestead to have its spirit still on payment of a small fee for the privilege. By 1827 there existed no less than 173,124 of these domestic spirit stills, and it is estimated that the consumption of Branvin reached no less than 46 litres per head of the population. The result of this enormous consumption of spirits caused a great physical and mental deterioration. The destitution of a large number of the people is also reported to have been very great indeed. Sweden at this time was declared to be the most drunken nation in Europe. In 1835 fhe Riksdag (National Parliament) abolished the domestic spirit stills, and within ten years the consumption of spirits had decreased to 22 litres per head. The consumption was still so great that the larger distilleries which had been set up in place of the domestic stills were closed for two months at a time, and it is stated that large numbers of men walked hun- dreds of miles to petition the King to instruct the Riksdag to prohibit the traffic or give the people power to do it themselves. In 1855 ^ far-reaching Temperance law was passed giving to every rural district absolute control over the spirit traffic. During 1856 votes were taken in the whole of nearly 2,400 rural parishes, and in over 2,000 of these parishes the people swept the spirit traffic out of their district. In 1909 no less than 2,325 rural parishes were free from the spirit traffic. In 1857 the number of spirit shops was 557, but in 1909 this number had been reduced to 113 (72 ‘‘ on” licences and 43 ‘‘ off ” licences). Thus rural Sweden, with four-fifths of the entire popu- lation, has been practically freed from the spirit traffic. The 65 beer and wine traffic, which practically had no existence when the Local Veto law was passed in 1855, has during- the interim grown very extensively. All manufacturers have the right with- out any licence to sell malt liquors for consumption off the premises. Retailers must take out an “ on ” or “ off ” licence, while innkeepers are permitted without a licence to serve beer to travellers when a meal is taken. In rural Sweden in 1909 there were 301 “ off ” licences and 1,074 “ ” licences for the sale of beer and wine, 605 of the “ on ” licences being issued to innkeepers, and 238 temporary licences were also issued. While rural Sweden got the power to free itself by a direct popular vote and used it most thoroughly, urban Sweden was denied this right and the power was placed in the hands of Town Councils to continue or to limit or to manage the spirit traffic, as they thought best. Sweden has 95 towns, and in none did the Councils veto the traffic, although by 1909 four towns had secured Prohibition. At first the Town Councils put the licences up to auction for periods of from one to three years, the success- ful bidders being those who promised to sell the largest number of litres during the period of the licences. If the successful bidder sold less than he bid, of course he would lose the amount he had paid on sale tax, but if he sold more he would escape paying the sale tax on that amount. No more immoral system has ever existed in any country. The liquor seller sold his liquors at all hours, and not only for money but for clothing and any other saleable commodity, and then largely sold on credit. The Town Councils, to secure a higher amount at the next auction, seldom made any attempt to enforce the law, with the result that while the people in the rural districts were fast becoming noted for their sobriety, the populations in the towns were still notoriously drunken, although the consumption had by i860 dropped to about 10 litres per head. This quantity was mainly consumed in the towns, which contained less than one-fifth of the population. In 1844 It was enacted that if a civilian proved a case of drunken- ness he should have one-third of the fine, and if a policeman proved It, two-thirds of the fine went to the police. Needless to say. this system led to many acts of gross injustice, so that in 1865 (the year the Gothenburg system was established) the Riksdag abolished these rewards, and immediately the police and general public slackened In their attempts to secure convictions for drunkenness. Some slight limitations were also adopted in reference to the sale of spirits in the towns. By 1865 there was a still further reduction In the consumption amounting during the thirty years to about 80 per cent. — and this was before the Gothenburg system was invented F 66 In 1865 a body of gentlemen in Gothenburg suggested to the Town Councils that it would be in the interest of sobriety and would induce people to drink beer rather than spirits, if they would hand over all the spirit licences to a Liquor Trust Company of philanthropic shareholders, who should only receive six per cent, upon their investments, and pay the remainder of the profits into the treasury of the Town Council. Eventually this was adopted ; the liquor company greatly reduced the number of houses, and also the hours of sale. They stopped receiving goods for liquor and selling on credit, and raised the age of sale to young people, etc. The managers were paid a fixed salary for spirit sales, but received a bonus on the profits made from the sale of malt liquors and food. Mr. Oskar Peterssen, of Sweden, said in 1897 ; — “ To begin with, all appeared bright and good, and the “ system was introduced into many towns till the year 1894 “ eighty-nine companies traded in the spirit traffic on what is “ called the Gothenburg system, but really by systems which are “ rather caricatures of it. Other circumstances were also favour- “ able ; the successful religious workmen’s and Temperance “ movements especially contributed to diminish the consumption “ of spirits and so a success was attributed to the Gothenburg “ system which the system by itself did not merit.” The Diet as early as 1873 drew the attention of the Govern- ment to the corruption carried on by the Bolags, and in 1874 they called upon the Government to pass legislation prohibiting the payment of commission on the sale of spirits. In 1895, in answer to repeated demands, the Government Introduced a Bill, which was passed by the Riksdag, declaring that every company should consist of at least twelve persons ; that they should receive no higher interest than five per cent. ; that sales through can- vassers should be forbidden ; that rent transactions with inter- ested parties and the payment of salaries in proportion to profit, should be prohibited. From returns issued by the Swedish Government Statistical Bureau in 1907, it appears that in the towns, with a population of about one million, there is an annual average of 37 convictions for drunkenness per thousand of the population, while in the rural parishes with a population of over 4,000,000 there is only an annual average of 1 ’4 convictions for drunkenness per thousand of the population. Thus the one million, living under the so-called model liquor system, have 32 times as large a percentage of drunkenness as the four millions living under Prohibition. Again, in considering the quantity of spirits sold in the towns of Sweden, it is not safe to rely 67 simply upon the figures issued by the liquor companies, for it must be remembered that in many towns the companies only manage a very small percentage of the spirit shops. Thus in Stockholm, where the company have the monopoly of 8o licences, they only work 23 themselves, and farm out to private individuals the others. In Gothenburg, the company have 69 licences, but only work 29 themselves ; the others are farmed out to private persons. These private individuals, with the liquor companies themselves, are out to make the largest profit possible, and from the testimony of police officers, well-known public men, and the daily press, they are not very particular as to the methods adopted. The Hon. Oskar Eklund, a member of the Upper House of the Riksdag, stated in 1908 : — “ Our Gothenburg Liquor Companies are quite as desirous “ of getting their liquors sold as ordinary publicans would be. “ Complaints are repeatedly made that the Bolags are making “ strenuous efforts in order to push the sale of brandy — some- “ times by unlawful means such as the sending out of agents to “canvass for orders in areas where the people have prohibited “ drink shops. The Liquor Bolags say, ‘ We are working in the “ interests of morality and sobriety.’ It is false. Whenever any “ proposition to restrict the sale of spirits has been formulated in “ Parliament or embodied in memorials to his Majesty, the “ Bolags have always attempted to hinder them by warning the “authorities against their acceptance.’’ In February, 1911, a conference of the liquor interest was held at Stockholm. A petition to the Government was adopted asking for longer hours of selling on Sunday, for the re- duction of certain penalties for law-violation, and for limi- tations of the power of the authorities to suppress licences ; the petition also asked that a two-thirds majority instead of a bare majority (as at present) in Town Councils should be re- quired for closing drink-shops. Confidential representatives of the Gothenburg system were present at this conference and sup- ported the liquor interest proposals. Professor Santesson said in 1912 : “ The alcohol interest in Sweden works in silence through a part of the press or otherwise to check the Temperance party’s efforts for legislation.’’ Professor Curt Wallis said; “ We have had forty years’ experience of the system. Theory is good gold; practice is bad nickel.’’ Mr. August Ljunggren said : “ The system is obsolete and impotent,” and Mr. Ernest Gordon said: “When the weaknesses of the company system are pointed out, many say that these can be corrected. This is perhaps true of some of them, but in practice they have not been realised after nearly fifty years. Threatened Prohibition, how- ever, is stirring the Bolag people to the thought, at least, of 68 better courses. The fear of Prohibition is the beginning of alcohol wisdom in Sweden as elsewhere.” In 1909 difficulties arose between the employers and the trade unions, which ended in a great national strike. Prior to the stoppage, deputations from the Union of Temperance Organi- sations, supported by the Trade Unions, waited upon the King and the Government, urging that an order should be issued prohibiting the sale of all intoxicating liquors during the continu- ance of the strike. The Government agreed to recommend this course to be taken, and the authorities throughout the country ordered all liquor shops to be closed. Light beers and wines were permitted to be sold with food. The strike lasted for nearly five weeks, and the result of closing the liquor bars was most satisfactory. Drunkenness, disorder and crime almost entirely disappeared. The soldiers placed in the large centres to suppress anticipated disorder had no disorder to suppress. In a number of the towns and country places there were no arrests for any offences whatever. In the two largest cities, i.e. , Stockholm and Gothenburg, the arrests as compared with the corresponding period of the previous year, were as follows : — Year. Stockholm. Gothenburg-. 1908 1,548 835 1909 168 1 14 The marvellous order and quiet behaviour of the workers during the strike, in all parts of the country alike, was credited by every authority to the closing of the liquor bars. This is a good illustration of the way in which Prohibition solves in prac- tice the problem of the liquor traffic and its attendant evils. The success of Prohibition during the strike fired the Tem- perance Societies with the idea of entering upon a great under- taking, viz., a National Plebiscite upon the question of the entire Prohibition of the liquor traffic throughout Sweden. \'oting papers were prepared by a National Committee, and ever}- person, male and female (over 18 years of age) was requested to vote for or against National Prohibition. The result proved a most magnificent victory for Prohibition, thus : — For Prohibition 1,884,298 Against Prohibition 16,715 Majority for Prohibition 1,867,583 Over 55 per cent., of the entire adult population (over 18 years of age) recorded their votes for Prohibition. In 1909 a new franchise law was adopted, so that the Par- liamentary vote no longer depends upon the income of the voter. .A General Election for the Second Chamber took place in 69 igii. Of the 230 members elected, 135 were Prohibition- ists. The Government resigned, and a new one was appointed, which immediately introduced a measure for the reform of the Upper House. This was passed, the old Upper Chamber was dissolved, and elections took place for the new Chamber. Out of a total of 150 members elected, 32 were Pro- hibitionists — the number in the old Chamber was only seven. The members of the Second Chamber, from which a large majority of the Ministry is drawn, called upon the Government to deal with the liquor question, and it was determined to appoint a Commission to consider and report upon the steps to be taken. Addressing the King at a Council of State held in the Stockholm Castle on November 17th, 1911, Mr. Staaff, the Prime Minister, said : — “ One of the most important questions, in which all patriots “ should be interested, is that of raising the status of Temper- “ ance in our nation. Society in general has no worse enemy “ to contend with than the desire for intoxicating liquors, and “ it has no better friend than Temperance. The misery caused “ by intemperate habits destroys in innumerable cases the joy “ of the home and the happiness of matrimony, as well as the “ peace of the family. The economical condition of the indi- “ vidual would be greatly improved by Temperance, and the “ economical condition in general w’ould also secure thereby a far “ greater solidity and strength. “ At the present moment it would be a difficult task to free “ society from its dependence on those means which are derived “ from the sale of intoxicating liquors. But, no matter how great “ the difficulties may be it is quite possible to believe that the “financial condition of the State and of the Municipality would “ rest on a safer basis under a general state of sobriety than by “ encouraging a desire for and the drinking of liquors. The “ spiritual and material improvement of a nation, as well as of “ the individual, surely grows side by side with the increase of “ Temperance. There can be no doubt at all that the defence of “ our native country gains considerably in strength, by a more “ general and extensive sobriety. The fight against the sale “ and consumption of liquors in Sweden is of somewhat old date, “ and our nation unquestionably owes a debt of gratitude to “ those men and women, dead as well as living, poor as well as “ rich, who have combined to fight against the abuse of liquors “ and the furtherance of Temperance. “ The law has also made an attempt to support this most “ important matter, but people have become more and more “ convinced that legislation as it is at the present time, does not “ altogether answer the purpose. With regard to the question as to what is to be done, it must be admitted that people’s “ views differ considerably, though on the whole they are fairly 70 “ unanimous as to what should be the lirst step to be taken, “ which is the introduction of Local Veto in such a form as that “ which has met with the greatest approval here in Sweden, “ namely, the Local Veto that makes it possible for the question “ regarding the continuation of the sale of liquors in any com- “ munity, to be subjected to a plebiscite, or vote of the people, “ in which every member of the community, women as well as “ men, who are of age and of good character, should have the “ right to participate; and should the result of such a plebiscite “ be that at least tw'O-thirds of the votes given are in favour of “ abolishing the sale of liquors, then this resolution shall become “ law, and no question of the future shall be allowed to be “ raised until after the expiration of a certain period. “ Simultaneously w’ith this proposition others have been “ brought forward, also worthy of consideration; they comprise “ certain measures connected with the sale of liquors, with the “ object of improving the general condition of order and morality “to a far higher extent than they have been up to the present “ time. Thus among other things it has been proposed that “ attempts should be made to arrange for the retailing of beer “ and spirits in such a manner that no individual should derive “ profit from their sale, and further, to try and prevent intoxi- “ eating liquors being served to habitual drunkards, and in many “ other respects to reform the so-called Gothenburg system. “ Finally, we are reminded what great progress the demand “ for a total prohibition restriction has made and how steadily “ the strength of this demand has grown. The proposition “ with regard to a Local \Tto has repeatedly been approved by “ the Second Chamber of the Riksdag, and with regard to “ certain reforms in the Gothenburg system, an appeal has been “ made to your Royal Majesty, both by this year's Riksdag as “ well as by the Riksdag of 1910. The question in connection “ with general prohibition has found sympathy in the Second “ Chamber, which has desired a full inquiry into the matter to “ be made. How w’armly this desire is supported b)’ a great “ portion of our nation, the result of the plebiscite in regard to “ this subject, which took place in 1909, bears evidence. It is “ my personal conviction that the cause of Temperance should “ be advocated with far more zeal by the Government than it has “ been up to the present, and one of the first steps to be taken “ in connection with this is to arrange the necessary legislation “ for the introd^uction of Local Veto, and after Mlowing the “ question sufficient time for consideration to attempt to intro- “ duce practical arrangements, after same have been well con- “ sidered, so as to limit the injurious effects of the liquor traffic, “ and to produce and give a versatile explanation regarding the “ general prohibition of the sale of liquors. “ With the view to carrying out such an inquiry, I propose “ that a Commission should be appointed, which ought surely 71 “to be composed of representatives from the different bodies “ which take an interest in increasing sobriety, and which should “ at the same time be a representative one so that its work would “ give evidence of a deep and candid feeling in favour of the “ great cause. It is only in this manner that the work can be “ assured of attaining its aim, which is to try and overcome even “ the greatest difficulties. In my opinion it would be decidedly “ more advantageous to approach this important matter in this “ way than to attempt to combine the most heterogenous views “ on it. After the completion of the work there will always be “ an opportunity, if desired, of having any case subjected to a “ supplementary and then a final inquiry. “ In conclusion, I would propose that your Royal Majesty “ might be pleased to resolve that the Commission first of all “ bring the question regarding the Local Veto under considera- “ tion, and that as soon as possible it should prepare and submit “ its views on this subject. I would also further propose that the “ Commission, which, should it desire to do so, may divide into “ Sub-Committees, as far as all other matters are concerned, “ should have the full right to draw up the programme of its “ work, and after having made an independent examination it “ should give the results of its investigation, which will then “ represent the results obtained by the inquiry.” The King of Sweden, in accordance with this request, appointed a Commission “ For the purpose of preparing, as soon as possible, the “ necessary legislation for the introduction of Local Veto over “ the sale and retailing of intoxicating spirits as well as wine “and beer; and further, after a proper inquiry has been “ made, to submit a proposal for other well-grounded and active “ arrangements to be made in order to limit the injurious effects “ of the liquor traffic, firstly by reforming the so-called Gothen- “ burg system, and further by producing a satisfactory explana- “ tion in regard to a general prohibition of the sale of liquors.” Eight gentlemen and one lady, with Mr. S. H. Kvarnzelius, G.C.T. of the Good Templars, as Chairman, and Mr. E. Jason Thulin as Secretary, were appointed to be the Commissioners. It is fully expected that the report of the Commission in reference to the question of Local Veto will be ready for presentation in 1913, and that the Riksdag will adopt a law giving the people the right to secure the local suppression of the liquor traffic. It is stated that a majority of the Commission are in favour of drastic reforms being taken in regard to the Gothenburg system until National Prohibition is secured ; while a minority of the Commission favour reforming the Gothenburg system, with no prospective National Prohibition. Hard on the heels of the announcement of the adoption by the Norwegian Parliament of prohibition of the sale of any kind of alcoholic drinks in the army encampments, drill-grounds, and barracks, comes the even more radical step taken by the Swedish authorities during the manoeuvres of 1912. Complete prohibition was ordered in all places where mobilised troops were stationed in any considerable number. In this way the old contention that if the canteen should be suppressed the soldiers would “ go outside to drink ” was effectually disposed of. In March, 1913, it was determined that the sale of intoxi- cating liquors should no longer be permitted in the Riksdag buildings, the Swedish Houses of Parliament. This resolution has given general satisfaction, not only to the Temperance re- formers of Sweden, but to those of every other country. The illustrated paper Puck had as its frontispiece a picture of the main entrance to the Riksdag, with the letters I.O.G.T. above the doorway, a striking compliment to the worth of the Good Templar Order in its fight against the liquor traffic. ' The Riksdag in 1913 adopted two far-reaching resolutions — one dealing with the question of pensions, and the other with that of the liquor traffic. In order to free the communities, pro- \incial councils, and agricultural societies from any financial dependence upon the revenue derived from intoxicating liquors, it was resolved that all liquor revenue from the year 1914 should be used for State purposes. Arrangements are also proposed by which, in a few years, the State will be made independent of an}' revenue from this source, and the chief obstacle to Prohibition will then be removed. At the 1913 Scandinavian Congress (representing Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland) the Prime IMinister of Sweden, Mr. K. Staaff, said in a public meeting that total Pro- hibition seems to him to be the only means of suppressing alcoholism. He hopes that the Commission which was consti- tuted two years ago will present suitable propositions such that the Government may endorse, and propose them in a Prohibition Bill to the Parliament. The population of Sweden in 1910 was 5,521,943, of whom over 500,000 are subscribing members of the various Temperance organisations. But in addition to this enormous strength in so small a community, the Labour, Socialistic and other organisa- tions are permeated with Temperance and Prohibition principles. At the last General Election even the Conservative party had 18 per cent, of its members returned as supporters of Prohibition, while in connection with the Liberal party it was 67 per cent, and with the Social Democratic party as large as 86 per cent. Thus Sweden is systematical!}’ advancing toward the total Prohibition of the liquor traffic. CHAPTER VI European Russia “ The struggle against the liquor traffic is not simply a national question, it is a world’s question. All social problems group round the question of alcoholism, while the evils of drunkenness, on such an authority as Gladstone, outweigh the evils of war, pestilence and famine put together.” Professor M. Nis^egorodzef, Si. Petersburg ( 1910). The Temperance movement in the great Russian Empire is of very recent date. In 1836 some Lutheran pastors commenced a Temperance crusade in some of the Baltic Provinces, but they were soon forbidden to spread the cause, so that as an organised movement it died out. The principle, however, took firm root in some of the provinces, especially among the Lettish people. The refusal of the Russian Government to permit Temperance societies to be formed continued for many years. In 1887 the ban was partially withdrawn, and total abstinence advocacy, which had been permitted in Finland since 1864, spread to many parts of Russia, and even into Siberia. Russia. — For centuries the people of European Russia have been addicted to the drinking of vodka, a coarse spirit made from rye. In the old days of serfdom the evil of alcoholism was very great indeed. In more modern times the vodka seller became not only publican, but money-lender, pawnbroker, and often employer. In numbers of cases, although the peasantry were no longer serfs to the nobility, they had become serfs to the sellers of vodka. Laws and edicts were issued, but all to no purpose ; such methods are useless in attempting to keep in check the liquor traflfic, even in an autocratic country like Russia. The evils became so great that the Government took drastic action cigainst the vodka sellers in the four Eastern provinces. On January ist, 1895, about 100,000 vodka shops were closed, and the whole of the retail spirit traffic passed into the hands of the Government. State vodka shops were opened in these four provinces. The bishops and clergy attended the inauguration, and blessed the drink and everything connected with the liquor traffic. Men and women of noble birth also attended the open- ing ceremonies, and acted as barmen and barmaids in serving 74 out the first corked and sealed bottles of vodka. The spirit is only sold in corked and sealed bottles, and must not be drunk upon the premises, no drinking vessels or corkscrews being allowed to be kept by the manager. No credit must be given or any goods taken in pawn. No children, nor any person who is in a drunken state, can be served. The vodka shops must be closed on Christmas day. Ash Wednesday, and Good Friday. They must be closed on all pay-days, if near a factory ; also at 6 p.m. on the eve of any great national holiday, and on all days when the village council is meeting. The monopoly is confined to the retail sale of spirits, beer and wine being sold in saloons as formerly. In taking this step for the establishment of a State monopoly, the Government declared that their object was to “ attempt to decrease drunkenness and to secure an increase of revenue from the traffic. ” A large number of counter-attractions were established, such as coffee houses, concert halls, etc., but aggressive Temperance organisations, like the Good Templars, were, and are still, prohibited from being formed. On this point the Hon. E. Wavrinsky, a member of the Upper Chamber of the Riksdag of Sweden, and International Chief of the Good Tem- plars, had a most interesting interview in 191 1 with Prime Minister Stolypin, and it was hoped that the result would have been the withdrawal of the prohibition. The assassination of M. Stolypin, however, put an end to the project for some time. While, no doubt, the counter-attractions are enjoyed by the sober and thrifty, they have proved of little use in weaning the vodka drinker from his evil habits. When the Government monopoly was established — as in the case of all of these proposals to sell alcoholic liquors by the State — it was declared that there would be a great reduction in the consumption of spirits, and the then Finance Minister stated : — “ If there should be a deficit in the State revenue because “ the consumption of alcohol has fallen, the Treasury will gain “ all that it loses in other ways, while at the same time the morals “ of the people and their material welfare will be greatly “ improved. ” Here we have high ideals in the starting of a bad thing; the Finance Minister with these principles passed away, and others seeking only revenue took his place, and the high ideals vanished. The Finance Minister of 1907 stated : — “It is necessary to increase the number of places for the “ sale of vodka, and no restrictions must be placed on fresh “ dram-shops being opened.” So successful was the monopoly in the Eastern provinces (from the revenue standpoint), that the Government determined to extend the system to other parts of Russia, and there is g-reat danger of it being introduced into Finland and Siberia. The official returns show' an enormous increase lx)th in the revenue and follows ; — the consumption of spirits. The figures are as Year. Roubles. £ $ JS97 ... ... 280,000,000 29,750,000 148,750,000 1907 ... ... 707,142,000 75,^33,837 375,669,185 ] 908 . . . ... 709,003,000 75 , 33 J, 168 376,657,840 1909’ • • ... 718,884,000 76,381,425 381,907,125 J910 ... ... 767,032,000 81,497,108 407,485,540 1911 . . . Government 783,132,000 estimates for — 83,207,775 416,038,875 J912 ... 763,990,000 81,173,937 405,869,685 1913 ... ... 800,180,000 85,019,125 425,095,625 The Finance Minister says : “Royalties have been estimated at 46,400,000 roubles more (;^4,g30,ooo or $24,650,000), chiefly- owing to the expected increase in the consumption of Govern- ment spirits (36,200,000 roubles, ;^3,846,250, $19,231,250).’’ In the Budget report for 1913 the Finance Minister also says : “ During 1909-n there was a fresh rise in the price charged for Government spirits.’’ Since the introduction of the monopoly the Government has received 8-i milliard roubles (^903,125,000, $4,515,625,000) gross for the sale of spirits, and some 6 \ milliard roubles (;^'664 ,o62,ooo, $3,320,310,000) in net profits. Year. Vedros (2.7 Gallons). 1897 16,497,000 1907 85,467,000 1908 86,004,000 1910 89,542,000 1911 91,650,000 Government estimates for — 1912 89,000,000 1913 93.30o>ooo Gallons. 44,541,900 230,760,900 232,210,800 241.763,400 247,455,000 240.300.000 251.910.000 No wonder there is an alarming amount of drunken- ness. The Russian correspondent of the London Globe, writing in 1908, said : — “ So enormous has been the increase in the consumption of “ vodka, that the Russian villages, which were never prosperous “ or enlightened, are now dying from drunkenness.’’ The representative of the London Daily Chronicle, writing from St. Petersburg in 1910, said : — " since the Russian Government monopolised the sale of “ spirits, drunkenness has been constantly on the increase. All “attempts to save the people from drunkenness, and thereby “ raise them, both morally and economically, have hitherto been “of no avail. Before the Government took over the sale of ‘ spirits there were villages in Russia where it was impossible “ to buy vodka, and where the peasants were, comparatively “ speaking, well to do. But now, the Government is inundating “ most of the villages, even the smallest, with a flood of spirits. “ In some villages the women have been turned into regular “ furies, not through their love of alcohol, but owing to their “ hatred of it. In order to save their families from destruction “ they have, in some districts, assembled and stormed the “ ‘ Kasonki ’ (the Government spirit shops), the offenders after- “ wards being severely punished.,’’ Crime is enormously increasing ; so much so, that at the meeting of the Criminological Congress, held at Moscow in January, 1909, the question of alcoholism came in for consider- able discussion. A resolution was adopted in favour of active State intervention in combating the evil, even if it involved the gradual reduction of receipts from the spirit monopoly. It was urged that pending the complete suppression of the monopoly, a portion of the revenue from this source should be devoted to the foundation of educational establishments, and special institu- tions should be provided for alcoholic criminals. Not only has the revenue and drunkenness and crime increased, side by side with the increased consumption of spirits, but pauperism and suicides have increased by leaps and bounds. Dealing with this state of things a Russian writer says : “ The Government finds it doubly profitable to spread its vodka among the people — financially because of the enormous revenue brought into its coffers, and p>olitically because a drink-sodden people makes poor material for a revolution.’’ While another writer exclaims: “ It would be beyond belief were the facts not so notorious, that any Government would deliberately pursue a policy fraught with such terrible consequences, for the sake of obtaining revenue which means the degradation and ruin of the people.’’ How a Government with these facts before them can continue this traffic is almost incredible. The establishment of a national Parliament — the Duma— was hailed by many as an agency for doing something in the interest of Temperance. .-Mas, the first and the second Duma passed away without anything being accomplished. In the third Duma, on December loth, 1907, M. Chelyshoff, a peasant representative, gained considerable applause from the entire 77 Duma by a masterly attack upon the Government for forcing vodka shops upon the peasants simply to increase the revenue. On December 20th a motion was submitted and passed “ express- ing the hope that the Government would restrict the sale of alcohol in the famine-stricken districts.” Early in January, igo8, the question was again before the Duma, and the members carried a motion calling upon the Government ‘‘ to appoint a Commission to consider means for the combating of drunken- ness,” and ‘‘ at the same time endeavour to find new sources of revenue in place of that derived from the sale of spirits.” In each case the Government opposed the motion, but was defeated. M. Kramer, in one of the debates, declared : ‘‘ If the Govern- ment does not take steps to stop the evil there will not be a sober peasant left in Russia in ten years. The present crimes, such as the progroms, and the burning of estates, are due to drink.” The only reply offered was that of the Finance Minister, who stated : ‘‘ The problem of combating drunkenness is almost impossible of solution.” In January, 1911, M. Tcheltcheff raised the question in the Duma, and in a speech of some five hours’ duration, is stated to have denounced the evils of alcoholism with great earnestness, armed with a formidable array of official statistics. He declared that ‘‘one million Russians die annually from alcoholic excess, and that this deplorable state of affairs must cease if Russia is to hold her own with other nations.” The St. Petersburg corre- spondent of the London Daily News writes : — ‘‘ Public opinion in Russia is thoroughly roused to a sense ‘‘of the danger to the nation by the increasing drunkenness. ‘‘ The protests in the Duma against the forcing of vodka on un- ‘‘ willing communities in order to increase the revenue of the ‘‘ Government, have met with hearty approbation in the public ‘‘ press. ” In 1912 the question was again before the Duma, and a Bill was passed, with the approval of the Government, ‘‘ prohibiting the sale of spirits in all Government institutions and businesses, except the State vodka shops ; reducing the percentage of alcohol in vodka to 37 per cent., and prescribing that instruction shall be given in the high schools on the nature and effects of alcohol.” This is the first real step taken in the interest of Temperance, although a very small one. In 1912 a Commission was appointed by the Duma, to enquire into the liquor question and to report. The Commis- sion reported early in 1913, and the following items were adopted by tbe Duma and sent to the Reicherat for their approval : — (i) That the following shall be placed on all the labels of vodka bottles : “ Man ! Although thou hast bought this spirit, yel knov.- that thou drinkest poison which destroys thee. Before it is too late, never buy another bottle. (Signed) Minister of Finance.” (2) That money rewards shall be given to the police for finding out secret spirit shops. (3) That the alcoholic strength of vodka be reduced from 40 per cent, to 37 per cent. (4) That the small spirit bottles be abandoned. (5) That the resolutions adopted by the Anti-Alcoholic Congress of Russia in 1912 shall be brought to the notice of the orthodox clergy, and especially the higher ministry with a view to action being taken to further the battle against alcoholism. The Reicherat, after very violent debates, in February, 1913, rejected Nos. i and 2, but gave per- mission to the Minister of Finance to take the Arms of the Empire away from the vodka labels. They adopted Nos. 3 and 4, and at the March meeting No. 5. At the April meeting it was decided to make it obligatory for instruction in abstinence from alcoholic liquors to be given to all children in the public schools throughout Russia. The Russian Minister of Marine — Admiral Grigorovitch, issued an order by which the sailors in the Russian Navy, instead of their customary grog ration, will receive a monthly payment of three and a half roubles (6s. 3d. or $1.50). In European Russia there is a population of nearly 120,000,000, and with Poland, Finland, Siberia, and other countries in the Russian Empire (which have a popula- tion of nearly 50,000,000), the total population under the Russian Government numbers about 170,000,000. The unsuc- cessful termination of the Russo-Japanese War (1904-5) led to the expression of a national feeling in favour of the establish- ment of a more representative Government. In response to this demand, the Imperial Duma was called into existence. The first Duma was dissolved because its legislation was considered too extreme. The second Duma met a similar fate. The third Duma proved less revolutionary, and it is hoped that as the people become more used to representative Government, effect- ive legislation against the liquor traffic will be adopted. Finland. — The Duchy of Finland, of which the Emperor of Russia is the Grand Duke, was for many years cursed with the private spirit system, similar to that of Norway and Sweden. In 1864, when this system was abolished, there were over twenty thousand of these stills for a population of less than two millions. The consumption of spirits is reported to have been over twenty litres per head per annum, and the amount of drunk- enness was very large indeed. Temperance reform dates from the abolition of the private stills, but it was not until 1877 that 79 total abstinence societies began to be formed. From that time a most persistent agitation has been carried on, so that the people of Finland have become noted for their sobriety and their ad- vanced views in favour of the entire prohibition of the liquor traffic. In 1883 the Government passed an Act giving to the rural districts a measure of Local Option, and to the towns power to the Councils to adopt a system of Liquor Trust Com- panies, similar to the Gothenburg system. Under the Local Option law the people have practically driven the spirit traffic out of the country districts. Dr. M. Helenius, of Finland, speaking at the World’s Temperance Congress, London, in 1900, said : — “ There are 422 parishes in Finland, representing a popula- “ tion of nearly two millions, and in all save nine, the spirit “ traffic has been voted out,” and Herr E. Bjorkenheim, in reference to the Gothenburg system, has stated : — ‘‘The experience of Finland with the Gothenburg system ‘‘ does not run in a favourable direction, and it is evident that ‘‘ there is a strong current of opinion against it in the country. ‘‘ Temperance sentiment in Finland is unanimously and decidedly ‘‘ against the system.” On January ist, 1907, a new constitution came into force, involving the election of the Landtag (a Single Chamber Parlia- ment) by universal suffrage of both men and women. The electorate being increased from about 100,000 to over 1,400,000. The Diet consists of 200 members, women being eligible for election. At the first election on this extended suffrage, an over- whelming number of Temperance men, and nineteen Temper- ance women, were elected, and they declared for an immediate prohibition of the liquor traffic. Upon the assembling of the Landtag, in May 1907, among the first questions brought under discussion was that of the liquor traffic. A bill for the entire prohibition of the importation, manufacture and sale of intoxi- cating liquors was introduced and adopted without a division. Senator Stabliberg, the head of the Government, was the only real opponent of the measure. By this Bill all traific in spirits, beer, or wine was strictly prohibited ; only for medical and technical purposes could alcohol be produced, imported, stored or distributed. The ecclesiastical use of wine was also prohibited, the members de- claring that the worse drink could not be permitted for the highest and best function in the Christian Church. The only exception made for the use of spirits was in favour of Russian 80 troops stationed in Finland. Heavy penalties were adopted for violation, varying- from a fine of ($20) to penal servitude for three years. Carrying- liquor involved the forfeiture of the vehicle, with horse and harness ; similarly a vessel, the princi- pal cargo of which consists of alcoholic liquors, could be seized. There was no provision for compensation proposed or made for any brewer, distiller, or saloon ke^er. The Bill, how'ever, failed to secure the signature of the Czar of Russia, and was therefore inoperative. In the Session of 1909 the question was again considered, but it was not until 1910 that the Landtag passed a new’ Pro- hibition Bill. This time a division was challenged and the Bill was passed by a majority of 124, the vote being: For, 158, against 34. From all parts of the country great enthusiasm was evinced in favour of the Bill, but the influence of the French Government is reported to have been so strongly exerted on behalf of the treaties favouring the introduction of French w'ines into the country, that again the Finnish people were robbed of the fruits of victory. L’ Abstinence, in making the announce- ment that the Czar of Russia had again vetoed the Measure, said : — “ Words fail us to express our indignation that in this “ twentieth century a people who have so decidedly expressed “ their desire that this curse should be taken from their midst, “ should be denied their rights at the demand of the wdne-growers “ of the country of liberty, equality and fraternity.” The International, after stating that the Czar’s refusal to ratify the law was mainly on the representation of France and other foreign powers that the prohibition of the importation of alcoholic liquors would be a violation of their commercial treaties, said : — - ” Although Finland cannot look forw-ard in the near future ‘‘ to the statutory abolition of the perils of drink, yet its popula- ‘‘ tion has by voluntary efforts curtailed the use of alcohol (about ‘‘ three pints per head as compared w ith 39^ pints in France, ‘‘ 19^ in Great Britain, 16^ pints in Germany), that drunkenness ‘‘ as a national scourge may be almost looked upon as eradi- ” cated.” The growth of Temperance sentiment has become so strong throughout the country, that year after year sees a further advance of Prohibition in the towns. In May, 1907, Tamefor, a typical working-class centre, with a population of over 25,000, had the question of prohibiting the Company Liquor Shops under consideration, and at the request of the people the Citv Council decided not to issue any more liquor licences. This is the largest SI city in Northern Europe to adopt Prohibition. The results are declared by the authorities to be “most satisfactory.’’ As to public opinion on the whole question, Dr. Matti Helenius- Seppala, M.P. , states; — “ Let me submit the few following facts. All the news- “ papers of any Influence in the Finnish language are refusing “ to accept advertisements of alcoholic liquors. In the restaur- “ ants of our National Parliament, of our National Theatre, and “ of the House of Finnish Students, you cannot get any kind of “ alcoholic liquors, and you cannot find a single house or club “ of Finnish working men where the serving of alcoholic liquors “ is allowed. The adoption of Prohibition by our Parliament “ was only the evolution of natural progress. As Secretary of the “ Parliamentary Committee I do not hesitate to say that the “Finnish Parliament will again pass the Prohibition law.’’ This opinion is supported by the fact that at the last General Election (1912) the question of Prohibition was most promi- nently before the electors, and resulted in a complete triumph for the Prohibitionists. This fact, together with the knowledge that the Drink Bill of Finland is the lowest in Europe, is a warrant for believing that the people are at the back of the movement to secure the entire prohibition of the liquor traffic, and that the agitation will continue until it is made the law of the land. Another hopeful sign is the fact that a great deal of instruction regarding the action of alcohol upon the human system, is being given in all the public schools of Finland, the General School Board encouraging the teachers to bring this subject repeatedly forward, even in the ordinary and everyday lessons. The Baltic Provinces. — About the middle of the nineteenth century, M. Anton Rudeet, a Russian author, tells us that “ owing to the terrible evils arising from the drinking of vodka, an energetic movement for total abstinence was inaugurated by Pastor Treej among the Slav population of the Russian Baltic Provinces. Pastor Kellibrant, who formed the first Lithuanian Total Abstinence Society, became the real leader of the move- ment, and under his leadership thousands of people became total abstainers, resulting in an enormous betterment to the whole community.’’ In vodka shops where on Sundays 30 to 60 gallons of spirits had been sold, only a few kopecks were now spent, and the people at large took to celebrating their weddings, christenings, name-days, and harvest feasts without a drop of intoxicants. This result of the Temperance movement led to protests being made by those interested in the liquor traffic. At Marienberg, where by the action of Pastor Hirgenson a most aggressive Temperance Society had been formed, bitter com- G S2 plaints were sent to the highest church authorities and the courts, with the result the society was compulsorily closed, and similar repression was rapidly made of other local societies in the most relentless manner, until not a single total abstinence society remained. The movement, however, was not killed, for M. Anton Rudeet further says ; — “ That wonderful and memorable episode in the life of the “ nation was in reality the beginning of a new era in Lettish “ history. It gave a new impetus to literature, to art, and to the “general intelligence of the race. It made them a new people, “ notwithstanding the brevity of the strange and glorious revolu- “ tion. To-day the vast majority of the Letts are reported to be “ total abstainers. In nearly every household the women are “ the moral leaders, while in society they are the purifying “ angels. ’’ Many of the Russian vodka distilleries run by the Govern- ment h^ve been set up in these Baltic Provinces, and the re- formers are naturally opposed by those interested in this huge traffic in spirits. The “ Affsecles Union ” (Temperance Club) has its headquarters in Riga, with branch clubs in other parts of the country. Miss Elisabeth von Grewingk, of Riga, has secured a number of members of the Good Templar Order, formed a branch of the W.W.C.T. U. , and is conducting a most successful children’s movement. Numbers of men and youths, together with the women, are joining the movements, and it is gratifying to know that while many are connected with the working classes, others are connected with the most eminent families, so that unless the Russian Government interfere, the next few' years will doubtless w'itness great Temperance progress in these Russian Baltic Provinces. CHAPTER VTI The German Empire “ Germany has won a prominent place among the nations because ot the physical, mental, and moral qualifications of her people ; but the maintenance of its present position will become more and more difficult as the nation becomes more deeply involved in international relations. But still more threatening are the dangers resulting from rapid internal development — moral insensibility and degenerac}', with their resulting conditions. Under these circumstances alcoholism becomes fatal to our place among the nations. It undermines the economic foundations of Germany’s inter- national position by diminishing efficiency, and its internal development by the corruption of its youth at the most dangerous time in moral growth, while at all other ages it undermines the self-control so essential to a society or nation.” — Dr. Fuch, Commissioner of Public Buildings in Karlsruhe, at the Univeisity of Kiel ( 1909 ). The Temperance movement in Germany is of very modern growth. In about the middle of the nineteenth century there was a strong movement made in Prussia and the north against spirit drinking, which attained a considerable amount of success. In Silesia, it is stated, over half a million men and women abandoned the use of spirits, and in consequence of this the revenue from spirits showed a large decrease. The political disturbances of 1848 put an end to this movement, and the efforts for National Unity, together with the quarrel with France, which led up to the great Franco-German War of 1870, prevented any re-opening of the Temperance movement until after the re- construction period. It was not, therefore, until 1883, that any organised efforts were put forth in favour of total abstinence principles or for any legislative interference with the liquor traffic. In that year the Good Templar Order was introduced into Germany, and the German Society Against the Abuse of Alcoholic Drinks was formed. The Good Templars have become a great power for good, while the W.W.C.T. U. and other societies have also become strong and powerful. The move- ment in Germany appears to have largely developed on scientific and industrial lines, and the best men in both these departments of national life are taking a leading part against alcoholism. Beer-drinking Germans are rapidly learning that alcohol — whether in beer or wine, or in the stronger liquors — is danger- ous to the physical, moral and economical advancement of the people. The leading scientific men are constantly making re- markable utterances against the dangers of alcoholism and the advantages of total abstinence, and several speeches by the 84 Emperor of Germany have been made against the use of alcoholic liquors. Speaking at Muervvick, near Flensburg, in November, igio, the Emperor said :■ — “ I have great pleasure in seeing that in the German Navy “ there are now Naval Lodges of the Good Templars instituted, “ of which some officers and a great many of the members of the “crews are members. To join these Lodges cannot be too “ strongly recommended. Typical, in this direction, is Great “ Britain, where more than 20,000 officers and crew are ab- “ Stainers. The alcohol question is one for our Navy and for “our people; therefore renounce the alcoholic drinks and you “ will help to raise my people morally.” The Emperor further said “ In the next naval war, victory will belong to that nation “ which shows the smallest consumption of alcohol.” From investigation it has been found that the use of alcohol by those insured under the National Insurance .Act of 1885, is very destructive of health. Mr. Hansen, of Kiel, Landerset Coun- sellor for Insurance, stated at a Scientific Gathering in Berlin in igio : — “ The use of alcohol by the working classes has a dis- “ proportionate influence in increasing his burden. It is now well- “ known to be enormous, and for this reason the officials have “ not been idle about it. In the campaign against tuberculosis, “ the close connection of this destructive disease with the equally “ widespread and menacing alcoholism is made unmistakeable. “ Both prey upon the marrow of our people; both produce the “ same results; they injure the physical, mental, and economical “ welfare of the individual and the community, and future “ generations as well as the present.” Hundreds of similar statements might be quoted, showing that the most learned Professors and public men of Germany are fast becoming alive to the terrible dangers of alcoholism. The Imperial Board of Health is also concerning itself about the burdens imposed upon the nation by alcohol, and have issued a series of leaflets warning the people of their danger. These are being circulated by the tens of thousands, while a number of medical men and others are attending meetings of the insured urging the members to abandon the use of all alco- holic liquors. The changing attitude of Labour is remarkable. From ven,' early times the taking of intoxicating liquors has been common among the working classes, but during the past twenty years a most wonderful change has taken place. To-day the leaders and organisations of working men are taking an active part in 85 weaning the people from the alcoholic habit. The National Industrial Congress, held in Hamburg during the summer of 1909, passed the following resolution : — “ The Industrial Congress recognises it has one of the most “ important objects of the industrial movement to oppose the “ devastation of alcoholism by instruction and other practical “means. It is therefore to the interest of industry to remove “ from all gatherings and institutions of all kinds every coercion “to drink, and to restrict the sale of alcoholic liquors either “ entirely or as much as possible. Business establishments “ should not be located in public-houses, nor be under the con- “ trol of innkeepers.’’ The members of the Congress also decided to tax. them- selves one mar-k (is.) a year for the promotion of the anti- alcoholic movement among the working people of Germany. In the report of the Prussian Government Trades Inspection for 1911, we have this significant statement : — “ The effort of the labour organisations to limit the use of “ alcoholic liquors among their members is even more notice- “ able. The Wood-workers’ Union of Bielefeld seems especially “ successful in this respect. The use of spirits among them has “ practically ceased, beer-drinking — especially during pauses in “ work — is growing less and less. Milk is taking the place of “ beer. ’’ In 1912 the German Imperial Statistical Office published some very remarkable and valuable information respecting the effects of alcohol upon the efficiency and health of those engaged in the higher and lower branches of Industry. The editor of this data informs us that only persons were classed as alcoholics whose drinking habits were so pronounced that the doctors indicated them as heavy drinkers, or marked them in a way to denote drunkenness, dipsomania, or delirium tremens. These statistics are striking, as they show on the one hand the inability of the heavy drinker to continue to do the work requiring much skill, care and attention, while on the other hand they show that numbers of skilled workmen, who have become heavy drinkers, gravitate to unskilled callings, such as street work and farm labour. Again, in the first section the health of the drinkers appears only a little less favourable than the average, but in the second section it is strikingly different. A large part of the time the drinkers were under observation they were unable to work. They were sick 12.6 days out of a hundred, which is stated to be more than is the case with very old people. Beginning with his twenty-fourth year, the drinker’s attacks of sickness were 2.6 times as frequent as those of the average, and the disparity kept increasing year by year. The same was true of the duration of 1 86 sickness. These statistics show what has long been known to the doctors, that alcoholism increases the danger of accidents and prolongs recovery, and that the alcoholics of all callings show a similarly greater frequency than the general class to attacks (jf such diseases as pneumonia, catarrh of the stomach, muscular rheumatism, and laryngitis. These statistical facts are being published broadcast throughout Germany, and are doing much to awaken the people to the danger of alcoholism. The changed attitude of the employers of labour is also very remarkable. In the building trade, the railway system, the chemical industry, and other large centres of employment, organised efforts are being put forward against the liquor traffic. The following, issued by the chemical industry employers, is a fair sample of what the German masters are doing to support the men in their tight against intoxicating liquors : — “ We urge our members to use every opportunity to set “ before their workmen the disadvantage of the use of alcohol. “ Among these are the useless expenditure of money, the weak- “ ening of their own health and that of their children, and the “consequent diminished resistance to disease; the greater “ liability to accidents among men who are not total abstainers, “particularly among machines; the earlier invalidism and the “ diminished income. We urge our members to oppose the use “ of alcohol by all means, by providing non-alcoholic drinks, “ such as cold coffee and mineral water in summer, and hot “ drinks in winter; also by the dissemination of popular litera- “ ture, by the erection of proper places of amusement for the “ hands in large factories, of reading-rooms, workmen’s homes, “ or rather homes in which alcohol is excluded, by young “ people’s societies, which will keep young people off the streets “ and away from the drinking places. No alcohol should be “allowed in factories, particularly on account of the danger “ from accident. Infringement of the order should be punished. “ .Any who appear on the premises under the influence of liquor “ should be discharged.’’ The various Government departments in connection with the great railway system have taken the Temperance question into their most earnest consideration, and the instructions issued to the employees are year by year becoming more stringent. The Director-General of the railways in .Alsace-Lorrain, issued in igoS a general order forbidding the use of intoxicating liquors during working hours. This order applied to all grades in the service and to all hours of the day. .A first offence is punishable by loss of grade, and a second offence by dismissal. In September, igog, a welcome movement against spirit drinking broke out among the workers, by way of protest against S7 the new indirect taxation imposed by the Government in con- nection with their financial reform. The German Social Demo- crats decided to boycott the use of spirits, and the boycott became very general. In March, 1910, the German Labour Gazette, Reichsarbeitsblatt, published a comparison of the consumption of spirits during the five months of October, 1909, to February, 1910, with that in the similar period of the preceding year, from which it appears that the consumption dropped from 23.6 million gallons to 16.2 million gallons, or over 31 per cent. The Pro- gressive papers greeted this success of the Socialists more from the point of view of Temperance reform than on account of the material damage caused to the Exchequer. It is gratifying to know that this movement has not died out, for there is still the ‘ schnapps boycott. ’ Thousands of working men having found that milk was a better beverage than spirits, have con- tinued the practice of total abstinence, and have become Tem- perance workers. The exposure of the evils connected with the German Beer Gardens has had a good effect, not only in Germany, but throughout the world. Many thought that these places were ideal. “There,” it was stated, “ the parents could sit drinking their beer, surrounded by their children and relations, the sounds of a good band blending with the delightful song of the nightin- gale, and the silvery sheen of the moonlight with the bewitching illuminations of the garden.” How different the reality from this fancy picture. Herr F. Hahnel, referring to this descrip- tion, says : — “I wonder if the writer has ever seen life in the beer-gardens “ of our big German towns, with their cabarets, prostitution, “ demi-mondanes, and other degradations? Hardly; and if he “ has, his view must have been blurred by the continuous carry- “ ing of beer mugs.” The talented German authoress, Mrs. Rosa Voigt, who knows the condition of these beer gardens intimately, gives the following description of “ A Great Beer Garden in Bavaria” ; — “ The fittings consist only of a number of tables and chairs, “ hundreds of men, women, and children sit round, each with a “ mug of beer. A noise of shouting and thumping on the tables “ makes it impossible for a word to be heard. Waitresses carry “ their loads of glasses and mugs full of foaming beer. Here is “ a young man, with pallid, emaciated face and bleared eyes, “ taking the last coin from his purse to pay for a mug of beer. “ Dull, bleared eyes stare at the tables, and coarse, unfriendly “ speeches are made — then a quarrel begins which threatens to “ become a fight. Here a young man murmurs into the ears of “ the girl next to him ugly words that make her blush violently. ss “ There Is a table of students, drinking to the word of command, “ and making their well-known jokes, which are received with “ noisy laughter. Here is one who curses God and Authority, “ and all State Government. All one sees and hears is animated “ by the same spirit — alcohol; and the people have their Sunday “ clothes on, for is it not the Lord’s Day?” Dr. Kraut, of Hamburg, issued a circular in 1910 to a number of authorities throughout Germany, asking for infor- mation respecting these beer gardens, and the following state- ment was afterwards issued ‘‘ Although it is not possible to obtain figures of the con- ‘‘ sumption of beer in these gardens, the answers clearly point to ‘‘ the fact that these Beer Gardens and Cafes are just as much ” a cause of alcoholism as any other bar where alcohol is sold. ” The more imposing the outer appearance of such a place, the ‘‘ greater its temptation, and the more dangerous it is to the ” young people. These open drinking places have been the prime ‘‘cause contributing to the circumstance that the women of ‘‘ Germany, who, fifty years ago, were almost total abstainers ‘‘ from alcohol, now consider the drinking of beer and wine con- ‘‘sistent with propriety, and so contributed to the fact that in ‘‘Germany during the last twenty years ending 1899, the con- ‘‘ sumption of alcohol, and particularly of beer, has risen to ‘‘ such an extent. It is pleasing, however, to know' that during ■ ‘ the last ten years there has been a steady decrease in the ‘‘general consumption of alcohol.” Figures for 1909 show that an average of 29.37 gallons were consumed by every man, woman and child in the empire, whicli was nearly four gallons less than the average per capita in the year 1900. This decrease has been gradual and is not owing to any sudden change in conditions, as the following table will show ; — Total consumption. Consumption per capita, g^allons. g^allons. 1900 1,835,960,000 33-0- 1901 1,875,480,000 3“-78 1902 1,846,310,000 30-79 1904 1,921,970,000 31.54 1907 1,924,270,000 31-04 1908 1,940,420,000 31-22 1909 1,864,440,000 -9-37 With a view' to decreasing the evils of the German Beer Gardens, the Central Police Office in Munich issued a notice in 1910 forbidding children of school age being taken to the salvator bars, and children not of school age from being taken to the salvator cellar. The Munich Neusten Nachrichten of March nth, 1910, referring to this order, said : — 89 “ One can be an opponent of grandmotherly police legisla- “ tion, and yet be in agreement with this measure on the part “ of the police. Those who know what goes on at the Salvator “ Cellar, those who share the view — increasing and supported “ by medical opinion — that growing youths must be kept from “ alcohol as much as possible, will welcome this prohibition. We “ do not want the Government-controlled liquor system of “ Sweden imported into Munich, but when a special prohibition “ like this is worked in an educational manner, it is to be heartily “ welcomed. ” Another step in the Temperance uplift of Germany is to be found in the method of treating the victims of the liquor traffic. The prison treatment is fast disappearing and the inebriate home is taking its place, but better still, the plan, so well known as the “ Pollard Plan,” through having been first introduced by Judge Pollard at St. Louis, by which the drunkard is liberated on condition of signing the total abstinence pledge for a stated period and reporting himself to the authorities. In August, 1911, the Ministry of State of the Principality of Lippe issued the following order : — ‘‘ After inquiry from the authorities concerned, and with ‘‘ the gracious consent of His Highness, the Prince, the Pollard ‘‘ System is to be used in this country experimentally, in suitable ‘‘cases, in such a way that convicted persons, who are drunk- ‘‘ ards, especially if their offence was committed while they were “ intoxicated, are to have the prospect of having the whole “ punishment remitted on the condition that during a certain ‘‘ period they abstain from alcohol altogether, and during such ‘‘period commit no further offences. In carrying out this ‘‘ measure, the Ministry of State relies upon the co-operation of ‘‘ the Good Templar Lodges and the Blue Cross Associations ‘‘which exist in this country.” With a view to introducing the Pollard Plan Into the differ- ent German States a special committee of the German Abstainer’s Union is at work, and Dr. Otto Bauer, the well-known justice, is lecturing throughout the whole of the fatherland. The Plan has been in operation in the State of Hessen and the State of Liibeck. Other State authorities are considering the matter and are expected to adopt the plan in the near future. The National Insurance Societies have also entered into the struggle against alcoholism. In Wiirtemberg, Bavaria, and other portions of Southern Germany, these societies have issued orders forbidding the use of alcoholic liquors in the workshops. Beer is expressly included in some of these orders, even in Bavaria. Superintendents are charged to provide good, pure drinking water. The Insurance Societies of the Rhine provinces have entered into an agreement with the Temperance Societies 90 with a view to assisting drunkards after their treatment in the inebriate homes. The Westphalian Society use the dismissal card as a means of putting into the hands of hundreds of thousands of workmen and their families, literature pointing out the dangers of alcohol. The Insurance Companies of Silesia have had copies of a lecture on insurance and alcoholism, by Counsellor Weymann, printed in leaflet form and distributed to the officials of the company. The Insurance Company of Hessen has had erected in its Tuberculosis Museum a department con- taining illustrated charts of statistical findings on the injurious effects of alcohol. The doctor who explains the chart to visitors, calls emphatic attention to the consequences of alcoholism, and hands to everyone a copy of the ALkoholmerkblatt, the pamphlet issued by the Imperial Board of Health. Similar work is being done by the Insurance Societies in Mecklenburg, Hamburg, Bremen and Liibeck. Many of these societies have also voted large sums of money to the Good Templars and other Temper- ance organisations, to assist in the building of Halls, the main- tenance of coffee and milk depots. The German Temperance Reformers are aiming at creating a great body of public opinion against alcoholism, and at increas- ing largely the number of abstainers, and they also wish to show the people and the members of the Reichstag that laws must be passed supporting the moral uplift of the nation. There are huge difficulties in front of the German Prohibitionists, but they are a brave and determined body of men and women, and will doubtless accomplish their object in due course. The German Empire is a Confederate League in accordance with the Con- stitution adopted in April, 1871, and has a population (1910) of 65,000,000. 'Phe King of Prussia is the hereditary President under the title of German Emperor. The legislative authority is in the hands of the Brundesrat (the Federal Council] and the Reichstag (the Representative .\ssemblyj. The Brundesrat is composed of 61 persons nominated by the various State Govern- ments ; and the Reichstag is composed of 397 Deputies elected by universal suffrage. The chief States are Prussia, Bavaria, Saxony and Wurtemburg, Baden and Hesse, Mecklenburg- Schwerin and Brunswick, Alsace-Lorraine, and the three Hausc Towns. This Nation is divided into 26 States, each having its own laws and regulations dealing with the production and sale of intoxicating liquors. These laws and regulations refer simply to what is called the “ misuse of alcoholic liquors,” and generally affect spirits, very seldom touching beer or wine. Herr Franziskus Hahnel, Past President of the German Federa- tion .Against .►Mcohollsm, says : — 91 “ Our laws are of a very old style. For all precincts of “ Germany, the so-called ‘ Gewerbeordnung ’ (trade regulation) “ give the rules for licence and trade. In some parts of Prussia “ there is a kind of high licence system, without any reference “ to the reduction of saloons or alcohol-production. Since 1897, “ Germany has by law the question of urgency, but it is put “ into force by very few towns or cities. When these have more “ than 15,000 inhabitants they may institute the question of “ urgency, not only for spirits, but also for beer and wine. The “ managing of these regulations is, however, a very difficult one. ‘ ‘ The licensing boards have very seldom members who know “ anything of the alcohol question. The German laws, bad as “ they are, will not be altered until our cause has conquered “ every State and precinct, and we will do our duty and arrive at “ this result as early as possible.” We see how this good work is being forwarded in scientific and industrial ranks. The politicians are also advancing, but as usual much slower than the others. In the Senate of Liibeck, the following ordinance was passed in January, 1909, to provide against the dangers to life and health from alcoholism : — ” The use of alcoholic liquors, such as wine, beer and spirits, ” during working hours is forbidden. Care must be taken to ‘‘ provide good drinking water in the factories, as well as drink- ‘‘ ing vessels and measures for cleaning them.” The learned Judge, Dr. Hermann M. Popert, one of Ger- many’s most able thinkers, delivered an address before the annual meeting of the German Federation Against Alcoholism in 1908, entitled ” A Step to the Way of Power,” in which the learned judge explained the principle of Local Veto, and ex- pressed the opinion that this was the best way of attacking the liquor traffic, and thus destroying the dreadful alcohol plague in Germany. He therefore proposed, at the earliest opportunity, to introduce the following Local Veto Bill into the Reichstag, believing that at least some three or four precincts were even now ready to make use of such a privilege if it were given to them. The Bill drafted by Judge Popert stated : — ” Every precinct in the German Empire, its colonies and ‘‘ protectorates, has the right to prohibit within its borders the ‘‘ industrial manufacture, importation, purchase and sale of alco- “ holic beverages.” Most of the German Temperance Societies heartily agreed to the proposals of Judge Popert, and it was determined to organise a great petition to be signed only by electors, for presentation to the Government and the Reichstag. The petitioners asked for Local Option to veto the liquor traffic, not only in the Father- land, but in all the colonies. They expressed the desire that not 92 only should this power be given to the towns and cities, but to districts and city-blocks, in which not less than i,ooo voters live. They also requested that the right to vote should be granted to women as well as to the men. In some parts, where the Temper- ance movement is strong, a systematic canvas was undertaken, and a very large quantity of explanatory literature was distributed. The petition was presented, containing over 500,000 signatures, to the Reichstag in March, 1912, and created great interest, not only among the members of the Government and the Reichstag, but among the general public, from the reports which appeared in the press. One writer says : — “ Of course, the Reichstag will not grant the legislation — " not yet. But wait a few years; the rise of public opinion will “ force it to take action, and that perhaps before we might dare “ imagine. ” The organising ability of the German Temperance reformers is still further shown in their efforts to systematise the work throughout the whole of the Fatherland. Year by year this agitation is surely telling upon this great Empire, as all the most advanced Temperance organisations report large increases of members. The Good Templars, W.C.T. U. , and other total abstinence societies report their growing membership as follows : 1902 35.000 1905 55 >°°o 1908 86,000 1911 170,000 1913 250,000 while the Society Against the Misuse of Alcoholic Liquors also numbers about 40,000 members. More than forty Temperance newspapers are being published, and some of them have more than 30,000 subscribers. The German abstainers do not, how- ever, rely simply upon the ordinary methods of propaganda. Tliey have adopted many special means of advancing the cause. Among these may be mentioned (i) the profitable use of the general press of Germany, and (2) the Travelling Temperance Exhibitions. To influence the German Press, and through it the German people, a monthly correspondence department was in- stituted by the German Good Templar Grand Lodge, under the able editorship of Herr F. Hahnel, assisted by the most cele- brated Professors, medical men, and social reformers in the country, and now edited by Dr. med Plleiderer and F. Scholl. These contributions are sent out every month, and in certain cases oftener, to about 2,500 newspapers. They are readily accepted and published. This does much to counteract 93 the articles sent out by the liquor party, for when it is known that the brewers, distillers and publicans have an organisation for fighting the abstainers, and that they are reported as having yearly expended about 90,000 marks (;^4,500 or $22,500), the need for this department is readily seen. To influence the general public in another way, large exhibitions have been arranged, 'fhese are sent from town to town, and have proved remarkably successful. A large hall, or some unoccupied business premises, or if this is impossible, an ordinary shop, is secured. The Exhibition is generally opened by some special function, to draw the attention of the press and the public to the undertaking. Hundreds of charts, diagrams, medical models, statistics, and other facts connected with the alcohol question, are placed on exhibition, and all day long the qualified attendants are kept busy explaining the exhibits to those attending. Scientific lectures are also given by Professors and others, during the run of the Exhibition, which sometimes extends to many weeks, and is attended by many thousands of people. As one German writer says : — “ In this way we are working in a systematic and rational “ manner to educate the people all over the Fatherland to work against the attacks of the brewers, distillers, and publicans, “ and to bring about as soon as possible a change in the Ger- “ man drinking customs, the chief source of the dreadful plague “ called alcoholism. As the official statistics show, we have had “ for the past few years a decrease in the consumption of alco- “ holic liquors. It is only a small one, but we are glad to have “ a decrease. Therefore we are fighting for the welfare of our “ people, and the victory will be ours.” The first German congress for the bringing up of children in total abstinence principles was held in Berlin during March, 1913. This was largely attended and there is no doubt that the German women are coming to recognise the fact that they must prepare the ground for future Temperance legislation by trying to bring up future generations as total abstainers. The Congress con- sidered how this could best be done and the problem was discussed from various points of view by some of the leading men and women speakers and thinkers of Germany. At the close of the discussion the Congress expressed the hope that ” the mothers of Germany would recognise the fact that the first step German women must take towards combating drunkenness was to bring up their own children in complete abstinence from the use of alcoholic liquors and this the Congress believe would also prove the best means for insuring the acceptance of laws against alcohol by the coming generation,” CHAPTER Vni Austria- Hungary “ Nowhere as among- the wage-workers is emphasis on race-hygiene so strong, or its claims so distinct ; nowhere else does that modem movement, which is everywhere so full of promise and which bids fair to contribute so much to the regeneration of humanity, the movement against alcohol, strikes root so deeply. Not only do hygienic considerations drive the workers to participate in this movement, but also the feeling that the world-historical battle they have to fight out can only be victoriously ended when the com- batants have at their disposal the moral and Intellectual capacities enabling them not only to beat down opposition but to be efficient in the positive task of recreating humanity.” M. Pemersdorfer, the Austrian Socialist Leader ( 1912 ). The Temperance movement, which had its beginning in Norway and Sweden in 1830, spread to Germany and thence to Austria about the middle of the nineteenth century— first in Austrian Silesia, southward to Moravia, and later to Austria proper. But as in so many other parts, the movement was very short-lived, doing, however, much good while it lasted, as thousands of people took a religious vow not to drink any intoxi- cating liquors. The Catholic clergy are reported to have assembled their parishioners and crowds of workpeople in their churches, around their altars, for the purpose of their taking, of their own free will, the religious vows to abstain from drinks which had become the destroyers of their peace and happiness. The result of this movement was an immediate change in the habit and conduct of the people, and it is on record that while the movement lasted the riots, noises, dirt, and disorder which formerly had been inseparable from every domestic or public ceremony, completely disappeared. The movement also made some adherents in Hungary and Prussian Poland, but in every case the want of Temperance organisations to further the cause prevented its spreading, and in a very short time the movement came to an end. Austri.a. — It was not until 1884 that any renewal of Tem- perance effort was put forth to counteract the terrible and grow- ing evils of alcohol. In that year the Chevalier Max de Proskowetz, F.R.G.S., founded the -Austrian Society for Check- ing Inebriety, and in 1899 a National Total .Abstinence Society \vas established, to which a number of young physicians attached themselves, prominent among whom was Dr. Poech. The move- ment soon took root among the scientific men, and some very effective work was done. Upon the invitation of these societies and professional men, and under the patronage of the Austrian Government, the seventh gathering of the International Congress on Alcoholism was held in Vienna, the capital city of Austria. Several of the European Governments were represented, while some 1,300 delegates were present from Temperance organisa- tions in many lands. The visitors were much impressed with the attitude of the medical men and teachers in respect to the ques- tion of the use of alcohol. The valuable papers read at the Congress, and the discussions w'hich followed, did much to still further to stimulate the movement, not only of those interested in the cause, but among a large number of the general public. During the last twenty years the movement has been more suc- cessful in the ranks of the educated than among the masses of the people. This no doubt arises from the fact that total absti- nence has been advocated in connection with the colleges and higher schools of the country, and a number of students en- rolled. Such men as Professor Kassowitz, Dr. Gustav Rossler, and Dr. Holitscher are pressing the question more and more upon the attention of the authorities and the people. Temperance teaching in the public schools is gradually taking a firm hold both upon the Government and the people. The first step was taken in 1900, when the Board of Education caused an inquiry to be made among some 400,000 school children in Lower Austria as to the use of alcoholic liquors. The result showed that practically the whole of the children of the working classes consumed beer and wine, but as a rule did not indulge in spirits. In 1902 a law was passed making provision for Temperance instruction in primary schools, in connection with the subjects of Natural History, Chemistry, etc. In 1906 the Austrian League of Women’s Abstaining Societies petitioned the Government in favour of systematic anti-alcoholic teaching, and that the school books should be re-written and all paragraphs in praise of alcohol withdrawn. In response an official pamphlet was issued calling the attention of students in the Training Colleges to the subject. Renewed demands were sent to the Board of Education calling attention to the growing evils of alcoholism and the need for the young being fully instructed upon the question. In 1912 the Ministry of Education issued an important order to all school authorities. By this it is provided that instruction in reference to alcohol shall be given in every school to all normal school pupils. Instruction is to cover the physiological action of alroho] on the organism, its pathological 96 results, the social dangers from alcoholism, and the economic evils consequent upon the widespread use of this drug. Educa- tional committees have also been asked to invite the Professors In their schools and colleges to consultation concerning the methods to be adopted for the training of school teachers in these subjects. A remarkable growth of total abstinence is reported to be taking place in connection with the Austrian Army and Navy. During the past few years a considerable number of men in certain regiments and on some of the ships of war, have aban- doned the use of alcoholic liquors, with the usual beneficial results. The Vienna correspondent of Die Alkoholfrage now states : — “ The movement against alcohol has extended among the “ officers of the Austrian Army to an extent little realised by tbe “ public at large. It has grown up, not in consequence of orders “ from above, but purely from the tactical needs of the service. “ As a rule, in all officers’ messes, only water is now drunk. If “ a visitor Is present a bottle of wine is placed before him, but “ the host remains true to his Temperance habit. In the Tyrol “ Imperial Jaegers and the Mountain Riffes, a large part of the “officers are total abstainers. The earlier Chief of the General “ Staff, General Baron von Hotzendorf, is an abstainer, and “ when dining with the German Emperor is said to have re- “ quested that he be given water as his drink.’’ At the third National .Anti-.Mcoholic Congress, representing the whole of the Austrian Temperance organisations, held at Salzburg in 1Q12, the Austrian War Office was not only officially represented, but the following announcement was made : — “ In view of the importance of the influence of the prevalent “ drinking customs on the physical capacity and discipline of “ the troops, officers and military officials are allowed to attend “ the sessions of the Congress.’’ The awakening of organised labour to the importance of the fight against alcohol as a factor, and an important factor, in their struggle for better economic conditions, has also reached Austria. Reports from all parts of the country agree that the labour leaders have discovered that the greatest hindrance to their efforts arises from the alcohol habit. Dr. Rudolph Wlassak, of Vienna, an abstaining social leader, calls alcohol “an Internal enemy,’’ in distinction to the external foe of an oppressive economic system. He declares that “ drinking to forget misery rivets the chains of misery-producing slavery because it is a waste of precious time and money that might otherwise be spent in organising to shake off the oppressive yoke, It creates indifference, which is the worst enemy to the 97 progress of the cause. The people need clear active brains, and alcohol makes them prematurely old and incapable.” Dr. Schacherl, another leader, declared to a large meeting of working men : ‘‘It is your duty to lead this battle against alcohol, and not only to fight against spirits but against the use of alcohol in any form, because it is a check to the labour move- ment and to culture.” A remarkable strike took place in igo8, occasioned by the Austrian brewers advancing the price of beer. The Labour organisations embraced the opportunity to declare a boycott. The result was that thousands of working men, especially among the mining regions of northern Austria, became total abstainers. They found they could work better without alcoholic liquors, which they had previously supposed were in- dispensable. They were able to buy better food and clothing. They spent their leisure time with their families, took excursions, and entered into other forms of healthful amusement, instead of sitting in the beer-houses swilling liquor, and allowing those dependent upon them to suffer. Large numbers of these people are reported to be holding fast to their new-found abstinence principle, though the boycott against the brewers has long since ceased. The question of the ratio of sickness to the alcohol habit has been engaging the attention of a number of Austrian scientific men, and some of their investigations have now been published. Dr. Hugo Deutsch, consulting physician of the General Work- ing-men’s Sick-relief Insurance Society, at Brunn, Austria, has grouped his material according to the average drink bill of the insured, into four groups, as follows: — ‘‘(i) Metal-workers, spending lo. i per cent, of their weekly wages; (2) Typesetters, spending 8.7 percent. ; (3) Other trades, spending 4.8 per cent. ; and (4) Textile workers, spending 4.8 per cent.” The examina- tion of ten years’ record yielded the following results : — ‘‘ The average number of cases per year of sickness for each ‘‘100 members was : — Metal-workers. Typesetters. Other trades. Textile workers. Cases per 100 86.6 52-7 50-7 45-7 .Sick days per year ... 14. 1 12.2 10. 1 9-9 Traceable to alcohol 2.27 1-95 1.47 1-31 Due to accident 3-67 0.87 1.23 1.07 Due to tuberculosis ... 1.87 2.94 1.82 2.21 Due to other diseases 6. 12 5-65 5-47 5-25 The strict parallelism between money spent for drink and ” disease is but twice broken — once in accidents to which type- ‘‘ setters are not much exposed, and once in consumption. With ” regard to the textile workers, they appear to be the best risk ‘‘ for sick-benefit insurance, because they drink less and have ” little sickness. ” H 98 Other investigators classified the persons who were un- able to work because of the sickness lasting three, six, and even eight months. They found that, out of every i,ooo persons observed, at every age there was a larger proportion of drinkers sick for three, six or eight months than of persons in the general class. The average of all ages was as follows: — “Drinkers: Three months, 26.7; six months, 6.0; eight months, 10.3. General Class: TTiree months, 7.4; six months, 4.4; and eight months, 5.4.” These figures speak for themselves, and testify that drinking does not lead to health, but to prolonged sickness, with the loss of w-ages and efficiency, which is of even greater value to the wage-earner. From a legislative standpoint things are moving very slowly. That they are moving is shown from the fact that the Govern- ment have adopted restrictive laws in reference to the sale of gin, and have prohibited the importation and sale of the spirit absinthe. The Minister for Trade in igii appointed a number of experts to consider and report respecting future Temperance legislation. The report was published in 1912, and the recom- mendations — in the main the work of Professor Dr. Eugen Schwiedland, are a great advance upon anything ever attempted in Austria to suppress alcoholism by legislation. The following are given as some of the chief recommendations : — “ A. Legislative Measures, (i) Taxation of home distilla- “ tion of spirits. (2) Prohibition of the sale of fermented and “ distilled liquors to any person under 18 years of age. (3) Legis- “ lative ordinances forbidding the assistance of the law in order “ to compel the payment of drinking-debts for intoxicating “ liquors, and declaring business arranged in public-houses shall “ not be legally binding. (4) Ordinances giving those having “ the funds of workmen’s insurance the right to expend a certain “ percentage of the income and to adopt effective measures in “ order to combat drinking. “ B. Administrative Measures, (i) The introduction of “ compulsory instruction, to be given at a suitable time and in a “ proper way, respecting the nature and effects of alcohol upon “ the system, in all seminaries for teachers, and also in all the “ Primary, Municipal, Technical, and Intermediate Schools. “ (2) Lectures to the men in the Army and Navy respecting “ drinking and the best means of combating the same. (3) Ad- “ ministrative support to the Temperance movement. (4) “ Restrictions in the granting of licences to public-houses, etc., “ and facilities given for the establishment of Temperance “ restaurants, people’s cafes, etc. (5) The opening of refresh- “ ment rooms at all railway stations for the sale of coffee, milk, “ and other non-alcoholic drinks. (6) The prohibition of the con- “ sumption of alcoholic liquors during all working hours by per- 99 “ sons in the service of the State, and the opening at all State “ working centres of rooms for the sale of coffee, milk, etc., and “ other refreshing, non-alcoholic drinks at cost price. (7) Ad- “ ministrative pressure in order to bring about an agreement “ between masters and workmen to prohibit the introduction of “ intoxicating liquors to factories, and other places of work. “ (8) A special licence to be required by all retailers of beer or “ spirits. (9) Prohibition of the sale of intoxicating liquors at “ places where workmen are paid their wages, from Saturday “ at 4 p.m., until Monday at 8 a.m., and that all liquor places “ shall be closed earlier on the day when wages are paid. (10) “ Preference shall be given to total abstainers for special employ- “ ment, such as miners, carriers, and sick nurses.” The Austro-Hungarian Monarchy consists of these two States and the Provinces of Bosnia and Herzegovinia. Each of these States has its own Constitution and Parliament. The total population in 1910 was over 51,000,000. Hungary. — The uprising against alcoholism is constantly breaking out in new and unexpected quarters, so that it is not surprising that at last Hungarians — especially the women — are organising to combat the evil. Several efforts have been made to rouse the people. As far back as 1837 Dr. Moses Rosenthal, of Pesth, gave an account of the work of Temperance Societies in the Vienna newspapers, and published a tract, ‘‘ De Abusu Alcoholicorum ” (On the Abuse of Alcoholics). Dr. P. Stein, Dr. A. Holitscher, Dr. Gustav Rossler, Dr. Emil Seigmund, and others have repeatedly raised their voices during recent years respecting the evils arising from alcoholic liquors. In 1900 Dr. Forel, from the Good Templars of Switzerland, visited several places in Hungary to interest the scientists of the country in the Temperance question, and in 1901 Miss Charlotte Gray and Miss Bonner held meetings In the capital, Budapest, which resulted in the organising of the first Good Templar Lodge. Since then a number of Good Templar Lodges have been formed, and a Grand Lodge for the country was instituted by the Hon. Edvard Wavrinsky, M.P. (Sweden) in June, 1907. Since then much agitation and educative work has been accomplished. The Tran- sylvanian Medical Association, consisting of the great body of medical men of the country, have repeatedly considered the ques- tion, and in 1907 adopted the following resolution, copies of which were ordered to be sent to the Government and others : — ” The Association recognises the fight against the alcohol ” calamity on health and social grounds as a significant matter. ‘‘ It therefore declares : (a) Abstinence does not contradict the ” requirements of a healthy conduct of life, (b) Alcohol is not ‘‘ an article of nourishment, because it is too poisonous for it to 100 “ be able to be taken in such quantities as would be of any “ service, (c) Alcohol gives no vigour or strength and does not “invigorate; it only numbs the feeling of exhaustion, and is “ therefore not capable of replacing powers used up by bodily “ or menial work. ’’ This declaration of the medical men has been most helpful, and the movement during the last few years has taken a great step forward. I' olio wing the doctors came a Government investigation, first in connection with the schools, and, second, with reference to the habits of the parents. This investigation was undertaken in 1908 by the Hungarian Educational Department under the Minister for Culture and Civilisation, “to inquire into the drink- ing of alcohol among school children and their parents.” Forms were issued to all the schoolmasters, heads of colleges, and all other educational institutions, requesting the following informa- tion : — (i) Is the boy (or girl) an abstainer; that is, does he abstain entirely from the consumption of alcoholic liquors? (2) If not, how much, and what alcoholic liquor does the boy (or girl) receive. (3) If he only takes alcoholic liquors occasionally, when, and how much? (4) Have his parents, his doctor, or who else first given him alcohol? (5) \\’hat effect has the consumption of alcohol by the pupil had on his (or her) learning or moral behaviour? A similar form was issued to every parent, or guardian, except the last question. The whole of the papers have been in the hands of the authorities for some considerable time, and it is stated that they are in the initial stages of completing a system of Temperance teaching for all the schools and other educational institutions throughout the country. M. Schuller says : “ The result of this investigation must cause the adoption of restrictive measures for the young.” In discussing this question at the Transylvanian-Saxon Teachers’ Conference in 1910, “What can the elementary schoolmaster contribute to the carrj'ing out of the official orders in reference to the fighting against alcoholism through the school?” the teachers came to the unanimous con- clusion that “ drastic action was essential at once. Long experience “ proves that the only effective cure for alcoholism is the “complete rooting out of alcohol. Teachers must therefore be “ total abstainers. Before this great duty all traditional con- “ siderations must be silent. The drinking custom cannot be “ justified even in its mildest form, since it is proved that it is “ precisely that which creates and constantly feeds alcoholism. As “ long as alcoholism is still a popular disease, we largely carrj’ on “ a ‘ Sisyphus work ’ — that is, rolling a huge boulder up the 101 “ hill which always falls back just as you reach the top. Remove “ alcoholism and the great stumbling block to progress will be “ gone. ” The general press of Hungary has not yet taken up the question, doubtless due somewhat to the money received for liquor advertisements, as in this and other countries the power of the liquor purse is still a great factor in preventing the ex- pression of popular opinion through the public press. There are two periodicals, Neal (Popular Health), edited by Dr. Henry Siegmund, and published at Mediasch, and the Transylvanian, edited by Professor Emil Wengeboren, and published at Her- maunstadt. These two papers are unique in opening their columns for Temperance essays, educational and aggressive. The Neal recently published an “ Appeal to the Clergy and Teachers of our National Church.” ‘‘ These, surely’” says the appeal, “ feel themselves bound ” not only by law, but as an intrinsic part of their professional ” duty to protect the people committed to their care from all ‘‘ things injurious to their culture and civilisation. The fight ‘‘ against alcoholism marks a region of work more definite than ” any other. It creates the right foundation and the sure success, ‘‘ but to secure progress knowledge of the goal is needed, and ‘‘a powerful organisation must come to the rescue. We are in ” the happy position of being able to name the goal, which is ” total abstinence and the abolition of alcohol, and to suggest an ‘‘organisation which could not be more suited for the work in ‘‘ hand. It is of foreign origin and growth, having been started ‘‘ in America, but lately introduced with much success in various ‘‘ European countries, including Germany. It has been studied ‘‘ carefully by us and tried with great success on our native soil. ‘‘The I.O.G.T. deserves the serious attention of our church in ‘‘ the highest degree, as it stands on a religious foundation and ‘‘ is uncommonly practical in all its arrangements, working on ‘‘ social intercourse, culture of mind, and a general improvement ‘‘ of character. The I.O.G.T. can only reach its high ideal if it ‘‘ obtains the warm-hearted and pedagogically trained workers ‘‘ to whom popular training is a life’s task and heart’s desire. ‘‘ Such are our clergy and teachers. We therefore expect that ‘‘ none of these will withhold their help when it means doing so ‘‘ much for our people at so little sacrifice.” The attitude taken by the women, both of high and low degree, in a number of Continental nations, is most encouraging. The missionary zeal of the W.W.C.T.U. is doing much for the uplift of womanhood, and results are being obtained which must mean much for the future of these nations. Hungarian women are bravely falling into line with their sisters ‘‘ over the border.” 102 In 1911 the famous Hung-arian actress, Frau Marie Jassai, who is President of the Abstinent Women’s Union in Budapest, pre- sented a petition to the Minister-President of the City Council, Count H^d^vary, urging that all drink shops should be closed from Saturday afternoon until Monday morning. In describing the harrowing conditions prevailing in the cities in Hungary, it is stated Frau Jassai completely broke down : “ The tragedy of the stage leaves her undisturbed ; the tragedies which the brewer and distiller cause were too much for her self-control.” This appeal was published in the general press of the country, and in some of the communities, with a view to limiting the consump- tion of alcoholic liquors, laws have been passed closing the public- houses on Sundays and holidays. In 1912 the following remarkable appeal was issued from Hungarian women — women who represent the elite of the Hun- garian aristocracy — the first name being that of the gifted daughter of the late King of the Belgians, while all the others are members of the most select circles in the country. The appeal itself is just such a one as might originate from any branch of the \\’. W.C.T.U. , or any Lodge of the I.O.G.T. It is thorough- going from the beginning to the end, and its publication must have far-reaching results in the agitation against alcoholism in Hungary and the bordering nations, and in whatever language or country it may be published. The following is a translation of this appeal : — .AfPEAL iiv THE Women of the Ho.ngarian .Vkistocract. ‘‘To the women of Hungary. We wish to put heart and ‘‘ life into the words with which we here address you. We wish ‘‘ that those who read them may have souls to understand the ‘‘greatness of the end which we pursue. We would that we ‘‘ might press to our hearts the mothers, the betrothed, the ‘‘children, in order to convince them that our cry comes with ‘‘ love from the depths of our being. Magyar women ! Realise ‘‘ the responsibility which the fight against alcoholism imposes ‘‘ on you, on your families, and on society. ‘‘ Remember the tears which secretly redden your eyes and ‘‘burden your hearts when you think of a father, a husband, ‘‘ a son, a fianc^ fallen to drink. This man holds you to him- ‘‘ self ; his fate is bound in yours. ‘‘ It is not the men chiefly who suffer from drink. It is the ‘‘ .souls and strength of the women which are worn down with ‘‘ this sorrow. Do you realise that alcohol engulfs not only the ‘‘ country and the nation, but all your happy, womanly hopes? ‘‘ Come to our help, Hungarian women ! Come from all ‘‘ parts of the land — poor and rich, happy and unhappy, women ‘‘ of station and of humble position, you whom alcohol has made lOo ‘ to weep you who know and feel your obligations to religion, ‘ to God, to your country, and to humanity yet unborn. “ VVe wish to uplift the coming generations, which not ‘ knowing alcohol will belong to a morally purer and more ‘ warm-hearted world. “ We seek the aid of all for this task. We trust that there ‘ may not be a single Hungarian woman who will not hearken ‘ to us. None shall be so humble in our eyes that we will not be ‘ grateful to see them join us ; none too high to have a right to ‘ look down on the work to which we invite you. “ We affectionately beg you suggest everywhere the idea ‘ of fighting alcohol. Make sentiment for it in high and low ‘ circles, for the odour of alcohol is found in both — in drawing- ‘ room and in cottage. Our social organism is sick. Our ‘ physical, moral, and economic forces are on the way to ‘ destruction. “ Above all, give no alcohol to your children and unselfishly ‘ aid the husbands of other women, the children of other ‘ mothers, the betrothed of other girls. “ Draw attention of mothers to the great danger which the ‘ medical prescription of wine to children entails. The theory ‘ that alcohol makes blood is long out of date. Let the words ‘ of Dr. David Faj^r be always present in our minds : ‘ A mouth- ‘ ful of bread produces more blood than a cask of wine.’ “ And we beg you earnestly and sincerely at the coming ‘ Easter festivities not to offer alcohol, but flowers, to the young ‘ people who take part in the traditional ceremonies. These ‘ young people are themselves the flowers of humanity, and ‘ alcohol kills flowers. It slays the health of the body and the ‘ purity of the soul, and opens the way to an infinity of evils. “ We pray you aid us in the holy war for the Sabbath which ‘ we have declared. Let Hungarian women be of one heart and ‘ one soul to demand — better still, to bring about — the closing ‘ of the drink-shops from Saturday afternoon to Monday ‘ morning. “ We demand of you, with deepest affection, women and ‘ pure-souled maidens, stand guard at the family door. Do not ‘ let a quibbling alcohol philosophy, so ready to excuse and ‘ tolerate the most evil things, enter. Join yourselves in the ‘ .Anti-Alcoholic Union. This will give you the right never to ‘ offer alcohol at your own board. “ Perhaps they will mock you. There are those whose ‘ spirits never rise to the height of a pure, moral idea. Perhaps ‘ the one near you will be irritated. Use all the resources of ‘ your feminine soul ; make appeal to the highest sentiments ; ‘ employ all your powers of charm and grace to deliver from “ the yoke of alcohol those who are dear to }'ou. “ We love to think, noble women, beloved daughters of “ Hungary, who have so well understood the words of our 104 “ hearts’ dictate, that we can with your aid give more poetry “ to life and permit society to develop in a truly harmonious “ way. “ We implore you, we appeal to you, we wait on you, tender “ mothers, troubled wives, betrothed maidens. (Signed) “ Stephanie, Countess Elemer Lonvay, Princess Royal of Bel- “ gium ; Princess Clovis de Hohenlohe, ne^ Countess de Majlath ; “ Countess Casky, Countess Apponyi, Countess Bissengen, “ Countess Dominique Teleki, Countess Alexandre Teleki, “ Baroness Balintett, Etelka Kamenytzky (President Women’s “Anti-Alcohol Union), and twenty others.’’ Julius de Vargha, D. Juris., Director of the Central Statisti- cal Office of Hungary, in “ Hungary of To-day,’’ edited by Percy Alden, M.P. , states: — “ In 1906 there were go breweries, which produce 1,690,000 “ hectolitres (22.01 gall.) of beer. In Hungary, however, the “ consumption of this beverage is not very general : consequently “ the output of the same cannot assume larger proportions, “ though we are obliged to import to satisfy the demands of “ home consumption. There were 67,076 spirit distilleries at “ work. Besides industrial and agricultural distilleries, there are “ numerous smaller stills used for the distillation of fruit spirits, “ grape wine, and settlings. In igo6 the pure spirit produced “ amounted to 1,039,000 metercentners. (220.46 lb) ’’. Dr. Imre Doczi, Official Reporter to the Alcoholic Commis- sion (Budapest), stated in 1909 that “ Most carefully prepared statistics, based upon the data “obtained by the Hungarian Government as to the drinking “ habits of all children under the age of eighteen in all the schools “ of all classes, both elementary, private, and public, showed “ that 20 per cent, are total abstainers.’’ M. Albert Schuller writes : — “ We execute difficult work here; nevertheless we push the “ movement forward, though often uphill, joyously and with “courage for the work, overcoming opposition with patience. “ Our little band is inspired, in fighting mood, with full trust “ in God; therefore we hope for the final victory. Our battle “cry is Ever Forward, Never Backward. In the name of “ the brothers and sisters in the beautiful land of Hungary, “ from our secluded home in the mountain-crowned Transylvania, “ we send best wishes for the greatest success for the welfare “and salvation of humanity.’’ With such men and women to lead the Temperance move- ment in its initial stages in any country, success is assured. So though the habits of the people, the laws of the State, and the wealth of the liquor traffic may be against them, these men and women will march steadily on to sure and certain victory. CHAPTER IX Poland “ The procedure of self-regeneration and self-development of labour by labour is affected in a most pitiful way by the production and the consumption of alcoholic liquors. Firstly, a great quantity of nutritive products of the soil is spoiled and destroyed by being changed into worthless, nay injurious, beverages, so that a great economic value is withdrawn which should have supported and strengthened the physical and mental powers of the nation. Secondly, the strength and health of many thousands of men employed in producing alcoholic liquors and selling them are lost to productive and useful work. So by the general use of alcohol we are wasting the products of nature, the strength of working people, and the income being the result of labour ; and we are hurting in a most fatal manner the very soul of economic life, the efforts of men to better their condition.’’ Dr. Adolf Daum, Vienna ( 1909 ). In Poland, whose decadence was due in no small measure lo alcoholism, there have been many recent attempts to secure deliverance from the curse of drink. Alcoholic liquors appear to have played an important part in the demoralisation of both soldiers and people. Dr. Gumptowicz, a prominent Pole, declares : — - “ Alcohol is the indispensable tool of Russian militarism. “ In his natural state the Russian soldier is rough, but good- “ natured ; it is through alcohol alone that he becomes a brute. “ All the cruel outrages which Russian soldiers perpetrated “ during igo6 at Warsaw, Lodz, and other Polish towns, often “ upon perfectly harmless people, had one unfailing preliminary. “ The soldiers were first of all plied with spirits by their officers, “ and were only let loose on the populace when they had become “half-drunk. In this condition they are capable of anything, “and the most inconceivable barbarities became everyday “ occurrences.” For many years the drunkenness of the people was appar- ently acquiesced in by the various Governments, for every obstacle was put in the way of organised effort to save the nation from alcoholism. During the past few years there has been an awakening of the people to their great danger, and Tem- perance societies have sprung up in many parts based upon the true principal of total abstinence. M. Tadensz Strumillo, of Cracow, Poland, says : — “ The Temperance movement in Poland is based on a “general patriotic and ethical elation. The work is chiefly 106 “ carried on privately. It has the support of the .\ulhoritie« “ only in Austrian Poland, and the organised propaganda has “ there made a considerable success. Temperance Societies in Russian Poland have only been permitted in recent years, and “ in German Poland the work has been much restricted by the “ general anti-Polish attitude of the German authorities.” The ill-effects of alcoholism and the beneficent results of total abstinence have become so well known that great progress is being made in many parts. Russian Poland. — In that portion of Poland which is under the Czar of Russia, a progressive Temperance movement broke out at the close of the great strike of 1906. In retaliation for the declared brutality of the Russian soldiers, the Socialist working men declared war against vodka. They attacked the spirit shops, not with a view to drinking the vodka, but to destroy it, and many thousands of gallons were thus poured into the gutter. ” Sobriety,” it was declared, ‘‘ must be the watchword of the social revolution,” and tens of thousands of workmen formed the decision to abstain from spirits and tobacco. The Radicals of the middle classes issued a leaflet calling upon the Polish nation to follow the example of ‘‘ their brothers, the working men.” During the past six years it is stated that hundreds of thousands of men who formerly cared about no movement but political revolutions and strikes, are now devoting the same active spirit of self-sacrifice to the total abstinence propaganda. So strong has the movement become that the Russian Government have permitted Temperance societies to be formed, which are labouring earnestly for the cause. Speak- ing generally of the whole of Poland, M. Tadensz Strumillo, of Cracow, Poland, says : ” During the last decennium, the use of alcohol has fallen from four to three pints (approximately) per head yearly. This fact shows that Poland is one of the most sober countries on the Continent.” By meetings and the distri- bution of literature the movement is being spread by an en- thusiastic and well-informed body of men and women determined, if possible, to save their country from the dire effects of alcoholism. Austrian Poland — Galicia — contains a population of about nine millions, consisting of Poles, Ruthenians, Jews, and Ger- mans. It is not yet ten years since the first total abstinence society was organised in this country, but wonderful progress has been made during these few years. The principal organisa- tion is called ‘‘The Eluteria. ” The promoters of this society declare ‘‘ that it is not possible to prosecute successfully any great national movement except upon a basis of sobriety. Eluteria, therefore, is not applied Christianity, but applied patriotism.” This society is not permitted either in Russian or German Poland, but in Austrian Poland it has been taken hold of most enthusiastically. Eluteria circles have been formed for boys and girls, university students, medical men, lawyers, clergy- men, farmers, and working men. It is stated ‘‘ the women of Galicia do not use intoxicating liquors as a rule, and they have exerted good influence both by precept and example upon their husbands and all the sterner sex.” For six years the movement was almost wholly confined to organisation and educative work, but in the seventh year it was determined to make an effort in connection with legislation. ‘‘ This new feature first manifested itself in villages, whose men were nominated for office and sup- ported, because they understood the importance of total absti- nence, and because they pledged themselves before election to promote the cause.” In the eighth year the Eluteria made an attack upon the larger political areas in the cities. ‘‘ Candi- dates for burgomasters and other positions who were either abstainers themselves or who solemnly promised to support Temperance, were put in the field, and many were elected.” In the ninth year the elections for the provincial diet took place, and the Eluteria held mass meetings and conventions in different parts of the kingdom ‘‘ to develop a spirit in favour of the election of deputies who would stand for total abstinence and for Tem- perance legislation.” Galicia being an autonomous province, much has been gained by securing a strong total abstinence party in the provincial diet. Temperance education has been secured, improved restrictive legislation against the liquor bars has been adopted, and in many other ways the question has been brought before the authorities, to the advantage and sobriety of the people. Dr. B. Gerzabek, a native of Cracow, Poland, but now of Canada, stated in igiz : — ” The Polish political parties in Galicia, and there are no ‘‘ less than twenty of them, all court the Eluteria, and they leave ” no opportunity for criticism to suggest that they arc ‘‘ obscurantists, or that they would hinder the work of remov- ‘‘ ing public ignorance. Moreover, they are very anxious ” to receive the advantage; that comes from the moral ‘‘ enthusiasm and patriotic fervour of the Eluteria. As ” a result, many deputies have been elected from the ‘‘ ranks of Eluteria, and the discussion has been transferred ‘‘ to the legislative chambers by earnest patriotic men. Great ” advantage has come by the co-operation of legislative enact- ‘‘ ment with moral teaching and patriotic impulse. So far the ‘‘ chief attack has been made upon the drinking place, or bar- 108 “ room as U is called in Canada. W'ithin a year no less than “ twelve thousand bars have been closed, and this leaves 1,445 “ districts entirely free from the bar-rooms. The licences brought “ the provincial Government over three and a half millions of “ dollars a year (;^yoo,ooo), and this means an enormous de- “ crease in the revenue, but the people are quite wnlling to make “ up the difference in direct taxation that they may be free from “ the curse of drink, and they are that much the better able to “ pay the taxes. There are still over nine thousand bar-rooms “ left in the kingdom, and plenty of work and worry for the “Eluteria to complete the campaign, and rid the whole country “ of the temptation to drink.” Among the many advantages secured by the agitation and legislation. Dr. Gerzabek states : — ‘‘ One of the finest reforms achieved is connected with the ‘‘ educational system of the country, and high hopes are enter- ‘‘ tained for the future when these younger people come into ” citizenship. Apart from the voluntary associations of the ” society, the school law provides for the teaching of the ‘‘ physical effects of alcohol. The younger children are taught “ simple lessons from charts, and the higher classes from text ‘‘ books, but all students in the State schools and universities, “ from the third form up, are instructed as to the nature of ‘‘ alcohol and its influence upon the human system. ‘‘ But the reform, as far as it has gone, has splendidly sus- ‘‘ tained the claims of its advocates. The savings of the people ‘‘ and the deposits in the banks have greatly increased. The ‘‘ prisons are losing their inmates, and crimes, particularly those ‘‘against the person, have greatly decreased. Even the insane ‘‘ asylums, which were crowded, with loud calls for increased ‘‘ accommodation, are now found to be large enough and room ‘‘ to spare. These advantages are due, not to any one feature ‘‘ of the movement, but to a combination of them all. The clergy- ‘‘ men testify to a marked improvement in the morals of the ‘‘ people, and to greater liberality in the support of charities and ‘‘ churches. That important aim of Eluteria to develop a ‘‘ national spirit and to increase the potency and power of the “ Polish race is being attained. The Polish parliamentary' club ‘‘ in Vienna, the imperial capital, has recognised this and turned ‘‘it to good account in their diplomatic relationship with the ‘‘ premiers and cabinets of the Empire.” At the present time some seven thousand circles of the Eluteria have been formed, and Dr. Gerzabek says : — ‘‘ Eighty per cent, of the people at least have been suffici- ‘‘ ently educated upon this question to understand that alcohol ‘‘is an enemy of the human organism, injurious to health and ‘‘ shortening life. They have learned that it is a great foe to 109 “ morals, and is a hindrance to industrial progress, and they “ have also learned that it is a political evil, and that as long as “ it remains with the protection of government it will corrupt “ politicians and political organisations and hinder freedom. “ There is no village so small, but it has its own circle, whose “ members by their own conduct, as well as by their speeches and “ demonstrations, are exerting beneficent influences upon their “ fellows. “Teachers must be total abstainers, and all teachers who “ have qualified in recent years must be members of the Temper- “ ance association, and are asked to present their Eluteria certifi- “ cates of membership when applying for positions. “The circles of professional men have been particularly “ enterprising in the way of scientific research, and more than “ four hundred physicians of the Eluteria have special organisa- “ tion for investigating the physical effect of alcohol. There is “ also a special group of three hundred and fifty lawyers collabo- “ rating with respect to legislation. Nearly all the brotherhoods “ and charity associations have adopted the Eluteria basis and “affiliated with the association, and also many sporting clubs. “ The most prominent archbishops, bishops, and priests are “ leaders in the movement, and teach from the pulpits of the “churches as well as giving public addresses on secular occa- “ sions. ” Dr. Gerzabek concluded his wonderful statement by saying : — “ Of course, we are not so optimistic as to expect that in a “ few years all the Polish people will be drawn into the circles “ of Eluteria and become total abstainers. We are still far away “ from the ideal, and there is great work ahead of us to be done, “ but we are encouraged by the progress made and we believe “ that the movement will proceed with increasing power and “ accelerating speed. “ Some neighbouring people were more enterprising in “ taking up this reform, and they have carried it to greater “ successes. In Finland, for example, one may travel for days, “ visiting many towns and cities, and not find a single place “ where liquor is sold. The moral and educative work in that “ country has been carried to great achievement, and the diet or “ parliament has repeatedly, by large majorities, declared for “ total prohibition, and that would be the law in Finland to-day “ but for the interference of the Russian overlord, for Russia is “hungry for the revenue that comes from the sales of vodka, “even though it may destroy the health and morals and pros- “ perity of the people. While Galicia may not measure up with “ such progress, we have reason to be proud of the movement “ for total abstinence and the splendid results already attained.’’ CHAPTER X The Netherlands, Belgium, and France “ Greed of wealth, demoralisation, political indifference, and the weaken- ing of the social conscience, have to-day allowed alcoholism to spread terribly. This is why the number of the alcoholic insane has grown so fear- fully. Society is full of persons soaked to the very marrow with alcohol, either pure or adulterated Alcohol intermingles with the public and private life of most persons. Such habits cause derangements which alarm those of the clearest vision. There seems no more hopeful cure than the voluntary giving up of this brain poison. There is no means of general safety of greater value than the entire Prohibition of the liquor traffic. United efforts are justly directed against such poisons as lead and phosphorus, substances far less dangerous, with a view to their prohibition. With far more reason should similar efforts be put forth against alcohol. To refrain from doing this would be a distinct sign that we mean to bow before the modem deity. Mammon." — Dr. Le^ain, the eminent Alienist, Paris ( 1909). It is gratifying to know that in all the spirit, wine and beer producing countries, the Temperance cause is making headway against the scourge of alcoholism, which curses these nations perhaps more than any others. A number of good men and women, having the welfare of their fellows at heart, have organised a real live movement for total abstinence, and there is every prospect of some legislative action against the liquor traffic in the near future. In the Netherlands, the Prohibition of the importation, manufacture and sale of the spirit absinthe was adopted in igog, and the test Local \’eto plebiscites, commenced in igio have been continued with satisfactory results. In Belgium, the prohibition of the spirit absinthe, and the attitude of the labour leaders in the recent great political strike, have been real gains for the cause. In France, the Absinthe Prohibition Bill is being pressed forward by a group of Parliamentarians and Temperance workers with much vigour, but the power of the saloon-keepers, who are stated to number more than half a million, is at present almost omnipotent. The deplorable results of alcoholism in France are seen in the enormous amount of pauperism, crime, insanity, suicides, deaths from violence, etc., while the statistics continue to show that the birth rate is considerably below the death rate. Every authority attributes these evils, in the main, to the great con- sumption of alcohol. The Netherlands. — Up to i8gi there was no restriction whatever upon the sale of intoxicating liquors, other than a tax Ill or duty. In that year a new law was passed which regulated the retail sale of spirits, and limited the number of licences to the number of inhabitants in all the towns and cities throughout the country. The number was fixed as follows : — In cities of 50,000 and over, one licence for each 500 inhabitants ; over 20,000 to 50,000, one for each 400; 10,000 to 20,000, one for each 300; and in all other places, one for each 250. This may seem a very small measure of reform now, but at the time it was passed it was a great step in advance, for in most places there were more than double the number of licences allowed, and great difficulty arose in reducing the number. New licences were refused to every person to whom a licence was not issued before 1881. Those who had licences in 1881 were allowed to have them only on condition that they paid duty according to the value of the licence and sale together with cer- tain restraint in respect of any other profession the licensee might be following. Large numbers of innkeepers gave up the sale of strong drinks and this brought the number of licences within a measurable distance of that fixed by Jaw. The reduction in the number, together with a growing Temperance sentiment among the people appears to be accountable for the fact that during the thirty years since 1881, the consumption of spirits has diminished from 9.38 litres per head to 5.19 litres. During the first part of 1904 the Dutch Parliament had under consideration the revision of the Act of 1881. Several amend- ments were proposed but the representatives of the liquor traffic in Parliament so strongly opposed them that they were rejected. The Temperance Representatives succeeded in carrying an amendment prohibiting the “ sale of whisky, gin, brandy, and all other forms of spirits at the railway stations and on the steamers.” Other liquors less alcoholic such as wine, beer, etc., were exempt from this prohibition. Another amendment which was carried was that all local councils were given power at the end of every fifth year to petition the crown for a reduction of the maximum number of licences issued in their districts, and to prevent the issuing of new licences. The councils were also given power to determine that in certain streets no licences for the sale of intoxicating liquors should be granted. Strong efforts are being put forward to educate the people so that they will adopt the principle of total abstinence and obtain the power of Local Veto for the suppressing of the sale of alcoholic liquors. WitJi a view to testing the opinion of the people on the question of the continuance or prohibition of the liquor traffic unofficial contests have been held in several towns and electoral divisions. In these 112 contests an overwhelming majority has been recorded in favour of complete prohibition. The following figures are examples of these test votes : — Town Unrestricted sale. For the Status Quo. For Reduction. For Prohibitum. Dinxperdo . ... 8 88 i6g 418 Smallingerland 114 801 1.059 3.642 Schoterland 809 4,948 4,016 13.711 Menaldumadeel 63 483 726 4.178 Franehe ■ 51 198 442 2,869 Totals ... 1,045 6,518 6,412 24,818 Altogether some 76,234 votes have been recorded in con- nection with these contests showing 3 per cent., in favour of un- restricted sale; 15 per cent, for the Status Quo; 20 percent. , for Reduction; and 62 percent., for entire Prohibition. The lowest percentage of those voting for Prohibition was 44, and the highest 80. The great gathering at the Hague in 1911 of the Inter- national Prohibition Confederation, at which about half the nations of the world were represented, and the International Anti-Alcoholic Congress, with its large representation from the various Governments of the world, did much to lift the move- ment in this country. The annual gatherings of the “ Nether- lands Association for the .Abolition of Alcoholic Liquors ” is attended by hundreds of men and women from all parts of the country, and under the presidency of Mr. P. Van der Meulen, and an able Executive Committee, it is doing great things for the advancement of the Prohibition movement. There are also a number of active total abstinence societies, and the Good Tem- plar Order has become large enough to have its Grand Lodge. The number of Dutch total abstaining members of societies is reported to be over 12,000. Her Majesty Queen Wilhelmina gave the .■\nti-.Alcoholic Congress her support, and officially invited all the other Governments to send official representatives to the Congress. The population in 1912 was nearly 6,000,000. Belgium. — A few years ago there was hardly a ray of brightness in the Temperance outlook in Belgium. The liquor- sellers appeared to be the masters of the country. The position in 1910 was very dark indeed, but, in the short space of three years some wonderful changes have taken place. Madam Laveleys stated to the writer : — “ I should like our Temperance friends in other countries “ to realise the loneliness of the total abstainers in Belgium, “ and the need our country has to be enlightened on better 113 “ hygienic rules. Belgian total abstainers belonging to the “ cultured classes are so rare that one might almost count them “ on the ten fingers. Thus some of our anti-alcoholic societies “ are led by moderate drinkers. It is of the utmost importance “ that outsiders should come to us to plead for total abstinence, “ and to tell the people that in other countries there are numbers “ of educated men and women who are total abstainers because “ they love their health, and because they love their neighbours.” Then Madame Keelhoff also sent to the writer the following statement : — ‘‘ It is with the deepest sorrow that I have to give you the ‘‘ following bad account of my own country. We have 220,000 “ places where intoxicating liquors can be obtained, and in ‘‘ addition, beer and wine are sold by all the confectioners, and “ gin and beer by all fruiterers. There is no less than one ” drinking place for every eight men. The Belgian drinks the ‘‘ most beer of any nation in Europe. The total amount of ‘‘ intoxicating liquors consumed by each Belgian is 220 litres. “ The Government is indifferent to the question of alcoholism, ” and the rich will not hear anything about the fight against ‘‘ alcohol. The movement in Belgium is quite in Its infancy.” In a powerful address delivered at Liege, Belgium, in December, 1909, Cardinal Mercier, the Catholic Primate of Belgium, made this declaration : — ‘‘ The drink bill of Belgium has now reached an enormous “ sum. What a joy it would be if we could have half of this ‘‘ for insuring our workmen an honourable old age pension. The ” proportion of alcoholics among those condemned for crime in ‘‘ Belgium in 1895 was 45 per cent., in later years it has reached ‘‘ 50 per cent., while amongst the worst criminals the total pro- ‘‘ portion of alcoholics was 44 per cent. Educate public opinion ‘‘ and prepare the way for the intervention of the law, is the ” task of all physicians, magistrates, priests, publicists, fathers ‘‘ and mothers, young men and young women.” On Sunday, June 26th, 1910, the King of the Belgians attended an anti-alcoholic demonstration, and is reported to have listened with deep attention to an eloquent address by Cardinal Mercier, and also to one from the great French barrister, M. Henri Robert, who said after the gathering : ‘‘The King by his presence has done more for the popularisation of teetotalism than the most eloquent speeches.” Thus the matter stood in 1910 — a few, but able and determined, men and women were pressing the question upon the attention of all classes, with apparently little result. In three years a wonderful change has taken place. The Good Templar Order has taken root in the country. From the one weak Lodge in Antwerp, which was organised and lovinglv 1 114 attended to for many years by Miss Charlotte Gray, the Order has extended to Brussels, and other places, and a flourishing District Lodge has been formed. The W.W.C.T.U. has grown in strength and numbers, while other societies have sprung up to fight the curse of alcohol. In January, 1913, it was reported that all the Temperance societies and groups, without regard to party or belief, had federated into a national society with the title of the National Anti-Alcohol Committee. This is a step in the right direction, and by amalgamated efforts will be the means of doing much to spread the cause throughout the country. In the latter part of 1912 the Socialists of Belgium deter- mined on a general strike with a view to forcing the Govern- ment to grant universal suffrage. In a preliminary manifesto issued to the working men and women, the leaders stated : — “ Such an undertaking demands all the resources of the “ Belgian proletariat, and as the accumulations of trades unions “ are likely soon to run short, personal economy must be counted “ upon. One can, at least, immediately cut off the tribute fund “to the government in the form of alcoholic liquors, .^.ccord- “ ing to the statistical year-book for 1912 these taxes were for “ Belgium during the fiscal year, no less than eighty million “ francs, and of this amount the working class has contributed “ perhaps three-fourths. And these sixty millions represent only “ the share taken by the State. The profits of the manufacturers “ and sellers are not included. Here is a lever to set in motion, “ if money is to be gotten together for winning the suffrage. “The word must go forth: ‘Save in your expenditure for “ alcoholic liquors and for amusements.’ For in the impending “ general strike not only is the suffrage to be won, but the organ- “ ising capacity of the working-class strengthened, proletarian “ solidarity intensified, and the moral condition of the people “ raised. ’’ The strike commenced on April 14th, 1913, and lasted for over a week, about 500,000 men and women left their em- ployment, so that practically the whole of the factories, mines, etc., were idle. Great disturbances were expected, and the military were under orders the whole time the strike lasted. Strange to say that owing to the abstinence of the workers, the most perfect order was observed from the commencement of the strike to its close. The Brussels correspondent of the Daily Mirror, a London illustrated newspaper, wrote on .A.pril 20th, 1913 “ The most wonderful feature of the strike is its teetotalism. “ Belgium has the unenviable record of heading the consumption “ per head in Europe of alcohol, both in beer and spirits. Yet “ the strike organisers have succeeded in inducing the strikers 115 “ to become, for the time being, teetotalers, and at the various “ strike headquarters I have only seen coffee and milk drunk. “ This has had so severe an effect on the takings of drink estab- “ lishments that in various bars in the working-class quarters “it is announced that there will be special ‘ strike glasses ’ of “ beer at a halfpenny a time.” Similar testimony was given by all the leading daily news- papers in every capital in Europe, under such headings as “Teetotal Strike Goes On,” or “The Workers of Belgium Fighting without Drink. ” It is too early yet to state what effect this remarkable abstinence movement will have upon the general Temperance cause in Belgium, but the testimony of many is that the working men, especially the leaders, are beginning to realise that the liquor interest is blocking the way to all economic, material and moral progress, and must therefore be opposed. The population of Belgium in igio was nearly 7,500,000, and a number of members of its Chamber of Representatives are active Temperance reformers. France. — From one of the most sober, France has become the most alcoholic nation in Europe. “ In sixty years,” says Deputy Joseph Reinach, “ the nation’s consumption of alcohol has increased nearly six times. The amount taxed, according to the statistics for 1911, is equivalent to nearly 4,000,000 hecto- litres of brandy. This great increase in alcoholism is due to the complete liberty of the sale of spirits. While England has one licensed house to every 430 inhabitants, Sweden one to every 5,000, and Norway one to every g,ooo, France has one to every 82, or one to every 25 or 30 adults.” To the appalling spread of alcoholism M. Reinach attributes the increase in the number of suicides, which has almost trebled in the last fifty years ; mad- ness, which in thirty years has nearly doubled, and tuberculosis, which now carries off 150,000 victims every year. The enormous extension in crime is also proved, by the statistics of the Ministry of Justice, to be principally due to the drink curse. He points out that the most deadly enemy to the drunkard is absinthe, of which France consumes more than all the rest of the world put together, and recalls the fact that in 1903 the Academy of Medicine of France unanimously demanded the total suppression of all liquors composed of alcohol and natural and artificial essences. The cultivation of the vine and the production of wine is strangely declared by the wine-growers to be an antidote to spirit-drinking, and the French Government — under the political power of the wine-growers — has taken all duty off French wines 116 with a view to increasing their consumption and lessening the consumption of spirits. While there has been a great increase in the consumption of wine there has been no reduction in the con- sumption of spirits. The wine-producers also distil hundreds of millions of hectolitres of spirits which escape the payment of duty. 7 'his amount of spirits is largely consumed by the wine- growers and their families and is paid to the work-people as part of their wages. The reports of the Commissions in favour of drastic action, the declarations of statesmen and leading men of all professions, together with the appeals from scientific societies, are practically set at naught, because of the electoral power of the liquor interest. Dr. Bertillon, head of the Municipal Statistical De- partment, states: “There are 1,378,000 distillers in France”; while it is also stated that the number of wine-growers must be considerably more. In Paris alone there are over 30,000 places opened for the sale of intoxicating liquors. Several attempts have been made during the past few years to get some legislation through the Senate and Chamber of Deputies, but unlike almost every other country in Europe, the Upper House has been more desirous of passing some measure to curtail the evils, than the more representative Chamber of Deputies. M. Reinach, the leader of the anti-alcoholic party in the Chamber of Deputies, has made several efforts to secure the prohibition of the spirit absinthe ; to limit the number of liquor saloons to not more than one to every 200 of the population ; and to prohibit the opening of any further places for the sale of alcoholic liquors. M. Briand and his government supported the efforts of M. Reinach, but were defeated in the Chamber. The Premier said — “The Government views the situation with alarm; it is “ terrible, and it is a question of national interest, for the very “ life of the nation is at stake.” Having failed in the Chamber, the Temperance friends ap- pealed to the Senate, and M. Jules Guerin, ex-Minister of Justice, introduced a Bill into the session of 1910-11, a most moderate Bill for reducing the number of liquor saloons. The Bill was supported by the Government, by M. Meline, the ex- Premier, and others, but met with the most determined oppo- sition from those engaged in the liquor traffic. The Paris correspondent of the Dundee Advertiser stated : — “ Telegrams and letters, many couched in the most un- “ parliamentary of French language, from proprietors of debits “ (liquor saloons) throughout the country, poured in upon the “ Senators every day, threatening them with all kinds of electoral “pains and penalties if they passed the Bill.’’ In spite of all this opposition the Bill passed through the Senate by a vote of 137 against 132 — a narrow majority of five, but failed to pass the Chamber, and has therefore been lost. .^t the Presidential election in 1913, the question of the liquor traflic was raised by Mile. Marie Denizard, a most capable and courageous woman who aspired to become the first woman President of the French Republic. Mile. Denizard has several times been a candidate at legislative and municipal elections in her native Department of the Somme, where she enjoys a considerable amount of popularity among her fellow- citizens of Amiens, and if it had rested with them to make her President there is no doubt but that she would have been elected. In all her contests Mile. Denizard placed the liquor question in the very forefront of her political or municipal pro- gramme. When interviewed in reference to her candidature for the Presidency she said : — “ There is nothing in the laws of France to prevent me “ standing as a candidate for the Presidency of the Republic, “ and, as I intend sending my voting bulletin to every Deputy “ and Senator in France before the election day, it will not be “ necessary for me to appear in person at Versailles on January “ 17th. “If I were successful at the election 1 should begin by “ giving women equal political rights with men. Then I should “ abolish threequarters of the existing liquor sellers. ITiese are “ the greatest plague of the Republic, morally, socially, and “ from every point of view of individual hygiene and national “ welfare. Having done that much, I think I should have “earned the gratitude of my country and might then retire into ‘ ‘ privacy again. ’’ Needless to say. Mile. Denziard was not elected, but her programme was widely published and must have arrested the attention of many well-wishers of their country. The new President, M. Poincar6, is stated by the foreign press to be favourable to Temperance reform, and when he was Minister of Education he addressed a circular to the Prefets suggesting the teaching of the real effects of alcohol to the children in the public schools. M. Poincare was also the author of the Municipal placard against alcoholism. The following is from the London Daily CUizen : — “ M. Lafqnt, the well-known Socialist barrister, expressed “the opinon at the last congress of the French Socialist Party “ at Lyons, that it was of the utmost importance to the cause of US “ the workers that the crusade against alcoholism should be “ actively supported. At that time he was a private citizen, “ who could only offer moral support to the cause, but since then “ he has been appointed Mayor of Firminy, and it is interesting “ to observe that he has not gone back upon his opinions, but “ has made a strong stand in his official capacity against the “ drink traffic. |ie has just been instrumental in framing regu- “ lations to control the sale of liquor in the town. According to “ these new by-laws the sale of intoxicants will not be per- “ mitted in premises within a stated distance of a public institu- “ tion or establishment, such as schools and barracks, and to “ enable the police to see that the regulation against selling “ drink to children is not violated all licensed premises are for- “ bidden the use of opaque window panes or casement curtains “ and blinds. The saloon-keepers, naturally, are up in arms “against the action of the municipal Council, but the law “ authorities hold that the framing of such by-laws is quite within “ the province of the mayor and corporation. However, the “ saloon-keepers intend to appeal to the courts for a ruling, and “ they are being backed up by a section of the press which refers “ to the action of M. Lafont as a glimpse of ‘ liberty under “Socialism.’ Meanwhile, the new by-laws, it is said, are ap- “ proved of by the majority of the citizens of Firminy.’’ The work of Mr. Lafont is of great importance. His article on the Law of 1880 gave power to the Mayors to prohibit the opening of new public-houses or drink shops within a certain distance of churches, hospitals, schools, etc. At present only 15 out of 36,000 communal districts have applied the law but with greater knowledge and with the power given to the Mayors by the Senate in 1913 it is expected that others, especially in country districts, will adopt this prohibition. France is not to be permitted to go to destruction without knowledge. Her leading scientists are speaking out against alcohol with no uncertain voice, and some of these statements are worth placing on record. M. Bourgeois, ex-Premier, declares : — “ This scourge of drink has a permanent place in all our “ social miseries. We meet it everywhere. It hides itself behind “ tuberculosis, in madness, in crime, and it is always at the “ bottom of all our evils, of all our degeneracies. It is the chief “ enemy of the race.’’ Dr. Jacques Bertillon says : — “ Are you fighting tuberculosis? .-Mcohol appears to be the “ most deadly cause of the weakening of the organism in pre- “ paration for tuberculosis. It is the master cause. .\11 other “causes disappear in comparison." 119 Dr. Roubinovitch, of the Salpetriere, says : — “ They talk about the great scourge, tuberculosis, which “ decimates France and ordains her decay. The greatest “ scourge, however, is alcoholism. It is this which gives up the “ key to the house and permits the sacking. There is no more “ burning question than the battle against alcohol, the cause of “all other scourges.’’ Dr. Landouzy says : — “ Alcohol prepares the bed for tuber- culosis’’; and M. Mirman, Director of Charities and Public Hygiene, in a- report to the Minister of State on the sanitary condition of. France from 1906 to 1910, says: — “ It is not only in the domain of tuberculosis that alcoholism “exercises its disastrous influence. There are the deaths that “ are due to alcohol directly through inheritance, among which “ are 27,320 deaths from violence, 7,395 from liver cirrhosis, “ 22,719 registered under congenital debility or malformation, “ and those ‘ other causes.’ ’’ Dr. Th. Becker says : — “ French figures show regularly a recurring increase in the “ crimes of personal violence at the time of the wine-making “ season. ’’ The problem of alcoholism in the French Army is one that is ever before the authorities. Some few years ago it was stated that at least thirty per cent, of those entering the army were incapable of service owing to the effect of alcohol. In 1900 General Gallifet issued an order prohibiting the sale of spirits at any army canteen, wine alone being permitted. It was thought that the army could be made sober by the drinking of wine, but this has been demonstrated to be absolutely incorrect. It is not surprising, therefore, to find that the Military Authori- ties continue to bring up for discussion the question of alcoholism in the army, and to emphasise its connection with the crime, insanity, and tuberculosis in the enlisted men. At a Medical Congress held at Nantes, in 1909, Professor Regis, of Bordeau, said : — “ I believe it will not be useless, while we are discussing “ to-day the question of insanity in the army, to call again the “ particular attention of the authorities to alcoholism, which, in “ spite of the measures already taken, remain none the less one “ of the most powerful factors in the production and aggrava- “ tion of insanity, as well as of criminality, among the soldiers.’’ With a view to reducing the evils of alcoholism in the army the authorities have erected, or opened, in connection with all the Posts, reading and writing rooms for the men. Provision has also been made for the selling of tea, coffee, and other non- 120 alcoholic drinks, but alas ! French wine drinking is still con- tinued. The Good Templar Order, which for years had only one small Lodge in Paris, founded by Miss Charlotte Gray, during 1912 opened a number of Lodges in Paris and other places. By the end of the year the Order had become so strong in members and Lodges that a Grand Lodge was formed for the whole country and bids fair to become a power in the fight against alcoholism. The Blue Cross, and other Societies, are also doing some effective work, and one Roman Catholic Total Abstinence Society has also been established. The French Roman Catholic clergy, alarmed at the enormous evils resulting from alcohol, are beginning to stir themselves. Bishop Turinaz of Nancy has issued a number of pastorals to all the diocesan clergy, request- ing them to bring the matter before their congregations. Bishop Latty, the Abbe Ract, the Abbe Gibier, and others, have issued appeals to the people against alcoholism. Bishop Latty has also introduced Temperance instruction into his schools and con- firmation classes. The head of the French Republic is a President. He is elected by a National Assembly, consisting of the members of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, and holds the position for seven years. Tire Senate consists of 300 members elected by an indirect vote for nine years ; a third retire every three years. The Chamber consists of 597 Deputies, elected by universal male suffrage, for four years. Very few of the members of either House are known to be total abstainers, but 91 members of the Senate and over 100 members of the Chamber are stated to be members of the Anti-Alcoholic League. CHAPTER XI Sp2dn and Portugal “ I feel compelled to join in the fight against alcoholism and its terrible results because 1 consider the theme to be of the very greatest and highest importance to social sanitation and national welfare. The fearful con- sequences that alcohol produces upon the human race demands the most complete organisation for its suppression. The fact that alcohol is a poison and its general use evil is a justification for the adoption of total abstinence for the individual and prohibition for the nation." Dr. Federico Montaldo, Chief Medical Officer of the Spanish Navy {1911). The outstanding achievements in connection with the Tem- perance movement on the Continent of Europe is the declaration by a large number of scientific men and leaders of public opinion that the supposed benefits of alcoholic liquors is now a thing of the past. The wine growing countries — the very paradise of the vintner and the vendor of intoxicating liquors — have been in- vaded, and the principles of total abstinence and prohibition are being advocated with great ability, energy and determination. And amid the denunciations of those financially interested in the liquor traffic, the evils of alcohol are being clearly demonstrated, to the amazement of millions of people who have been led to believe that alcohol was the very elixir of life. In Spain an Anti- .■\lcoholic League was formed in April, 1911, and although largely working, at present, among the educated and professional classes, is making itself felt in many directions. In Portugal a National Temperance League was formed in November, 1913, with a dual basis. Spain. — In Spain there is practically free trade in liquor, except in a few townships, with a population of less than 1,000, that have availed themselves of the option of undertaking the municipal sale of intoxicants. In these few places the manu- facturers are entitled to run one saloon, but no one else is allowed to compete with the municipal liquor shops. There are heavy duties upon all imported foreign wines and spirits, and all Spanish made spirits are also heavily taxed. All shops, in- cluding taverns, pay an annual fee to the national exchequer, and a local tax is levied upon a number of articles entering the town, including until recently all kinds of intoxicating liquors. About two years ago the duties on brandy and spirits were largely increased, but the consumo (the equivalent of the French octroi duties) on native wine on entering a town or city was dis- continued. The loss of revenue being replaced by a new tax on railway tickets. Tliis mistaken legislation founded on the de- 122 lusion that wine drinking is innocuous, has caused drunkenness, notably in Seville, to increase by leaps and bounds. The Gov- ernment no doubt honestly believed that they were legislating in favour of Temperance, and were confirmed in this belief by the opposition of the liquor sellers. In consequence of this legislation it is now impossible to ascertain the quantity of wine drunk in any given district. Previ- ously statistics more or less reliable, were available that proved conclusively the connection between drink and crime, a con- nection that some deny to exist in the Latin nations. Don Jimenez Aacarate, in his work on “ Crime in Asturias,” show's that in five townships where a large quantity of wine was drunk the amount of crime was much greater than in the five townstiips in the same province where the amount consumed was small. Again, he shows that in the fourteen years ending 1897 the con- sumption of liquor increased by 80 per cent., and that crime in the same period increased 58 per cent. From the statistics he gives, it appears that in one district where 137 taverns were opened there were in one year 289 cases of serious crime. Later when the taverns only numbered 87 the cases of crime dropped to 182, showing a reduction of 37 per cent., in both cause and effect. When a man decides to sell intoxicants he simply hangs the branch of a pine tree over the door of his shop. He pays no special licence fee, and, with the exception of a few' of the larger cities like Madrid there are no restrictions in regard to the hours of sale. In the smaller towns, the .-Alcalde can regulate the hours of sale, but he rarely if ever exercises this power, and is often him- self found drinking into the small hours of the morning. The livelihood of the tavern-keeper seldom depends entirely upon the sale of intoxicants. He often sells groceries and in some parts of Spain generally possesses more or less land, when he sometimes makes his wine from his own grapes, selling in addition a small quantity of brandy, and in the seaports rum and beer. \'ery little common wine is sold in the cafes, where the principal liquor con- sumed is brandy, both alone and mixed with the coffee, .\lmost all the drunkenness, however, is caused by the wine-drinking in the tavern. In the Aragonese provinces where there are very few land- owners, there is much less drunkenness than in those of Valencia where 90 per cent., of the adult males are landed proprietors. While there is a considerable amount of drunkenness in the large centres of population and even in some parts of the country districts, the women in the small towns and villages of Castille 123 and Central Spain generally, are almost all abstainers, drinking water at their meals while the men are supping their wine. In Eastern Spain things are greatly different. There, the whole family including the women and even the latest baby may be found drinking the wine of the country, invariably at meals and often when at work or play. As a natural result, the children of Eastern Spain are not so healthy as those in Central Spain, and the infant mortality is much higher. The people work such long hours that there is very little drunkenness to be seen, except on Sundays and feast days, when drunkenness, gambling, and other evils are the order of the day. Unfortunately, year after year there is a steady increase in the consumption of alcoholic liquors, especially spirits. The death rate has grown with the increased consump- tion of spirits until in Madrid, in 1907, it reached 42 per 1,000, while in some of the large cities it was considerably higher. But for alcohol the death-rate should not exceed 14 per 1,000 in the country, and 25 in the towns. Dr. Mata in his “ Medicina Legal y Toxicologia, ” a work that received a Government prize, states that the taverns are places that are the source of every kind of evil and that feast days in the towns are always days signalised by acts of violence, quarrels, free fights, accidents and homicides, on account of the crowded state of the taverns and other drink shops. The Spanish laws are passed as mere skeletons, which the Government clothe as they like. The spirit of the law is also left to the Government and not to the law courts. In 1905 the Government decided that all places for the sale of intoxicating liquors should be closed on Sunday. The liquor sellers were up in arms against such an order, and actually closed their taverns for the whole of one day as a protest. The Government being defeated on another issue, had to go out of office, and the new Government capitulated to the liquor traffic, permitting the liquor shops to re-open on the Sunday. In 1907 the Sunday Closing Government again came into power, and notice was at once given to the hotel and tavern keepers to close their liquor bars on the Sunday. On the first Sunday the order came into force the liquor men determined to defy the Government, keeping their places open and selling liquor in the usual way. The Society of Barmen and Barmaids petitioned the Gov- ernment demanding that it should show firmness in supporting the law. Thus backed up, the Government and the police deter- mined to enforce the law, so that the liquor traffickers had to obey, sufferinga most inglorious defeat. The women, remarkable to state, rallied in support of a sober Sunday. The press reported that in 124 Madrid, “parties of working women besieged the doors of the cafes and bars, where their husbands had foregathered, as usual, to discuss the affairs of the nation, and refused to disperse till the men had been turned out and the places closed.’’ Such a scene, it is stated, has seldom been witnessed in Spain before, and the demonstration of the women was a revelation to both the Gov- ernment and the liquor sellers. .Mter the law had been in force for some time it was announced in the Madrid papers with some surprise: “Since the taverns have been closed on Sundays in Madrid there has been no Sunday crime.’’ This clearly shows the connection between the open liquor shops and crime. Owing to another change of Government in 1911, Sunday Closing was again abandoned, much to the injury of the community. The liquor sellers declared that they were being ruined by the Sunday prohibition, and though that was doubtless an exaggeration, there is no disputing the fact that the people were greatly benefited by the law. Senor M. Maura, when Prime Minister, promised to issue a report in reference to the number of deaths through alcohol, but owing to the changes in the Government, this report has not yet been published. The Temperance movement in Spain is greatly indebted to Mr. Alfred R. Ecroyd, now' of Torquay, for his energetic propa- ganda. He has lived for a number of years at Artana, near Val- encia, and by means of literature, letters, and personal visitations, has induced a large number of persons, including more than 220 medical men, to adopt the principle of total absti- nence, and to declare themselves in favour of Prohibition. These include such well-known men as El llustrisimo Dr. Federico Montaldo, Naval Medical Officer, Madrid ; Dr. Don Miguel Gallart, of Tales; Rev. Francisco .Angelats and Dr. Rod- riguez Mendez, ex-M.P. for Barcelona and ex-Rector of its University; the Count of Pinofiel, Madrid; Rev. Francisco Albri- cias, Protestant Pastor and Superintendent of a large school in Alicante ; Rev. Carlos Araujo, President of the Spanish Christian Endeavourers, Zaragoza, and others. The formation of the Anti-.\lcoholic League for Spain by Mr. Ecroyd and the publication of the Temperance paper, El Abstemio, have been real gains to the movement. During the two-and-a-half years of its existence one hundred and twenty thousand copies of this paper have been sent gratis by post to every Province of Spain and also to many parts of Spanish America. In the Autumn of 1912 the Roman Catholic Bishop of Jaca became an associate subscriber to the League, and early in 1913 issued a pastoral to his clergy entirely confined to denunciation of alcoholic drinking. He also wrote a valuable article for El Ahstemio. This resulted in an increased number of pledges from Priests. His Excellency Don Antolin Lopez y Pelaez has since been translated to the Archbishopric of Tarragona. The Protestants of Spain have not as yet largely supported the League although half of the Executive Committee are Protes- tants. The Treasurer, Mr. Russell Ecroyd, of Castellon de la plana, and his Spanish wife (nee Perez) and several members of her family are amongst its most indefatigable workers. Owing to their propaganda the members of the large Baptist Church in Valencia have recently unanimously banished alcoholic wine from the communion despite the opposition of their Pastor. The first President of the League (igii-12) was Professor Rodri- guez Mendez, who presided over the Anti-Tuberculosis Congress recently held in Spain, and the President for 1913-14 is Mr. Alfred R. Ecroyd. In 1912, Senor P. Sangro, an emi- nent lawyer of Madrid, contributed an article on the evils of alcoholism in Spain, to the German magazine Die Akoholfrage, showing among other things, that wine was sold on credit, which was bad, and that in the Capital there were 2,179 wine shops (Tabernos) and 2,334 other drinking- houses. He also states that the taxation of alcohol in Spain does not yield a greater income than 15,000,000 pesetas (;^550,ooo or $2,200,000). The Spanish scientists are taking the matter of alcoholism into their serious consideration. In May, 1910, Dr. Montaldo gave a special address on this subject to the members of the Spanish Society of Hygiene, in Madrid: “Alcoholism and its terrible results upon individuals and the human race.” Dr. Gallart, the Medical Officer of Health for Tales, Spain, has become so greatly in earnest that in 1911 Mr. Ecroyd stated : “ He forbids his patients to touch alcoholic liquors whilst “ under his care, and in 1909 and 1910 he induced a large number “ of both sexes to sign the total abstinence pledge. The tavern “ keepers, who mostly sell wine, soon began to grumble at the “ diminution of their trade, and the proprietors of the cafes, “ selling brandy and other alcoholic liquors, as well as coffee, “ complained of a great falling off in their profits, owing to “ the doctor’s advocacy, and they each offered to give him 5 “ duros (;^i or $5) if he woud refrain from his advocacy “ during 1910. This was refused. Instead of 12 taverns as in 1908, there are only three in 1913. The decrease in the “ death-rate in Tales has been remarkable, dropping from an “ average of 35 per 1,000 during the 23 years, 1886-1908, when 126 “ the doctor prescribed sherry wine and mutton broth for every “ ailment, to 14.4 in 1909 and under 16 during the years 1910-13. “ During this period the mortality in an adjoining township under “ a non-abstaining doctor was 40 per 1,000.” The Licensing World, of London, announced in 1912 that the present King of Spain had become an abstainer. There is, however, no confirmation of this statement. The legislative authority is in the hands of two Houses, called the Cortes, and divided into the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. The Senate has 360 members. The Deputies number 404, elected for ^ve years by the suffrage of all males over 25 years of age. The population of Spain in 1910 was nearly 20,000,000. There is no published record yet of the number of total ab- stainers, although there is now a goodly number. Portugal. — The political differences in Portugal and the changes from a monarchical form of Government to that of a Republic, has retarded the slight beginnings of a Temperance movement. But in this land of liquor production there are a few patriots who are sowing the seed which in years to come is sure to produce a good harvest. Dr. Joaquin Leite Junior, of Coimbra, Portugal, one of the \^ice-Presidents of the Inter- national Prohibition Confederation, has done some useful work in circulating Prohibition and Temperance literature among the people. In reply to a Memorial-Petition sent by Mr. E. Page Gaston, F.R.G.S., Hon. Secretary International Prohibition Confederation, the Private Secretary to His Excellency Dom Manuel D’Arriage, President of Portugal, writing from Lisbon in February, 1913, stated : ‘‘ His Excellency the President sends his thanks for your circular of the i6th ultimo re Prohibition Confederation, which he approves of as one of the best for the welfare of mankind.” With a President in favour of Prohibition, and a return to the normal state of social and commercial life, with greater liberty for organising the forces for Temperance and Prohibition, and the formation of a National Temperance League, the next few years may witness a great advance in Portugal. The present Republic was established on September nth, 1911, with a President elected for four years. Tlie legislature consists of two Houses — the Senate with 71 members elected by the municipal councils, and the Chamber with 164 members elected by the people. The population in 1910 was nearly 6,000,000, CHAPTER XII Switzerland, Italy and Monaco “ Some twenty years ag-o there was hardly a real popular Temperance movement in Continental Europe. Some gfood work was done through the publications of men of science ; but they were like the Generals of the South American Republics, officers without soldiers. The few abstainers of the day were members of the Blue Cross Society, very good men, faithfully devoted to the reclaiming of drunkards, but caring little for the struggle against alcoholism as a social scourge. Now there is a mighty and steadily growing movement in Europe which is not satisfied with the spreading of Temperance truth, but aims at exerting a legislative influence.” Dr. R. Hercod, Lausanne.^ Switzerland ( 1912 ). The movement is reported to be in a most satisfactory con- dition in the beautiful country of Switzerland. The prohibition of the spirit absinthe in igo8 has been so beneficial that it has prepared the way for some more drastic legislation against other distilled spirits, and even beer and wine. The rapid growth in the membership of the various Temperance organisations shows that the educative propaganda undertaken by the Temperance reformers has been eminently successful. It is often asked, “What is to be done with the grapes, if intoxicating liquors are prohibited?’’ The great dried fruit trade is one outcome for grape growers, and the increasing demand for non-intoxicating wine is another. The trade in non-alcoholic wine appears to be growing by leaps and bounds. One Swiss firm at Milan reports the selling of 1,200,000 bottles, while the total sale in Switzer- land reaches over 5,000,000 bottles per year. The entire European output is now stated to be over 25,000,000 bottles a year. In Italy the movement is yet in its infancy, yet some wonderfully effective work has been accomplished, and no doubt the gathering of Temperance and Prohibition representatives from all parts of the world at Milan in 1913 will have given the movement a great advance in “the lovely land of Italy.’’ The condition of things in Monaco is a disgrace to the supposed advanced civilisation of the twentieth century. If the Turks had to be driven out of Europe because of their barbarities, then the drinking and gambling in the Principality of Monaco and Monte-Carlo should he abolished, and one of the most beautiful spots on earth cleared from the taint of these evils which now beset and curse this place, 128 Switzerland. — The Temperance movement dates back to the middle of the last century, but the total abstinence movement was commenced in 1887 when the Blue Cross Society was established. Since then the Good Templar Order and the Anti-Alcoholic League have been formed and are doing a power- ful work for the cause. The growth of total abstinence may be somewhat gauged by the number of members of total abstaining organisations. These are given as follows ; — 1891 5.973 1901 28,589 1906 46,155 I9I I 81,683 1913 100,000 Dr. R. Hercod, Director International Temperance Bureau, Lausanne, says : — “ We are satisfied in Switzerland with our progress. The “Swiss movement is well organised; a Swiss Temperance “ Bureau has the direction of a political movement and of the “ general propaganda, each society conserving, of course, its “ autonomy. It was thus possible to prohibit the absinthe “ liquor four years ago ; it will be possible to obtain Local Option, “ the reform which the Swiss consider as ripe. Preparations for “the Local Option campaign are already made; it is probable “that we shall reach the full veto in two stages; at first the “ local veto for distilled spirits, and only a right of restriction, “ not of suppression, for fermented liquors. A political cam- “ paign in Switzerland is more difficult tban in any other country, “ because of our peculiar constitution; the licence laws are not “ promulgated by the Federal Government, but by each of our “ 25 States, so that we have not one, but 25 campaigns if we “ want a measure to be adopted in all Switzerland.” In 1885 the Swiss Federal Government, it was stated, in order to check the growing consumption of ardent spirits, in- troduced a system of State Monopoly, and a number of dis- tilleries were suppressed, and a decrease in the consumption of spirits was reported, but there has been a great increase in the consumption of beer and wine. The canton of Geneva was the first to prohibit the sale of the spirit absinthe. This was decided upon by a popular vote, the majority for Prohibition being over 6,000. In April, 1908, the question of the complete prohibition of the manufacture, importation and sale of absinthe came before the Swiss National Council, and after a debate which lasted for four days, it decided in favour of Prohibition by 82 against 53- — majority for, 29. The Senate also supported the proposal, 129 although the Government, in the supposed interest of the revenue, opposed the prohibition. The matter then went to the people. The great plebiscite took place throughout the whole country on July 5th, igo8, and resulted in splendid triumph for Prohibition. The result of the voting was as follows : — For the Prohibition of Absinthe 241,078 Against 138,669 Majority for Prohibition 102,409 In addition to the laws against absinthe, which went into operation on the ist October, 1910, the various cantons have adopted a number of laws which aim at diminution of drunken- ness by a reduction in the number of liquor saloons. In 1912 the Society of Social-Democratic Abstainers issued the following very valuable manifesto to the workers of Switzer- land, Germany, and Austria “ The use of alcohol, which, in the last century, reached an “ unprecedented extent among all circles of people, is a cause of “ most serious economic, hygienic, and moral injury. A series “ of causes work together for this extension. “ The enormous production of alcoholic drinks and the “ growing influence of alcohol capital in economic and social “life; the destitution and ruin of the poorer classes who use “ alcohol to help them endure unhealthy working and other dis- “ tressing conditions; the widespread prejudices concerning the “ nature and effects of alcoholic drinks; and the inherited and “ often coercive drinking customs. “The use of alcohol is a contributory or chief factor in “ numerous physical and mental diseases. Decrease of working “ ability, increase of accidents and mortality are the conse- “ quences of its prevalence. Deep-rooted drinking habits are “ the chief cause of degeneracy among the people. The use of “ alcohol invades and often destroys family life. It is responsi- “ ble for the commission of many crimes; the greater part of “ the deeds of passion are its results. Especially dangerous is “ the use of alcohol by young persons, and the effect of its use “ by parents upon their descendants. Alcohol is the worst kind “ of an enemy to civilisation. “ The employment of a large part of the soil and economic “ strength in the production and dissemination of the means for “ injurious gratification (genussmittel) means an enormous “ waste, a crippling of the people’s strength, a lowering of “ economic efficiency. A great expenditure of energy is required “ for relieving and healing the wounds made by alcohol. “ It is the duty of citizens as a body to oppose with all the “ strength at their command the alcohol contagion. As the most j 130 “ effective measure for this end the abstinence movement of the “ poorer classes strives to secure complete prohibition of the “ production and sale of alcoholic drinks, through the voice of “ the people. To win the people to this measure by education “ and agitation is the most important task. “The working classes in particular suffer most severely “ from the influence of alcohol. On account of unfavourable “ working conditions, inadequate food and housing, and neg- “ lected education, the workman is able to oppose only a weak “ resistance to the destructive effects of alcohol. With his small “ income, the expenditure for alcoholic drinks diminishes to a “ frightful extent the amount available for food and cultural “ purposes. Alcohol prevents a man from realising the exhaust- “ ing effects of his long hours of labour. It blinds the drinker “ to the poverty of his food and home; it increases the dangers “ of his occupation ; it makes it more difficult for him to maintain “ his self-command under the pressure of social conditions. “ The personal injury to the workman is increased by the “ hindrance alcohol imposes upon the movement for the emanci- “ pation of labour. The great struggle of the working class will “ make heavy demands upon their discipline and capability, the “ efficiency of which is impaired by alcoholic drinking customs. “ These make the working man dull and indolent and un- “ ambitious. Thus, alcohol is one of the worst hindrances to “ the labour movement. “ The abstinence movement of the poorer classes stands on “ the same basis as the Social Democratic Party. Both aim at “ the evil source of alcoholism. It is a general conviction that “ improvement in the working man’s conditions of living con- “ tributes to the suppression of alcoholism. But this indirect “ method is not enough to put a complete and lasting end to “ alcohol contagion. It must be supplemented by a direct battle “against the alcohol industry. The moderation propaganda “ has been shown to be ineffectual against the deeply-rooted “ prejudices in favour of drink and the machinations of the liquor “ traffic. .Abstinence, both in living example and in the neces- “ sary supplementary education, is the only sure preventive. “ Organised efforts are also necessary in face of the power of “ the liquor traffic. “ The organisation of Social-Democratic .Abstainers enjoins “ upon its members abstinence from the use of every kind of “ alcoholic drink, not from the point of asceticism, but in the “ interest of the emancipation of labour, and for the sake of “ increasing the true joys of living. Their principal task is “ extending the knowledge of the dangers in alcohol, and win- “ ning labour organisations to enter the battle against it.’’ — Translated from Der Ahstitient Arbeiter (“The Abstaining \\'’orkman. ’’) 131 The League of Swiss Abstinent Women has sent out blanks during the year 1912 to the most important Swiss manufacturing firms to ascertain the extent to which these are discouraging the use of alcoholic drinks and supplying substitutes therefore. They find that a considerable number already furnish non-alcoholic drinks (besides good drinking water), either for nothing or at cost price. Hot tea in winter, and cold in summer, are favourite substitutes. Thus the Winterthur firm of Sulzer Brothers pro- vided in one year 712,685 bottles of tea, and in addition 16,479 liter of milk. A shoe-manufacturing firm, Bally, of Schonen- uerd, began to sell milk to its employees in 1900. The demand was only 12 liters a day. But nine years later the daily sales had risen to 500 liters (among 1,482 workers). The Schaff- hausen steel works sell 300 liters of milk daily, 600 of tea and 500 bottles of lemonade. Many industrials forbid the use of in- toxicants during working hours and at midday meal. Some further give anti-alcohol instruction by means of lectures, printed matter, and the personal example of the heads of departments and of the firm. Italy. — Until the last four or five years, wine drinking was practically universal. Men and women, boys and girls, drunk wine as freely as many other people took tea and coffee, and for exactly the same reason. It is stated that the Italians do not like spirituous liquor, and that as a rule they confine themselves to what they call “their own pure light wine,’’ a drink which, however, is proved to be very destructive to the sobriety of the people. Spirit drinking, however, has grown very considerably of late years. In some parts of Italy a very pernicious habit has grown up of paying the workpeople half their wages in money and the other half in wine. In 1909, Mr. Andrea Shabaro, President of the California Grape Growers’ Union, circulated a number of letters, purport- ing to come from British and American Consuls on the continent, claiming that “ drunkenness has been practically abolished wherever wine is largely produced and consumed.’’ This is one of those lies which the liquor party are constantly using to deceive the public in every part of the world. We are indebted to Dr. R. Hercod, the Supt. of the International Temperance Bureau, Lausanne, Switzerland, for his prompt and effective denial to this statement. “ If,’’ says Dr. Hercod, “ the letters (quoted in the ‘ Grapegrowers’ Circular ’) are true, the Consuls live in Italy with closed eyes. I came yesterday from a trip in North Italy, and I can assure you that alcoholism is making serious progress in Italy, Alcoholism, through the wine, is a 1-32 prevalent form.” In support of this statement Dr. Hcrcocl quotes from a report issued by three disting'uished medical men, Dr. Amaldi, Director of the Lunatic .Asylum of Florence ; Dr. Seppili, Director of the Asylum in Brescia; and Dr. Montesano, Director of the .Asylum, in Ro.me. The report states that a large proportion ol mental diseases which are found in Italy are the result of alcoholic habit. ” Out of 23,292 admissions of men into 49 lunatic asylums during the years 1905 to 1907, there were 3,332 alcoholic psychosis, or 14.2 per cent. In 26 of these asylums the proportion of cases due exclusively and partially to the alcoholic habit (hereditary) is given as 28.3 per cent. The Lancet, the leading British Medical Journal, for September, 1910, contained an article on ‘‘ The Problem of Drunkenness in Italy,” pointing out that ” Italy is confronted with social problems of vast and bewildering complexity, to wit, ‘ how to antagonise and ultimately to control the tendency to drunkenness, etc. . . . Drunkenness has become common enough to lose much of tlte disgrace attached to it, and particularly among the youth. . . . Take any journal of any of the great cities referred to and note the frequency with which the ‘ teppisto ’ (the Italian equivalent for hooligan or apache) contributes to the ‘ cronaca nera ’ or police report during the week, and you will form some notion of the crime encouraged or intensified under the incenti%e of strong drink, of the turbulence imparted by it into the thoroughfare, and the misery which darkens the domestic circle. ” In 1907, for the first time in its history, the Italian Govern- ment w'as officially represented at the International Congress .Against .Alcoholism, w'hich met at Stockholm, Sweden. Pro- fessor .Angelo Pavone, who acted as the representa- tive, collected a large amount of information with regard to the evils of alcoholism in all parts of the world, which doubtless proved of great assistance to the home Government. Italy has since been officially represented at each of the .Anti-.AlcohoIic Congresses in London, 1909, and the Hague, 1911, and officially received the Congress at Milan in 1913. In 1911, for the first time in the history of Italy, the liquor question w^as raised in the Italian Parliament. The consumption of wine having grown so enormously, and the effects of alcoholism becoming more and more apparent, several members of the Labour Party addressed an interpellation to the Prime Minister, Signor Luzzatti, asking him if the Government did not intend to do something to keep back the threatening evils of alcoholism. The Premier, who is reported to be an ardent social reformer, replied that he was m making- enquiries throughout the land in reference to the matter, and upon the information received depended the action of the Government. This is the first time that any such enquiry has been considereed necessary, but by the admission of all parties in the State, alcoholism has laecome a national scourge and danger. Professor Angelo Pavone kindly forwarded the writer the full statistics collected from each of the Italian Provinces, to- gether with the report of the Prime Mintser, to be presented to the Senate. In his letter accompanying these documents Dr. Pavone says : — “ The project of law for the prevention of alcoholism in “ Italy contains excellent measures which are considered prac- “ tical in our country, and are expected to produce a lot of good. “It is to be discussed before long, by our Senate and by our “ Parliament. By the perusal of the statistics you will see the “ ravages caused by alcohol in Italy, and the measures which we “ think should be adopted and enforced by law for checking “ them as much as possible.” Signor Luzzatti, the then Prime Minister, in presenting the documents to the Senate, stated that the evils of alcoholism had not, in Italy, attained the fearful dimensions reached in some other countries, but the proportions were sufficiently alarming. Statistics vividly demonstrated the increase of the consumption and also the dire effects. The growth of alcoholism was far beyond the ratio of the augmentation of the population. The increase in the number of fatalities from alcoholism is seen in the following figures : — Year. Population. Deaths. Deaths from Alcohol. 1887 29,614,430 828,992 434 1897 31,716,318 695,602 ... 504 1907 33.776,087 700,333 663 1908 34,129,290 692,769 ... 897 It will be seen that by improved sanitation the total number of deaths has been considerably decreased, but the death roll from alcoholism has more than doubled itself. The production in the various distilleries of ardent spirits was proved to be increasing alarmingly, it had gone up from 85,284 hectolitres (22J imp. gallon.s) in i88q, to 800,537 hecto- litres in 1909. The Prime Minister proposed that in future no new licence should be granted without a favourable vote of the municipality, and further that the grant must be confirmed by the Prefect, otherwise the application would be refused. It was also pro- 134 posed to establish in each Province a Technical Commission, which should study all local questions connected with the manu- lacture of articles containing- alcohol. It was further proposed to prohibit the sale of drink to children and drunkards, and the payment of wages where drink is sold. A special section rigidly prohibited the manufacture, importation and sale of Absinthe (denominated in Italian ‘ assenzio. ”j This was styled by the Prime Minister as “ veleno verde ” (green poisonj, and he strongly commented on the disasters caused by the vice known as “ absinthism. ” Change of Government, however, prevented this programme from being carried out. In 1913 a Bill passed the Chamber of Deputies, where there are several Temperance friends, especially among the Socialist leaders — Signors Bissolali, 'I'urati and Zerboglia. The Bill was accepted by the Senate, but its pro- visions do not satisfy the Italian teetotalers. About ten years since a Temperance Society was formed in .Milan, and a few other societies sprung into existence in some of the smaller towns and cities. In igo8 a united gathering of representatives from these various local societies was held at Milan, at which it was determined to form an Italian Temper- ance Federation of all existing societies, under the title, “ Fed- erazione .-Xntialcoolista Italiana. ” The formation of this Fed- eration gave a great impulse to the movement and has resulted in many more societies being formed throughout Italy. The Italian Temperance leaders have brought the question to the notice of the scientific men of the country, and some notable utterances, and reports, on the evils of alcohol, have been the result. Dr. Arullani, who practices in one of the wine growing regions of Italy, published an article, in the Italian Medical Journal, in igii, concerning the predisposing influence of alco- holism to tuberculosis, stating that the inhabitants of his region, drank wine almost exclusively, the alcohol contents of which ranged from 13 to 15 per cent. Notwithstanding the pure air, robust constitutions and absence of poverty, cirrhosis of the liver and all forms of tuberculosis are remarkably prevalent. He declared very emphatically that from his observations and study, there is a very close connection between alcohol and tuberculosis. Other scientists of Italy are making similar declarations and warning the people of the evil results of drinking alcohol. At the “ .Seventh International Congress .■\gainst Tuber- culosis,” held in Rome in igiz, the question of alcoholism and tuberculosis was repeatedly dwelt upon by the various speakers. Professor Tiberti, of Ferrara, declared that : 135 “ There is a genuine nexus between these two evils so fatal “ to humanity. Most authorities contend that alcohol predis- “ poses to tuberculosis in a direct fashion. Statisticians have “ shown the great mortality of those coming into direct relations “ with alcohol (i.e., in alcohol trades). Deductions from human “ pathology point in the same direction. Alcohol has shown to “ have deadly action on the organs of digestion, circulation, “ respiration and on the nervous system- — diminishing the nor- “ mal powers of resistance on the one hand, and preparing the “ ground for the reception of tuberculosis. Experimental path- “ ology further indicates a diminution of the aptonic index, an “ unfavourable action on the production of anticrops, a more “ highly accentuated negative chemiotaxis and a probable “ diminution of the alevines. Further, alcohol, being one of the “ principal causes of extreme poverty, in this way predisposes to “ tuberculosis more than any other. From all points of view “it is certain that we ought to battle again alcoholism with “ every means at our disposal if we wish to set a dike against “ the spread of tuberculosis. To fight alcoholism signifies in “ the last analysis to fight tuberculosis.’’ Professor Ugo Giusti, Director of the Municipal Statistical Department of Florence, presented a very valuable report to the Rome Congress, showing the number of deaths from tubercu- losis according to trades in the city of Florence. The results confirm similar statistics in other countries. The drink-seller can gather from these striking figures that he has, in truth, no better friend than the Prohibitionist who would press him into some other more decent and healthier occupation. “ The relative number of deaths to the 10,000 deaths in each trade, respectively, are for : — Soldiers 12.3 Retired Persons 20.0 Tradesmen 24.5 Railway and .Streetcar Men 25.3 Professionalists and Ar- tists 32.2 Workers in Food Indus- tries 32.8 Officials 33-5 Navvies 38.8 Ironworkers 39-4 Chemical Workers ... 43.5 Persons in Service 43-6 Ip Printing Industries 44.4 Textile Workers 45.2 Catholic Clergy 45.3 Woodworkers 47 -^ Vagabonds 50.2 In Building Trades ... 52.9 Fine Mechanicians ... 55.6 Clothing Trades 58.1 Saloonkeepers, etc. ... 76.7 “The average death from tuberculosis in Florence 1906- “ 1908 having been 34.1 to 10,000 of all classes, it will be seen “ that the mortality among drink-sellers is more than double the “ average, and six times that of the most favourably situated “ class reported on. Drink-shops are the resorts of dirty and “diseased persons. They constitute genuine forcing beds for “ the culture of pathological germ-life. But more than this not “ only does the drink consumed by the drink-seller predispose “ his body to this result. It is indeed possible that the fumes of “ alcohol also have a distinct pathological action. One has only “ to remember the dead or mal-shaped chickens which came out “ of Fere’s eggs when they were placed in the neighbourhood of “ a still and subjected to the chance action of its fumes.’’ Strong efforts are being put forth to secure Temperance teaching in the public schools, and something in this direction has already been accomplished. In Milan, occasional lessons are given to the upper classes in connection with Hygiene teach- ing, while in other places similar instruction is also being gi^■en. Sig. Ferriari, Italian Cabinet Minister, urges that the anti- alcohol education of children in the schools should be supple- mented and illustrated “ by visits to prisons and insane asylums where madmen vegetate in stupid listlessness or move furiously about like raging beasts.’’ Children should be shown “the men whose abuse of alcohol has taken away the blessing of sanity and changed them into unnatural fathers, bloody crimi- nals, bestial husbands — men for whom we can only desire death.’’ Such tours of observation should be under the guid- ance of experienced physicians as demonstrators. “ visit to a madhouse would be worth a hundred lectures on alcoholism. It is needful to inspire the children with a horror of alcohol.’’ Monaco. — The Principality of Monaco and Monte Carlo, with a resident population of about 16,000, and an area of not more than one-and-a-half square miles, is visited every year by- over 1,250,000 people. The drinking and gambling carried on in the Casino and private gambling clubs is enormous, and is a dis- grace to our twentieth century civilisation. Something should really be done to bring the whole thing to an end. Every year terrible crimes are committed, the number of suicides must be very great indeed, yet men and women of high standing from all nations are found patronising these establishments, and even taking part in the demoralising games of chance. The Inter- national Supreme Lodge of Good Templars, at its meeting in Washington, U.S.A., in 1908, and again at its meeting in Ham- burg, Germany, in 1911, entered its protest against the state of things existing at Monte Carlo. Mr. E. N. Bennett, the well- known journalist, in an article published in Reynolds’ London Neivspaper, April 13th, 1913, says; — “ Who can ever forget his first view of this bright and ‘ exquisite place — the terraced hillsides, the crumbling sea walls ‘ of Monaco, the palms, the vivid flowers in the full sunshine? ‘ Into this enchanted zone willing victims are poured daily from ‘ all countries of the world.” ‘‘ The trail of sordid finance is thickly spread over the whole ‘ place. Money is poured out like water on every side, without ‘ the faintest attempt to disguise the selfish waste. ‘‘ At the Casino gold and silver coins lose their normal ‘ significance, and become mere counters in the feverish game. ‘From morning to midnight the tables are crowded. All ‘ through the bright sunshine men and women sit and stand ‘ in an atmosphere artificially overheated, in order, it is said, ' to stimulate the gambling instinct. ‘‘The sceptical Julius Cscsar climbed the steps of the Capi- ‘ lol on hands and feet to avoid the jealous wrath of the gods, ‘ and here in Monte Carlo men and women of the world, abso- ‘ lute materialists in theory and practice, are influenced by the ‘ most childish superstition. If a fly happens to settle on the ‘ board dozens of coins are placed on the number selected by ‘ the insect. Even the local clergy are indirectly brought in ‘ to ‘ serve tables ’ in a Monte Carlo sense; for any number of ‘ a hymn under thirty-six is accepted by the congregation as a ‘ lucky number for the afternoon’s play. People gravely seek ‘ an omen from the added figures of their cloak-room tickets, ‘ and two casual visitors, a man and his wife, who in London ‘ are the embodiment of common sense, talk about ‘ electric ‘ currents ’ between the tables ! When a young woman re- ‘ cently declared to her lady friend that she intended to stake ‘ on the number of her age, and backed twenty-two, the arrival ‘ of thirty-five elicited the feline remark, coram populo, ‘ What ‘a pity, Maud, you didn’t stick to the correct number.’ ‘‘ There is a grimmer side to all this display of human frivolity and folly. This week a young and pretty woman has ‘ been playing heavily at trente et quarante. Now and again ‘ she won i,ooof. or so; then she would add another thousand ‘ and lose the lot. As she won she gave a little gasp of relief, ‘ as she lost, she clenched her hands and trembled. Her flushed ‘ face and haggard eyes showed only too plainly her poignant ‘ distress. ‘‘The seamy side of luxury is evident enough amid the ‘garish display of Monte Carlo’s opulence. The whole char- ‘ acter of the place is parasitic. After the closing of the Casino I at midnight, crowds of ‘ smart ’ people repair to the so-called I Sporting Club,’ where they eat, drink, and play till four or five in the morning. 1J8 “ There have already been three suicides this season. One of them took place in the Casino itself. An elderly woman suddenly rose from the table with the remark, ‘ It is my last coin,’ drew a revolver from her muff, and shot herself through the head. “ Heavy, indeed, is the responsibility of those who for love of gain have made this fair town a veritable plague spot in the civilisation of Europe. Amid all the amenities of moun- tain, sea, and climate, Monte Carlo is still a crying reproach among the nations.” CHAPTER XII The Balkan States, Montenegro, Roumania, and Greece “ The popular impression as to the harmlessness of alcohol in moderate quantities is erroneous. It is shown by scientists that the white corpuscles, the natural defenders, are weakened by its use. The alcohol is more susceptible to the infectious diseases because of a lowered resistance. There is hardly a disease to which it is not a contributory factor — nephritis, arterio-sclerosis, cirrhosis of the liver and many others, besides all the possibilities of transmission to the offspring of various insanities and mental afflictions. G. M. Linthicum, Professor of Physiology ( 1910 ). It is greatly to be feared that the terrible war between the Balkan States, Greece and Turkey, which has now happily ended, will have greatly diminished the efforts lor total absti- nence and prohibitory legislation, which was springing into existence in some of these countries. W'ar is the enemy of all such movements. A very remarkable manifesto has been issued by the abstaining socialists in Switzerland to their comrades in Greece and the Balkans, in which they say ; “ Comrades, we protest against war. We protest against “ the senseless expenditure of human life and popular resources. “ But, forget not, comrades, to protest against another mass- “ murdering agency, not less horrible than that of the Balkan “ battle-fields. “ Comrades, forget not to protest against the murderer “ alcohol. Every tenth man dies directly from it. More surely “ than shapnel or machine-gun it decimates our ranks, if less “ apparently, none the less terribly. It stimulates to the most “unspeakable barbarism and violence; men are made cripples, “ women abused, children neglected and corrupted through it. “ Will you protest only against the great powers of destruc- “ tion, at which, for the present, you can but hurl your scorn “and hatred? Why not rise against a power, whose fearful “ operations are comparable to a war— against a power which “ you are able now, at this moment, to effectively injure? Why “ not lift your arm against alcohol, the destroyer of your happi- “ ness, the ally of your enemies, the enemy of your own efforts, “ and the pitiless torturer of your women and children. 140 “ Comrades, we call on you in the name of solidarity and “justice to take up the fight against alcohol. Protest against this destroyer of human happiness, by cutting loose from it. Long live the proletariat that is in earnest with its ideals “ which demands not only a new life, but which knows how to “ evolve from itself new powers and forms of life.’’ Bulgaria.- — The European correspondent of The National Advocate, of New York, to whom the writer is greatly indebted for much useful information, says: — “The beer press, wdth its customary cleverness, is attributing the defeat of the Turks to their abstinence from alcohol. As a matter of fact, their Bul- garian conquerors are almost as little alcohol-contaminated as the Turks themselves. In 1906 the consumption of alcohol per capita in Bavaria was 17.2.3 litres. In Bulgaria it was only z.j litres. The spirits-consumption of Germany, as a whole, was in the same year more than eight times that of Bulgaria per capita. Bulgaria suffered for centuries from Mohammedan rule, but there fell to it one compensating blessing from this source. AVhile the Northern Slavs of Russia and .Austria have gone through a progressive alcoholisation during the last century, the Balkan Slavs have been largely protected from it through their contact with Islam. Coffee takes the plaee of vodka, and it is not improbable that this fine vigorous stock will never suffer the deterioration which has come to other lands from alcohol.’’ Reporting on the Bulgarian Exhibit at the great .American Exhibition, held in Boston, Mass., in 1911, Miss Stoddard says : “ Much might have been shown of the vigorous efforts put “ forth by Christian missionaries to stay the tide of evil that the “liquor traders of Christian nations pour in upon the people or “ to counteract native drinking habits. A diagram illustrating “ the educational work started by the Rev. J. F. Clarke, shows “ how far one person can throw his influence. Crimson circles “ with connecting lines show how he has reached and interested “ the Queen of Bulgaria, the Minister of Education, and the “ Minister of Home .Affairs, and through them the pupils in “ 2,800 common schools, Bulgarian schools in Turkey and else- “ where. The Exarch of the Greek Church, Bulgarian agents, “ co-operate in planning for the distribution of the literature. “ Temperance material has been published in the mission paper, “ a medical paper, and a paper for priests. It has gone to the “ members of the National .Assembly to over 200 newspapers “to nearly 1,500 persons outside of the schools. .Altogether “ in seven years 5,100,000 pages of this Bulgarian Temperance “literature have been prepared and distributed among the Bul- “ garians. ’’ 141 In connection with this exhibition vve are told “ The solemn responsibility of the Church at home for the evil which drink is doing to the non-Christian people appears in a final painting. At the left is a mosque and beneath it the words of Mohammed ; “ Let the faithful avoid intoxicants.” At the right is a temple, and beneath is the words of Buddha ; ” Thou shalt not drink strong drink.” The two typify the great religions which have enjoined abstinence upon their people. In the centre stands a Christian Church. Beneath all three run these words : ‘‘ Shall the Christian Church continue to allow Christian nations to undermine the total abstinence principles of the Orientals en- joined by their religion.” The ex-Mayor of Philippopolis, M. Video Shopoff, has be- come the president of the Federation of Bulgarian Temperance Societies, and at a General Congress held just before the out- break of war with Turkey, gave a most encouraging report of the progress of the movement in Bulgaria. M. Shopoff is reported to be one of the most travelled and enlightened of Bulgarians. He was at the head of the Commissioners at the great World’s Fair at Chicago, in 1893, and has taken a leading part in all movements for the uplift of his fellow countrymen. His leadership in the Temperance cause is a great asset for the movement. In 1912 an Official Commission was appointed to study the alcohol question and report suggested legislation to deal with the evil. The National Assembly is expected to have this report before them at an early date. Montenegro. — This is a very small State, with only about 500,000 inhabitants. It was formerly a province of the Servian Empire, but secured its independence as long ago as 1389, and for over six hundred years it successfully kept the Turks at bay. It was not, however, until 1910, when it celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the accession of Nicholas I., that the National Parliament (Skupshtina) proclaimed the country a kingdom. The Legislature consists of a single Chamber (The Skupshtina.) There are 62 members elected for four years, on a universal suf- frage. Reports state that the people are sober and virtuous. The Encyclopeadia Britannica says : — ‘‘ Chastity is a national virtue, and in time of war the women and children of the Turks have often found their safest asylum among their hereditary foes.” A strong testimony to their sobriety. A few Good Tem- plar Lodges of the Neutral Order have recently been established. Rumania. — For some years there has been a fairly energetic Temperance crusade carried on throughout Rumania, The 142 Liga NaLionala de Temperantta, and the Order of Good Tem- plars, have done much propaganda work. The recent formation of a Grand Lodge of the Good Templars will no doubt strengthen and consolidate the movement to a great extent. In 1907 the Government of Rumania, pressed to do something to prevent the spread of alcoholism, proposed a new law with the view of “ Putting a stop to drunkenness.” The new licensing system was to have been of a most drastic character. No drink was to be sold on credit. All gambling was to be strictly prohibited. No person under 16 years of age was to be supplied with spiritu- ous liquors, drunkenness was to be punished by very severe penalties, and incorrigible drunkards were to have their names placed on a list to be called the ‘‘ Drunkards’ Roll,” which list was to be posted in the public room of the commune. .A.11 such persons were to be prohibited from entering a liquor saloon. The number of saloons were to be reduced to one for every 750 people. All these proposals, together with a number of others, received the hearty support of the Temperance organisations. The Government, however, proposed to make a State monopoly of the retail liquor traffic. The sale of intoxicating liquors and the right of opening saloons was reserv'ed exclusively to the communal authorities. The committee of management to con- sist of the Mayor, the schoolmaster, and the most notable mem- bers of the communal council. .■Ml profits to become part of the ordinary income of the community. The law, however, failed to pass. In 1908 the Government made another attempt to pass legislation, and was this time successful. The new law was ” rushed through Parliament with lightning speed.” Long be- fore the people had heard of the proposal, the bill was law. There are many good points in the new law, but the state mono- poly is working very detrimentally to the people’s interest and sobriety. The good points in the law are that only one liquor saloon is permitted to every 250 of the householders; no liquor can be sold on credit, nor in exchange for farm produce ; nor to any person under 16 years of age. Gambling, which was very common in connection with liquor saloons, was strictly prohi- bited. The new law was passed on May ist, 1908, and the liquor sellers were given until September ist to clear out their stock, and on that date all liquor not sold or destroyed, was confiscated. The new law closed up thousands of liquor places throughout the country. Mr. Otto Kestler states ; — ” None of the proposals mean any great step in the right ‘‘ direction, on our way, although they have made people write ‘‘ and talk a lot about alcohol and the monopoly. Ry this we 14o “ have a chance ol bringing total abstinence and Prohibition, “ together with Good Templary, up for discussion. As a matter “ of fact the movement in Rumania is only just beginning, and “ we must avail ourselves of all the opportunities to further “ our principles. ” The number of total abstainers in Rumania is not reported, but the Good Templars are stated to number about i,ooo. Servia. — The movement has obtained a considerable hold upon the people of Servia. Under the special patronage of the King, the Neutral Order of Good Templars has made consider- able headway, not only among the adults, but especially among the children ; about 3,000 young people have been enrolled in the Juvenile Lodges. Dr. Danitsch, a leading citizen of Bel- grade, is leading the fight with much vigour and determination. In May, 1912, a great Congress of the young people, mem- bers of the Good Templar Order, was held at Kragouyeratz, in Servia, when over 2,000 young men and women attended as rep- resentatives from the various Lodges throughout the country. Delegates also attended from Bosnia. Herzegovina, Old Servia, Montenegro and Croatia. The reports showed that there were seventy young people’s Lodges in Servian schools, gymnasia and colleges, and twenty others among Serbs outside Servia. Alexander, the Crown Prince of Servia, was the honorary Presi- dent of the Congress, and presented it with a very fine banner. The active President was Dr. Popovitch, a leading physician, and the Secretary was M. Arangalovitch, a L^niversity student. The Minister of Public Works gave free passes over the railways to all participants in the Congress, which doubtless helped to swell the attendance of the members and representatives. The patronage of Royalty and the support of the Government have raised a considerable amount of enthusiasm for the cause, and numbers of young people are being enrolled. There is every hope that the war will not altogether have destroyed the good work. Professor Beritch Mladen, of the University of Belgrade, gave the following address at the International Union of Ab- staining Teachers, at the Hague, igii : — “ Ours is a little land but we bring warm greetings. We “ are here to learn. We commenced our work in Servia four “ years ago, with a Lodge of the Order of Good Templars “ (Neuter) and we have now a Lodge of Professors and Teachers “of 64 members. We have been helped by the ‘ Loge des “ Etudiants ’ and ‘La Societe des Medecins Abstinents. ’ We “ have 53 children’s societies (Societies de la Jeunesse). The 144 “ Minister of Public Instruction has allowed us to have a Con- “ ference and has told us to make suggestions for placing “ articles against alcohol in place of articles for alcohol in our “ school books, and we trust that this change will soon be “ made.” Greece. — For about fifteen centuries, the whole of the ter- ritory now known as Greece, was under the rule of Turkey. The w'ar of independence of 1821 — 1829 resulted in an independent monarchy being established. The present constitution is ba.sed upon the laws of 1864 and 1911. The legislature consists of a single Chamber of 177 members elected for four years by all males over 21 years of age. To secure the passage of any new law, one-third of the members must be in attendance and the law supported by a clear majority. The Encyclopedia Britannica, in a description of the modern Greeks, says : — ‘‘ They are courteous and very sunny in disposition, and en- ” tirely strangers to melancholy, so that both suicide and in- ‘‘ sanit}’ are unknown among them. They are the most temper- ‘‘ ate of Christian nations, and the chastest. Though they make ‘‘a good deal of strong wine, they drink little, and they eat ” as sparingly as they drink. The common people live on one ‘‘ meal a da}^ and the richer on two, and an English labourer ‘‘ will consume at one meal what would serve a Greek family of ” six for the day. little maize and vegetables steeped in oil “ make the staple fare. Two striking characteristics of the ‘‘ Greeks are their patriotism, and their love not only of liberty, ‘‘ but especially of equality. They are in spirit the most demo- ” cratic European nation. There are two other qualities in ‘‘ which the Greeks are strong, and which, though they are often ‘‘ abused, are yet main agents in human advancement — ambi- ‘‘ tion and the love of money. These have given a stimulus to ‘‘their commerce, and made them thrift}’ and saving.” PART IV ASIA I 1 I CHAPTER 1 Arabia, Palestine, Persia, Syria, and Turkey “ Woe unto them that rise early in the morning-, that they may follow strong- drink ; that continue until night, till wine inflame them. And the harp, and the viol, the tabret and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts ; but they regard not the work of the Lord, neither consider the operations of his hands. Therefore my people are gone into captivity ; because they have not knowledge ; and their honoured men are famished, and their multitudes dried up with thirst. Therefore Hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure ; and their glory and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth shall descend into it.” Isaiah v., 11-13. The welcome development of European and American com- merce in Asia has unfortunately led to the introduction of spirits, beer, and wine among a people who for centuries have known little or nothing of the evils of intoxicating liquors. Edicts are repeatedly being issued by the religious leaders, and in some few places the Good Templar Order, W.C.T. U., and other Temper- ance organisations have been established to combat the grow- ing evil. In all these countries the liquor traffic is greatly re- stricted, but at all the ports along the sea-board a large quantity of liquor is imported, which owing to the more modern systems of communication is finding its way more and more into the in- terior. In Palestine the Good Templars and the Temperance women have petitioned the Sultan to prohibit the importation of all intoxicants, and in Arabia, Persia, Syria and Turkey, efforts are being put forth to secure increased force against the importa- tion of European spirits. Arabia. ^ — Arabia had a population in igio of about 5,000,000, of which 3,500,000 were under Turkish rule, 50,000 under British rule, and the remainder independent. The bulk of the people are Mahometan in religion, the large majority of whom thoroughly carry out their religious vows not to drink intoxi- cating liquors. The people are largely given to hospitality and visitors are always welcomed among them. The “ Encyclopaedia Britannica ” says : — “ Coffee, without milk or sugar, but flavoured with an aro- “ matic seed brought from India, is served to all. This, too, is “ done on the occasion of a first welcome, when the cups often 148 “make two or three successive rounds; but, In fact, coffee is “ made and drunk at all times, as frequently as the desire for it “may suggest itself; and each time fresh grains are sifted, “ roasted, pounded, and boiled — a very laborious process, and “ one that requires in the better sort of establishments a special “ servant or slave for the work. Arabs in general make only “ one solid meal a day — that of supper, soon after sunset; nor “ even then do they eat much, gluttony being rare among them, “ and even daintiness esteemed disgraceful. Wine, like other “ fermented drinks, is prohibited by the Koran, and is, in fact, “ very rarely to be met with, though the inhabitants of the moun- “ tains of Oman are said to indulge in it. On the coasts spirits “of the worst quality are sometimes procured; opium and “ hasheesh have also few votaries in Arabia.” “ The literature, arts, and sciences of the Arabs formed the “ connecting link between the civilisations of ancient and modern “ times ; and the culture which they introduced into the countries “ they conquered has in almost every instance outlasted the rule “ of the conquerors themselves. To them, directly and indirectly, “ we owe the revival of learning and philosophy in Western “ Europe, and the first awakening of the critical and inquiring “ spirit that has in great measure rescued Europe from the “lethargy of monkish ignorance and ecclesiastical bigotr}' ; to “ them also, at least indirectly and by deduction, are due most “ of the useful arts and practical inventions laboriously perfected “ by later nations. Widespread as was the empire of the Arab “ sword, it has been less extended and less durable than the “ empire of the Arab mind.” Palestine. — When .‘\Iderman Joseph Malins was on his world tour, as International Chief Templar of the Good Templar Order, he visited Palestine and planted a Lodge among its inhabi- tants. Since then another Lodge has been opened at Jaffa, both are reported to be doing good work among the native and foreign populations. In 1911, the Good Templars, assisted by the other Temperance organisations, and some of the missionaries, organ- ised a petition in favour of the liquor saloons in Jerusalem being abolished. The petition was translated into nine different lan- guages, and was largely signed. The petition was presented to the Pasha, for transmission to the Sultan. Things move exces- sively slowly under Turkish rule, so that it may be some time be- fore a reply will be received to the petition. In the meantime much propaganda work is proceeding. The local Good Templars at a recent meeting considered the question of the entire prohibi- tion of the liquor traffic, and determined to do their utmost to secure the benefits of a countni’ free from the curse of alcohol at the earliest possible moment. 149 The country is under Turkish rule, the Government at Con- stantinople appointing the Pashas and other authorities, although the inhabitants have a considerable amount of local control. They choose their own village sheiks, who derive most of their author- ity and power from the reputation of their virtues, bravery and liberality. The population in 1910 was stated to be about 700,000, of which about 150,000 were Jews, the remainder being princi- pally Mohammedans and largely total abstainers. A very little amount of intoxicating liquors ever finds its way into the villages. Peksi.4. — The people of Ancient Persia were well known for their simplicity of manners and the purity of their morals. The first condition of national prosperity was understood and realised. They were universally educated and trained in habits of sobriety. Herodotus, the oldest Greek historian, tells us that “ ITie early Persians were strangers to the taste of wine, they drank water only.” From Persian history we learn that the discovery of fermentation is attributed to Jemsheed, a monarch who lived soon after the Flood. It is stated that he was very fond of grapes, and on one occasion put some away in a jar for future u.se. When next he wanted them, instead of the luscious fruit, he found wine; so pleased was he with the taste that he called the wine, ” the elixir of life,” and he had a special cup made, carved out of ruby, to drink from. In the course of time the ” elixir of life ” became the elixir of death, for the people of Persia forgot the principles of sobriety which had exalted them among nations and eventually the corrupting influence of alcohol destroyed their power and glory, as it has destroyed that of so many others. For centuries the Persians have shown a fondness for alcohol, the grapes they grow are largely turned into wine, al- though Mahomet, whom they profess to serve, forbids both its manufacture and use. There is also a large traffic in Opium ; though it is stated that v^ery little of the drug is used by the people themselves, thousands of cases are exported to China, Hong Kong and other countries. The present population may be div- ided into two classes — those who inhabit the towns, and those who live in tents. The former number about 7,000,000 and the latter about 3,000,000. Willis, in his ” Land of the Lion .and Sun,” says : — ” The character of the Persian is that of an easy-going man ” with a wish to make things pleasant generally. He is hos- ‘‘ pitable, obliging, and specially well disposed to the foreigner. “ his home virtues are many; he is very kind and indulgent to ‘‘his children, and, as a son, his respect for both parents is ‘‘ excessive.” ISO Tea is used as the common form of hospitality. The modern liquor interest of Europe has introduced the most deadly and poisonous liquor among' these people, and our reports state fearful havoc is the consequence. Ihe (lovernment of Persia is nominally under His Majesty The Shah, and a National Legislature (MejlissJ consisting of a Senate with 6o members, half appointed and half elected, and a Council with 156 members, elected for two years. The continual friction between Great Britain, Russia, Turkey and the Indian Governments over the internal, commercial and political interests of this great nation, has blotted out a large amount of national independence, so that the moral and physical needs of the people have been most shamefully neglected. Syria. — Assyria, now abbreviated to Syria, w'as once a king- dom of great celebrity and power, covering a vast area and com- prising the people of many differing nationalities, at one time embracing Media, Babylonia, Iran, .•\sia Minor, etc. For hun- dreds of years its people were noted for their .sobriety and prow- ess. A very warlike nation, they conquered tribe after tribe, engrafting upon those subdued their habits of Temperance and simple living. Success brought luxury and drunkenness. The King and his chief officers of State engaging in scenes of dis- graceful debauchery. The evil spread through all the land, destroying, in time, the strength and power of the people. The nations which had been conquered rose in rebellion, and secured their freedom and independence. The teaching of Mohammedan- ism has largely changed the habits of the people, so that to-day those remaining of this once great nation, are mostly total abstainers. Madam Barakut, in the autumn of 1910, opened a total ab- stinence mission in Syria, on behalf of the W.W.C.T.U. .At the close of a large gathering at Abeih she had an interview with the Governor-General, Yuseth Pasha Kasah, and urged him to put down the drinking of arrack, which has been doing much damage among the people. The Maronite Bishop who was present assured her of his sympathy. .Among others who have promised to support the efforts to spread the Temperance movement among the people, are Slamin Effendi Basteny (the Bayrout representa- tive in the Turkish Parliament), and Joseph Viah Bey. The fact that the Mohammedan religion enjoins total abstinence, makes it very difficult for any other kind of Temperance effort to be put forward. The Christians are however, an important element, con- stituting probably as much as a fifth of the whole population, so that there is plenty of scope for Temperance apart from the Mohammedans. The Government of Syria and Mesopotamia is in the hands ot the Turks, who appoint the Pashas, Governor-Generais, Dis- trict-Governors, and Mayors. The population of Syria and Meso- potamia (in 1910} was about 5,000,000, the great bulk of whom were total abstainers. Turkey. — The rise of the Ottoman Empire in the 13th cen- tury was largely due to the strict abstinence of the small Turkish tribe, which had its home in Central Asia. The decline of their power, at least so far as Europe is concerned, is largely due to their methods of treating those who' have come under their power. Turkey is essentially a theocratic absolute monarchy. The Sultan is not only the head of the State but is the recognised head of the Moslems throughout the world. Internal political differ- ences have led to many changes, but the intensely conservative and exclusive spirit shown by the authorities, has been a great and almost impassable obstacle to any reform. The fact that the Turkish soldier was a total abstainer has not detracted from his ability to carry arms, for he is counted one of the most formidable fighters in the world. One of the greatest feats recorded in history is that of the defence of Kars, during the Crimean war in 1854. The Russsians made a most determined attack but they were unsuccessful. Sir Fenwick Williams, who commanded the united forces in the defence, de- clared ; — “ Had not the Turkish army at Kars been literally a cold “ water army 1 am persuaded they never would have performed “ the achievement that crowned them with glory.” The Turks captured Constantinople in 1453, in which city they have since had their seat of Government. In 1876 a popular rising secured a constitution and a representative assembly, but this was withdrawn the following year. In igo8 another revolu- tion broke out and successfuly restored the constitution of 1876. The Legislature consists of two Houses. The members of the Senate are appointed by the Sultan, and the Chamber of Deputies, which contains 280 members, are elected by delegates, chosen for that purpose by the people who are registered as voters. CHAPTER ]I China “ Opium has been a great curse to China. It has destroyed more of our people than tear, pestilence, or famine- Under a Republican form of g-ovemment it is our earnest desire to thoroughly stamp out this evil, and to complete the trork that has already been done in the Opium reform. Re- membering with grateful appreciation what Great Britain has done for me and my country in the past, I appeal for further help to stop this sinful traffic now at the beginning of our new national life. \Ve ask in the name of Humanitt", and in the name of Righteousnes. the right to prohibit, within our own land, the sale of this fearful poison, both the foreign and native drug. We believe with the sale made illegal we can soon put an end to the cultivation. I make this appeal to the British people on behalf of my fellow- countrymen." Dr. Sun Yat Sen, First Provisiova' President of the Republic of China C1912^ The Liquor Traffic in China does not appear to have got any very great hold upon the people, although there are indications that with the suppression of opium smoking, spirit drinking may take its place. It is therefore of the utmost importance that this matter should be closely watched, and the Chinese Government induced to adopt prohibitive measures before the evil takes deeper root. That this is absolutely necessar}- is seen from the two last -Annual Reports of the British Governor of W'eihaiwei, from which the following quotations are taken : — “ The diminution in the use of opium seems to be leading to “ an excessive use of alcohol, and though drunkenness cannot “ yet be said to be a prevalent vice, cases of intoxication are un- “ doubtedly more numerous than in previous years." (1910). “ The excessive use of alcohol, to which reference was made “ in the Report for 1910, is on the increase. Cases of drunken- “ ness, which till recent years were veiy rare among the Chinese of this territory, are now becoming more numerous, and the " Chinese themselves say that this is due to the suppression of "opium smoking." (191 ij. Mr. R. S. Pratt, British Pro-Consul at Hankow, Che-Kaing Province, reports June, 1913 : — “ There is an increasing business with the Chinese in cheap qualities of p>ort5 and sherries and Mr. H. .A. Little, British Consul at .Amoy, Fokien Province, reports June. 1913: — "There is a growing taste for foreign wines and spirits." 133 The reports that the percentage of pauperism and crime, re- sulting from the use of intoxicating liquors, is very small, should not be taken too seriously, as no statistics are published by the Government in reference to these matters. Certainly at the large ports there is much drunkenness, both among the native and foreign population, and Missionaries declare that this has been on the increase during the last year or two. Apparently there has been no check put upon either the manufacture or sale of intoxi- cating liquors, and the terrible evils resulting from the Opium habit have outweighed those arising from Alcohol. The Govern- ment of China will be well advised, if at the commencement of their new Republic, they determine to prohibit both these drugs. A number of Temperance Societies, chiefly organised by the mis- sionaries, are doing something to warn the people of a danger which threatens them. For nearly eighty years a perpetual struggle has been main- tained by the Chinese against the introduction of opium into their country. They have declared it to be impossible to stop the cultivation of the drug in their own country, while it was being forced upon them from India. In the early thirties of the nine- teenth century the mandarins protested against the merchants introducing opium, and attempted by every means in their power to stop the trade. The traffic was prohibited and vigilant mea- sures adopted to prevent its importation. In 1839 they succeeded in getting Captain Elliot, the British Superintendent of Trade, to enjoin the handing over of all the opium in the hands of foreign merchants at Canton, and obtained a pledge that they would no longer deal in the drug. On the 3rd of April, 1839, over 20,000 chests ot opium were handed over to the Chinese authorities, and by them destroyed. This victory was celebrated throughout China by great rejoicings, but the British Govern- ment considered that the matter had not been dealt with in a right manner, war broke out between the two countries, and what is known as the “ Opium War ” lasted until 1842, when the Chinese surrendered, ceding Hong Kong to the victors, and agreeing to pay an indemnity, with the right of importing opium into China. The result of the war was a terrible blow to China, and the continued importation and use of the drug have degraded the people beyond description. Since 1842 many efforts have been made to secure the sup- pression of the opium traffic, but for revenue purposes, and no other, the Indian Government has been permitted to force the fatal drug upon the Chinese. In 1906 a resolution passed the House of Commons unanimously declaring the Indo-Chinese opium traffic to be morally indefensible, and the Government 154 announced Its willingness to co-operate with the Chinese Gov- ernment in extinguishing the evil in China. Later the same year the Chinese Government issued regulations to its subjects forbidding the growth of the poppy and setting a short time limit to the smoking of opium in China. In 1907 an agreement was arranged with the British Government to lessen the sale of opium to China by one-tenth every year, beginning with 1908, and terminating the whole Indo-Chinese opium traffic at the end of 1916, providing China reduced her own production at the same rate. Difficult as it was to prevent her own people producing an article which was being introduced by foreigners, China had by the middle of 1910 far exceeded the rate she had undertaken, for while the importation from India had only been reduced by 30 per cent, the production in China had been reduced by over 70 per cent. The reduction in the native production caused an extraordinary rise in the price of opium, by which the Indian Government secured as much revenue in three years and a quarter as had been considered possible during the whole time allowed for the process of prohibition. Under these circum- stances, in 1911, a new agreement was signed in which the British Government, “ recognising the large measure of success achieved by China in stamping out the production and con- sumption of opium,” promised China every assistance in com- pleting the work. It was therefore agreed that China should have full liberty to stamp out completely the smoking of opium ; and that as soon as ever China could prove that she had stopped the production of the native drug in any given province, that province should no longer be compelled to take any more opium from India; and in the meantime China undertook to withdraw the obstacles which some of her officials had put in the way of the Indian import trade. The earnestness and determination with which the Chinese set to work to secure the prohibition of the opium traffic, are an object lesson to other nations in connection with alcohol and other intoxicants. The principal of the S. L. Baldwin Theo- logical College, Foochow, in 1908, stated :■ — ” Intense interest is being taken by the people of Foochow ‘‘ in the abolition of the opium traffic. When the Government “announced its purpose of banishing opium from China many “ were incredulous, some doubting the sincerity of the Govern- “ ment in making the announcement, and some doubting its “ ability to carry out such a project. With every city, town, and “ village full of opium dens, and patronised by millions of opium “ smokers, the probability of being able to uproot this deep and “ widespread oviJ, certainly did not present a very hopeful pro- 155 “ spect, and it is not surprising that many should doubt and “ question. A more gigantic undertaking has probably never “ been attempted by any nation. To the surprise ot nearly “everybody the authorities took hold of the matter in such a “ determined and undaunted manner, that notwithstanding the “greatness of the task, it is the general opinion now that the “ traffic will be suppressed in a short time. The date fixed for the “ closing of the opium dens in Foochow was the 12th day of “ May, 1907. Those who were engaged in the opium business “ did all they could to resist the enforcement of the law. Several “ days previous to the time appointed for closing, over one “ thousand of the proprietors came together in mass meeting, “ in one of the heathen temples, passed resolutions against “ closing, and drafted a remonstration to the Viceroy. A large “ sum of money was also subscribed to fight the anti-opium law, “ but it was all in vain. The man who presented the petition “ was arrested and locked up in the prison. More positive and “ stringent orders than ever were issued for closing, and on this “ single day. May 12th, three thousand opium dens in Foochow “ city and suburbs went out of business, not considering it wise “ to offer further resistance. One man, who was related to some “ of the officials, presumed to trust to his infiuence with them for “ protection, and so did not close. He was summarily arrested, “ lodged in gaol, and his property confiscated. Two or three “ others who defied the law were loaded with chains, and in “ this way marched through the streets, as an example or warn- “ ing to others. Within a week of the law going into effect, “ so far as was known there did not exist in Foochow City a “ single opium den, so completely was the law enforced. The “ day the opium dens were closed was made a general holiday, “ and great rejoicings took place throughout the city. Flags “were floating from hundreds of business houses and private “dwellings; processions of students paraded the streets with “banners; great public demonstrations were held in different “ parts of the city, and in various other ways the people sought “ to give expression to their unbounded joy over the victory “ that had been won.” From Peking, Tientsin, Paoting and other cities came similar news, the country was alive with gladness over the prohibition of opium. The following is from Tientsin “ In former times, when one entered into an office or a shop, “ one would find at least one lamp and pipe for smoking pur- “ poses; now there is no trace of such things. All the hotels, “ inns and houses of entertainment in the Chinese city, and the “ foreign concessions at Tientsin are strictly prohibited from “ keeping lamps and pipes for opium smoking.” From Canton we learn that as soon as the opium dens were closed, the pipes and other apparatus connected with the 156 traffic were seized and brought to the market place for des- truction : — “Two great pyramids of opium pipes and traps collected “ from the dens closed by Imperial edict were built in front of “ the City Treasurer’s yamen, guarded by soldiers and students, “ while onlookers crowded the neighbouring roofs and every “ point of vantage. 'Fhe pryamids contained approximately “ 10,000 pipes. At the appointed time dry straw was piled “ round them, and deluged with paraffin. Then in the presence “ of a crowd of high officials, the signal was given, the torch “ applied, and the pile burnt amid the rejoicings of the people.’’ Then came the Chinese Revolution of 1911 and the setting up of a Republic in place of the dynasty which had existed for hundreds of years. During the disorder which naturally at- tended “ the transformation of the world’s oldest empire into its newest republic,’’ some advantage was taken by the farmers to plant the opium poppy once again, so that the spring harvest of igiz showed an increase in native production. But under the Presidency of Dr. Sun Yat Sen, and then of Yuan-Shih- Kai, the new Republican Government have taken vigorous steps to suppress the traffic. Drastic measures have been enforced against those who plant the poppy or deal in opium. From many provinces come stories of imprisonment, fines, and even beheadings to enforce the anti-opium laws. China’s rulers realise that the saving of the country from the devastating evils of opium is a life and death struggle for their people. The deception practised upon the people, in the interest of the traders in opium, is shown by the following, which appeared in the Central China Post, of December 14th, igia ; — “ The opium interests in London have been doing all in “ their power to induce the Government to revoke the opium “agreement of igii — that is, to open China again to a large “ importation of Indian opium because of the relapse of the revo- “ lution year. Few people knew that the London Times was utter- “ ing nonsense in declaring ' The fields of China are aflame with “ poppy to-day,’ at a time when one season’s harvest had been “ in the stores for months and when the next season’s sowing “ had not yet begun. Most people who read that took it to mean “ that the cultivation of opium was in full swing again through- “ out China, and they believed that to be the truth. They did “ not know that the modicum of truth on which it was based “ was true only for the revolution year. There are many places “ where, even during the revolution year, cultivation was effectu- “ ally prohibited, and others where the popp}' crops were rooted “ up before the harvest. And, as China has extricated herself 157 “ from the disorders of the revolution, the measures for suppres- “ sing the opium trade have become more and more stringent. The earnestness with which the new Government has entered upon their determination to suppress the opium traffic, is seen in the following from the Chinese Students’ Monthly, for March, 1913: — ■ “ The following is a translation of the terrifically drastic “ law recently enacted in China, aiming to suppress the use of “ opium completely. This law actually makes it a capital offence “ to smoke, grow or transport the drug, and there is not the “ least likelihood that the law will be allowed to become a dead “ letter. Indeed, it has already been enforced by the execution “ of two opium criminals at Changsha. The preamble of the “law is as follows; — ‘All opium criminals of the first degree “ will be shot until they are dead. A person or persons who shall “ be convicted of any of the following offences will be punished “as an opium criminal in the first degree: (i) A person who “ shall actually smoke the opium drug; (2) A person who shall “ actually smoke the opium drug, and secretly sell the same; (3) “ A person, planting the poppy, who shall create any disturbance “ with force and arms, when Government officers are on duty to “ enforce the opium extirpation law; (4) When three persons, or “ more, shall form a combination to smuggle or transport the “prohibited drug, and who shall create any disturbance with “ force and arms, when these persons are put under arrest or “ detained by authorised officers, or by gentries of the locality “ where the illegal trade is found. ’ ” A Reuter cablegram from Peking, of May 26th, 1913, con- veyed the following important news : — “ China having officially informed the British Government “ that the growth of the poppy had been entirely suppressed in “ Shantung, Anhui, and Hunan, and requested, therefore, in “ accordance with the opium agreement, the closing of these “ provinces to the importation of Indian opium. Sir John Jordan, “ the British Minister, has sent officials to inspect and report. “ The officials have reported that the suppression was astonish- “ ingly thorough, and these provinces will be closed forthwith.” Towards the end of 1912 Mr. E. S. Montagu, M.P. (Under Secretary for India), paid a special visit to India, making, no doubt, full inquiries in reference to the Indian opium traffic with China, so that when the question was brought before the British Parliament in May, 1913, he was much better able to put the Government position before the country. Mr. Montagu’s state- ment was so important and so far reaching that the writer ventures to give the following rather long extract ; — 15S “ The opium traffic was in a flourishing condition at the “ beginning of the sixteenth century. It had been going on ever “ since. No member could read the history of the traffic without “ serious misgivings as to whether Great Britain had not fallen “ far short of her Imperial ideals upon several occasions during “ that time. There was satisfaction in the fact that there had “ always been in the House of Commons a small but growing “ number of men who had never faltered in their determination “ to urge the cessation of the traffic. When the present Govern- “ ment came into office in igo6 the opium traffic with China was “ flourishing, legalised, unthreatened. No end was in sight. “ If anyone had then predicted that in a short period of years an “ Indian Finance Minister would have viewed without excessive “ emotion or even panic a total loss of the Indian revenue de- “ rived from the Indo-Chinese opium traffic he would have been “ regarded as a wrong-headed visionary. But the whole com- “ plexion of the situation was changed when it was demonstrated “ beyond doubt that there was in China a large number of men “ who abhorred the traffic, and were determined to put a stop to “ it, and when it was found that the Government of China, act- “ ing on behalf of the Chinese people, were anxious to rid them- “ selves of the terrible curse. There could not be the slightest “ doubt of the earnestness and the courage of the Chinese Gov- “ ernment and people as a whole in ridding themselves of opium. “ On this question there was no reason for cynicism or for “ scoffing. China was showing to the world an example of moral “ courage which was rare in the annals of the human race. China “ had an almost overwhelmingly difficult task to accomplish. “ China wants to stop the use of opium, and we are ready to “ help her. Our readiness to help has been acknowledged again “ and again. She asked us to conclude a treaty, and we agreed to “ the treaty. In 1907 the Indian Government, acting, of course, “ through His Majesty’s Government, determined to give to “ China the assistance she asked and deserved, and agreed to “extinguish the opium trade with China in ten years, on con- “ dition that in the same time China extinguished her growth “ of opium. The end of the Indo-Chinese opium trade may not “ be so quick as some people would wish, but the end is in sight “ in 1916 of a traffic over 400 years old, an end which could “ not be seen at all seven years ago, when this Government came “ into power. We have in India now abandoned altogether the “ revenue derived from the sale of opium to China for this year. “ We are to-daj' selling no opium for China at all, and I am here “ to-night in the proud position to say for the first time in the “ long history of India that we are selling not an ounce of poppy ‘ ‘ for China. ’’ The accumulated stocks of Indian opium at the various Chinese ports are causing a considerable amount of trouble. It 159 is estimated that these stocks are valued at ;^8, 000,000 ($40,000,000), and how to dispose of them is the problem that has to be solved. In May, 1913, General Chang:, President of the Chinese National Opium Prohibition Union, and an intimate friend of the President of China, arrived in England on a mission respecting this matter. Speaking, on June 5th, at a meeting of Members of Parliament, in the General Committee-room of the House of Commons, General Chang said : — “ Those whom he represented desired that China should be “ relieved from their obligation to admit the accumulated stocks “ of opium. It was very difficult to check the native growth so “ long as the farmer saw the foreigner still making profit out of “ the importation of opium.” The Manchester Guardian London correspondent, dealing with General Chang’s speech, said : — ” It cannot be said that their desire is unreasonable seeing ‘‘ that the Chinese have used very stringent measures in their “ own provinces to put a stop to the use of opium, and that at ‘‘ the present rate of consumption it would take thirteen months ” or more to absorb these stocks. To buy up the stuff by private ‘‘ subscription and destroy it is clearly impossible in view of the ‘‘ great sum of money involved. Perhaps a more accept- ” able proposal is that advocated by Dr. Wenham, who ‘‘ accompanied General Chang, namely, that by an arrange- ‘‘ment between the British Government and the Chinese Re- ” public the money now due to the country in respect of the ” Boxer Indemnity should be remitted so as to enable the author- ‘‘ ities in China themselves to purchase and destroy the stocks. “ Doubt is, however, expressed by many members as to the ” practicability of this from a financial standpoint. That it ‘‘ would be welcomed both in China and here as a substantial ‘‘ measure of reparation of injuries inflicted upon China bv ” British policy in the past would be generally agreed.” In the British House of Commons, on August 15th, 1913, Mr. T. C. Taylor, M.P., asked what decision the Government had come to in reference to the request from the Chinese Govern- ment to be released from the obligation to purchase any further Indian opium. Sir Edward Grey, M.P. (Foreign Secretary) stated that the Government could not agree to the proposal except as regards provinces where the production of native opium had ceased. Lieutenant General Chang, before leaving England for China, issued an appeal on August i6th, 1913, to the British people, in which he stated ; — 160 “ I was appointed by the National Opium Prohibition Union “ of China to come to England to put before the British Govern- “ ment and the people the real public opinion of China about the “ opium traffic, and to ask the British Government to release “ us at once from the obligation to receive any more Indian “ opium. During the three months I had personal interviews “ with Lord Crewe and Sir E. Grey and over 260 members of “ Parliament of all parties, and addressed public meetings in “ London, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester, Birming- “ ham, Bradford, and Newcastle. In the course of these inter- “ views and public meetings I told the Government and people “ of Britain the real facts about the opium question in China. “ Our people are in deadly earnest to get rid of this evil. “ No one in China who smokes opium can vote or become a “ public official. They cannot help feeling resentment against “ the country which is forcing upon us the very article bj' which “ we are degraded and disgraced. Such conditions are indeed “ intolerable when we reflect that we are sacrificing millions of “ revenue and hundreds of lives and struggling against the “ enormous difficulties, and that a foreign country forces us to “ receive the poison which we are so earnestly endeavouring to “ stamp out. “ I have striven to aw'aken the British Government, but 1 “ have not yet succeeded. I am going home to take the reply “ from your Government for which our people are anxiously “ waiting. I am sorry that I shall bring them an unsatisfactory “ reply. I earnestly beg that everyone, man or woman, in this “ country will do their utmost to write or speak to their friends “ in Parliament, or in the Government, that they may consider “ wisely and join with us in removing the root of wrong and in “ promoting righteousness in the world.” By Sir Edward Grey’s reply and General Chang’s appeal it will be seen that the opium question in China is not yet settled, but in the words of Mr. Montagu, ” The end is in sight,” and the victory cannot be long delayed. CHAPTER HI “ I myself feel that in a country like India the only real policy that will do in this matter is a policy of total prohibition. The most logical and natural position for Indians to take up was that the State should have nothing to do with the liquor traffic. If their wishes were consulted in the matter, that would be the policy the}" would endorse. There were other ways of raising revenue much less harmful than that of the Exise. Even the salt tax, much as I object to it, was more capable of being defended than the Excise revenue, for in the latter case, so much money was taken out of the pockets of the poor, and so much misery was added into the bargain,” The Hon. G. K. Gokhale, C.J.E. (1908). The history of ancient India reveals the fact that after the introduction of alcoholic liquors an enormous amount of drun- kenness resulted among all classes of the community. The evil became so great that a religious crusade was organised by “ the highest, most religious and cultured castes of Hindustan ” in favour of total abstinence. We lind that the Brahmins, the Germanas, and the Hyllobious (or Physicians) all joined in this crusade. The greatest of Hindu law-givers, Manu, issued 500 B.c. a most drastic edict against drinking, in which he said : — “ With the drinker of ‘ madhoo ’ let no one eat, no- one join “ in a sacrifice, no one read. With such a wretch let no one be “ allied in marriage. Let him be abject and excluded from all “ social privileges. Cast forth as a vagabond on the earth, “branded with indelible ignominy, he shall be deserted by his “ own parents, and treated with by none.’’ The Pentalogue of Buddha, 560 b.c., also enjoined total abstinence from all intoxicants. The millions who inhabited the Empire of the Ganges, as far as history can carry us, were changed from a drunken to a sober people. Priests, Sages and Physicians practised and taught total abstinence, and from those early centuries tO’ the present time, the Buddhists, Brahmins, Mohammedans and all the other religious sects of India have been in the main adherents of total abstinence and supporters of the entire prohibition of all alcoholic liquors. The administration of India by the British in reference to the liquor traffic has for years been condemned by the national leaders of the people. Important resolutions of protest have L 162 been adopted by National Congresses, and in a number of the Native States many edicts have been issued by the Princes and Councils, especially against the serving of young people with any kind of intoxicating liquors. The terrible scourge of alco- holism has, however, been growing in intensity year by year. The Indian Temperance Associations, the Good Templars, the \'V. W.C.T. U., and other organisations in India have been doing much to counteract the evil, while the Anglo-Indian Temperance Association in London has continually brought the question both before the India Office and Parliament. The need for Temperance effort and legislative reforms is evident from the growth in the consumption of alcoholic liquors and the enormous amount of Excise revenue, which is increas- ing every year. In this connection it must be remembered that the sale of all intoxicants in India is practically a Government monopoly. There are four classes of Intoxicants in addition to imported liquors, namely, toddy, country spirit, opium and hemp drugs. Toddy is a fermented liquor drawn from the Toddy Palm. W^hen freshly drawn it is considered a wholesome drink, but when fermentation has set in, as it will do about eight hours after being drawn from the tree, it becomes a dangerous intoxi- cant. To counteract the evil results of the traffic in fermented toddy, it is strongly urged by Temperance reformers, that a maximum quantity of toddy to be allowed to be drawn from the tree, or sold in toddy shops, should be fixed by law, and that trees should only be allowed to be tapped when within five miles of the toddy shop from which the toddy is to be sold. Country Spirits are manufactured in central distilleries belonging to or controlled by the Government. These distiller- ies are regulated by the Excise department, which is also respon- sible for the distribution of the liquor, and for the number, and the location, of the shops in which it is sold. To deal with this spirit traffic (and the toddy shops as well), it is proposed that the number of licences should be considerably reduced and that the hours of sale should be limited by the later opening and earlier closing of all licensed premises. That the auction system of licensing should be abolished, and fixed licence fees substi- tuted, as recommended by the Government Excise Committee of 1905-6, and that the licensing function be removed from the control of the Revenue Department and (with proper safeguards) placed in the hands of local committees or some other indepen- dent authority. 163 Opium and Hemp Drugs are largely consumed in India. The great struggle over the Opium trade with China has, to a great extent, caused the drug problem which exists in India to be very much overlooked. The drug habit is very prevalent in the north-east provinces, especially in Assam, where an official is now making investigations into the matter. The demand for the prohibition of opium, in accord with the example of China, does not meet with the support of the Government, but, important modifications in the internal opium policy have been announced, especially in connection with smoking and the preparation of smoking materials. Provincial Governments, including Burma, are invited by the Indian Government absolutely to prohibit these practices when carried on in saloons or gatherings numbering more than two persons. The Government also favour the re- duction of the amount of opium which any individual may law- fully possess, the increase of the price of opium when issued from Government treasuries, and also the revision of rules for the sale of morphia and other allied opium compounds, the general object aimed at being to reduce the consumption of the drug in all its forms. For many years it was contended that there was no increase in the consumption of alcoholic liquors, although there was an increase in the amount of the revenue. This contention can no longer be maintained, the evidence is too conclusive. The in- crease in the quantity of Country Spirits (which is the chief source of revenue), which are consumed in the four principal Provinces, is shown by the following figures : — Imperial Gallons. Province. 1894 - 95 . 1904 - 05 . 1909 - 10 . 1910 - 11 . Bengal 455.595 700, TOO 1,095,000 1,532,000 Bombay 2,073,730 2,383,000 2,533,000 2,798,000 Madras 1,255,665 1,279,537 1,51 1,000 I ,538,000 United Provinces 1,005,521 1,445,557 1,013,000 1 ,329,000 Totals 4,790,411 5,808,194 6,152,000 7,197,000 The totals for the Punjab, Central Provinces and Berar, and Eastern Bengal and Assam, are given as follows : : — 1909-10, 1,581,000 gallons. and in igio -II it was 1,961,000. It has been very difficult to get correct returns in reference to the drunkenness of India, several provinces make no returns under this head, and in other cases, where the information is given it is verv incomplete and unsatisfactory. 164 These figures are only given as instances of what may he regarded as the general tendency : — Province. Convictions for Drunkenness. 1909-10. 1910-1 1. Increase. Bengal 9,897 10,286 389 Bombay — 5.023 Central Provinces 384 490 106 L’nited Provinces 1,248 1,508 260 Bengal the figures only refer to m unicipal areas, and in Bombay no figures were issued until igii. Strange as it may appear, but with this large number of convictions for drunken- ness in Bombay there was not a single conviction recorded against any licensee for permitting drunkenness upon licensed premises. Though the figures are not given the report of the Excise Administration in the Punjab states : — “ The spread of drunkenness, leading in many cases to “ violent crime in the rural tracts of the Central Punjab, calls “ for urgent attention.” The Lieutenant-Governor’s preface to the report says : — ‘‘ It can only be concluded that apart from the yery serious ‘‘ increase of drunkenness in districts such as Ferozepore, the ‘‘ number of persons who have acquired the habit of indulgence ‘‘ in alcohol is steadily increasing throughout the province.” And in subsequent speeches the Lieutenant-Governor (Sir Louis Dane), has stated that : — ‘‘ Intemperance was prevalent in the central districts,” that ‘‘ the practice was becoming widespread and was confined to no ” class in particular,” for ‘‘prince and peasant, educated and ‘‘ uneducated, were being involved in a common ruin.” Sir Gurudas Banerjee (late Judge of the Calcutta High Court) states : — ‘‘ Not only was it unnecessary but mischievous to take ‘‘ liquor in India. The crime and wrong caused by intemper- ‘‘ ance was enormous, and the cost to the State far outweighed ‘‘ the amount received as Excise revenue.” From every province comes the same opinion, expressed by the highest and most capable of India’s public men and leaders. The statistics of the amount of Excise revenue raised from the manufacture, importation and sale of intoxicating liquors, may not be a reliable guide in arriving at the facts regarding either the consumption of liquor, or the amount of drunkenness resulting therefrom, but it does indicate the constantly increas- ing amount of money that is being expended in these dangerous intoxicants. The rate of increase has been so rapid that the causes assigned by Government officials are obviously insuffi- cient, and other explanations are needed. 165 The following are the total Excise revenue returns for the years stated ; — Years. ;6' $ 1874-75 1,564,000 7,820,000 1884-85 2,674,000 13.370,000 1894-95 3,618,000 18,090,000 1904-05 5,353,000 26,765,000 1905-06 5,687,000 28,435,000 1906-07 5,898,000 29,490,000 1907-08 6,227,000 31.135.000 1908-09 6,389,000 31,945,000 1909-10 6,537.000 32,685,000 1910-1 1 35.150,000 191 1-12 (revised estimate) 7,646,000 38,230,000 1912-13 (Budget 7,907,000 39,535,000 estimate) In the issue of “The Moral and Material Progress of India,’’ for 1912, the following figures are given to show that the Excise revenue is increasing over the greater part of India. These figures are in respect to the seven major provinces for the years 1909-10 and 1910-1 1 : — 1909-10 1910- I I Province $ £ $ Bengal 1,119,561 5,595.805 1.198,435 5.992,175 Bombay ... 1.172,623 5,863,315 1,265,670 6,328,350 Central Provinces and Berar ... 488,896 2.444.480 537.600 2,688,000 Eastern Bengal and Assam . . . 487,006 2,435.030 524.726 2,623,630 Madras ... 1.793.698 8,968,490 1.841,997 9.209,985 Punjab ... 288,783 1,443.915 380,318 1.901,590 United Provinces 573.470 2,867,350 674,225 3.371.125 The approximate increase in Excise for the eleven years ending 1911-12 has been as follows: — Bengal, 24 per cent., Bombay, 90 per cent., Central Provinces, 80 per cent.. Eastern Bengal and Assam, 44 per cent., Madras, 120 per cent., Punjab, 120 per cent, and the United Provinces, 51 per cent. The late Mr. W. S. Caine, a Member of the British Parliament, some few years ago, made a complete study of the liquor system in India, travelling for many months in the various provinces. At the conclusion of his investigations he declared : — “ The whole Excise policy of the Indian Government is “ hostile to the true interest of the Indian people, and runs “ counter to their religious convictions and social habits, which “ are violently opposed to the use of everything that intoxicates. ’’ 166 In 1905 the late Viceroy, Lord Curzon, appointed a Com- mittee of officials “to inquire into the Excise administration and to promote reforms therein.’’ The report of this Committee was published in December, 1906, and was a distinct advance upon previous reports. The Committee approved the steady abolition of the outstill system, and expressed the opinion that the general arrangements for distillery control needed complete revision in all Provinces except Madras. They also recommended a con- siderable increase in the duty on foreign beer, which has been adopted. The consumption of imported spirits was admitted to be increasing out of all proportion to the increase of the popula- tion. The chief remedies proposed by the Committee were an increase of taxation, and a limitation of the number of shops, particularly those for consumption on the premises. The Pro- hibition of the traffic has not yet entered into the serious con- sideration of the permanent officials, but it is satisfactory to note that the Government is becoming' alive to the importance of con- sulting local opinion upon this great question. Year by year larger powers are being given to the repre- sentatives of Indian opinion upon the Legislative Councils, and Excise matters are among the first questions brought under discussion. Within a very short space of time the question has been before every one of the provincial Legislative Councils, but the Indian representatives being in the minority at present on these Councils, in most cases their proposals have been re- jected. The desire of the Indian representatives may be gathered from the following : — Madras. In the Madras Legislative Council, on April 6th, 1910, The Hon. Mr. K. Perrazu Pantulu moved : “ That this Council recommends to His Excellency the “ Governor in Council that local option as to the location of “ shops for vending toddy and country spirits within municipal ’ ’ limits be given to the Alunicipal Councils, and that no special “licences be issued for toddy and country liquor shops during “ fairs and religious festivals.’’ Not a very drastic resolution, but it was opposed by the Government and rejected. .Again on February 14th, 191a, the question was before the Madras Legislative Council, when the Hon. Rao Bahadur P. Theagaraya Chetty moved the following resolution : — “ This Council notes wuth regret the large rise in the con- “ sumption of toddy and arrack that has been steadily going on “ in this Presidency, in spite of the most stringent measures taken “ by the authorities to check the evil, and resolves to respect- “ fully recommend the Government the adoption of the following 167 ‘‘remedial measures from the next official year; — (i) The “ closing of all toddy and arrack shops at 8 p.m. instead of “g p.m.; {2) the gradual reduction of the strength of arrack “ from 30 per cent, under proof to 35 per cent, under proof, by “ two degrees in each of the first two years, and by another “degree in the third year; (3) the prohibition of the sale of “ toddy and arrack to persons below the age of 18 years, thus “ raising the age limit from 14 Uo 18; (4) the restriction of the “ quantity to be sold at a time to a maximum per head of half “ a Madras measure in the case of toddy, and ij dram in the “ case of arrack; (5) the reintroduction of the system of allow- “ ing sales of toddy under the trees tapped; (6) the restriction “ of the quantity of arrack to be supplied to shops during festi- “ vals which do not attract pilgrims to 50 per cent., in addition “ to the average daily supply issued during the preceding twelve “ months; and (7) sales of shops once in three years instead of “ every year as at present.” Although the Government of Madras has repeatedly ad- mitted the growing seriousness of the evil, the main propositions of the resolution were opposed by the Government and therefore rejected. Clause 2 was accepted, and Clause 3 was amended and adopted, fixing the age at 16. Bombay. Similar efforts have been made in the Bombay Legislative Council with similar results. On March 13th, 1911, the Hon. Mr. Cokuldas K. Parekh moved : “That Government would be pleased to give a trial to the “ principle of local option within specified areas in which the “ majority of inhabitants express a desire for the removal of “liquor shops from such areas.” Again in the Council of April, 1912, the Hon. Mr. Karandi- kar moved a resolution in favour of experimental prohibition in selected areas. Both resolutions were opposed by the Government and there- fore rejected. The United Provinces. Similar action has been taken in tho Legislative Council for the United Province, but with no better result. On April loth, 1911, The Hon. Mr. Ganga Prasad Varma moved : — “ That this Council recommends that instructions be issued “ to the Commissioner of Excise that no special licences should “ be granted for the sale of liquors and intoxicating drugs on “ the occasion of religious festivals, and that all shops lying on “ the roads leading to religious melas be closed on the appointed “ dates. ” 168 In spite of the unanimous support of the Indian members of the Council, the Government opposed the resolution and it u^as rejected. In all the other provinces the subject has been raised and althoug'h the Indian members have been practically unanimous in their recommendations, with some very minor exceptions, the Government have opposed the resolutions and therefore they have been rejected. This action is greatly to be regretted and cannot long continue. In addition to the efforts which are being put forth in India, the Anglo-Indian Temperance Association, of which Mr. Frederick Grubb is the Secretary, has done splendid work in England by repeated interviews with the Secretary of State for India; by bringing the question before Parliament; and by meetings at which leading Indians, visiting Great Britain, have spoken upon the importance of the question to the Indian people. Mr. Grubb, and other members of this Association, have also visited India, to investigate and report. In igi 2 (July i8th) a large deputation, organised by the Anglo-Indian Temperance Association, and representing all the great Temperance Societies of Great Britain, waited upon the Secretary of State for India (Lord Crewe), Sir Herbert Roberts, Bart., M.P., introduced the deputation and presented a most important memorial. Two of India’s foremost statesmen placed the matter before Lord Crewe, with great earnestness and ability. The Hon. G. K. Gokhale, C.l.E., said: — “ I am very glad to have this opportunity of taking part in “ these proceedings, because the question of Temperance is one “of those subjects which intimately concerns the future of “ India, and all who have the moral and material interests of “ the country at heart take a deep and most vigilant interest in “ its progress. I will state frankly at the outset that personally “ I am a Prohibitionist, and I believe that total prohibition is “ really in keeping with the sentiment of the Indian people. “ Meanwhile, the well-wishers of India are prepared to join “ in every endeavour to check the growth, and, if possible, to “ reduce the extent of the evil which I venture to think is in- “ separable from the present system of Excise administration “ in India. Anyone who has studied this question will have been “ struck by three outstanding features of the situation. “ The first is that the consumption of liquor, moderate or “ immoderate, is contrary to the sentiment of the great majority “ of the people of India, and in many classes of Indian Societ}' “ it has never been practised. The second fact is that in pre- “ British times the State did not regulate the liquor traffic, and 16‘J “ did not have this extremely large revenue from drink, and this “ fact in a way disqualifies the British Government from being “ an impartial judge in this matter. Ihirdly, and lastly, there “ is no' doubt that the consumption of liquor is on the increase. “ There is a universal consensus of opinion in India on the sub- “ ject among non-officials — missionaries included — and I think “ that even officials admit it to a certain extent. “ There is no doubt the Government has no wish to spread “the habit of drinking. Everybody recognises that at once. “ They do not want to spread drinking, but the}' are interested “ in the revenue that arises from it, and that constituted a seri- “ ous difficulty in dealing with the question. Therefore the “ revenue authorities should not be the licensing authority. My “ second point is that the system of putting up licences to auction “ must be abolished. These are two important steps without “ which no real impro\'ement in the whole situation can be “ effected. ’’ The Hon. D. P. Sarvadhikary, M.A., Member of the Bengal Legislative Council, said : — “ The location and number of the shops licensed for the “ sale of drink constitutes one of the most important matters “ calling for attention. Larger reforms may be a matter of time, “ but legislative interference with regard to the location and “ number of shops and the hours of opening could be at once “ undertaken by means of a chang'e in administrative policy, if ‘ ‘ your Lordship will only be good enough to see things from the “ point of view we desire to place before you. In India we live “ under settled conditions. Those who’ really want the drink “ can get it at their own places. What we are fighting against “ is the dram-drinking at these smaller shops. No Hindu or “ Mohammedan worthy of the name, and no- respectable member “ of Indian Society would take a bottle of drink into his own “ house and consume the contents in the presence of and with “ his family and friends. These people are tempted to go into “ the liquor shops in the early hours of the morning and in the “ late hours of the day ; they have, as it is, a very small share of “ this world’s material prosperity, and too much of that, unfor- “ tunately, goes to the drink shop instead of being taken home. “ Many people will not venture to gO’ to these shops in daylight; “ they go under the cover of the night to get their drink. That “ is one reason why we ask for a curtailment in the hours of “ opening. “If we had our own way most of the drink shops wmuld “ disappear to-morrow, but we do appeal for something to be “ done in the way of reducing the number of these shops, and “ the hours of opening, as this at any rate would go some way “ toward minimising the evil of which we have so much to “ complain. ’’ 170 The reply of the Secretary of State was considered by the deputation to be in the main, satisfactory. His Lordship practi- cally admitted the strength of the case submitted to him, and although he would not commit himself to a complete application of the principle of local option he recognised the desirability of improving, as far as possible, the machinery of the .Advisory Committees, and he promised to convey the suggestions made to him on this and other matters to the Government of India. The iJidiati Jl’itness of Calcutta, in igo8, under the heading, “ Shall Prohibition be the issue,” said : — ‘‘ Indications are at hand which show that in the near future ‘‘ the friends of the Temperance reform in this land will be com- ‘‘ pelled to decide whether the logic of the situation does not ‘‘ demand that they set before them as their avowed goal the ‘‘ prohibition of the open beverage retail sale of alcoholic drinks. ” About all has been obtained by way of regulation that may be ” expected. The decision in the Poona case concerning picket- ‘‘ ing; the reply of the Government of Bombay to the Temper- ‘‘ ance deputation; and the conclusions reached in Bengal, all ” point to little change for the lessening- of the evils of the trade. ‘‘ If there is to be a regulated trade, further slight improve- ‘‘ ments may be made, but nothing worthy the name of a serious ‘‘ or sweeping reform. ” There are at least five groups of people who ought to be ‘‘ brought under the operation of prohibitory law. Hindus, ‘‘ whose religion forbids the use of alcoholic beverages, ought to ” be protected by law in living as abstemiously as their religion ‘‘demands. The same is true of Mohammedans. It ought not ‘‘ to be that conversion to Christianity and the breaking down ‘‘ of caste rules should lead to greater exposure to drink. The ‘‘ aboriginal peoples should be protected from the ravages of ‘‘ drink, along with other child races in the world. Those who ‘‘ are lifted above the poverty line by the improvement of eco- ‘‘ nomic conditions should not find that they are met on this ‘‘ higher level with the temptations of facilities for drink.” ‘‘If Government and business houses would find it difficult ‘‘ to secure from England abstaining clerks, and if educated, ‘‘ wealthy, self-poised Indians must have their wines, there are ‘‘ other ways than the open bar of the retail shop for them to ‘‘ get their supply of poison. The avowed policy of the Govern- ‘‘ ment not to extend the drink habit requires that the open ‘‘ shops for beverage sale be abolished, leaving those who now ‘‘ drink to get their supplies some other way. Sufficient data ‘‘is at hand to prove that it is the retail shop which is the ‘‘ drunkard factory among the masses.” CHAPTER IV Ceylon “The highest morality is inculcated in the system of Buddha. Drink, opium, and all that tends to destro}' the composure of the mind are discoun- tenanced. Buddha said, ‘ Man, already dark with ignorance, should not add thereto by the imbibing of alcoholic drinks.’ One of the vows taken by the Buddhist monks and by the laity runs thus, ‘ I take the vow to abstain from intoxicating drinks because they hinder progress and virtue.’ The dangers of modern life originate chiefly from drink and brutality, and in Buddhist countries, the law, based upon the teaching of Buddhism, prohibits the manufacture, sale and use of liquor. The inscription of Asoka, and the histories of Ceylon, Burma, and other Buddhist countries prove this.” H. Dhartiapala, Ceylon ( 1902 J. By a convention entered into with the Kandyan chiefs in 1815 the entire sovereignty of the island was handed over to the British Government, who in return guaranteed to the inhabitants civil and religious liberty ; the inviolability of the Buddhist re- ligion ; and the administration of the laws of the country in the established forms. With the exception of three slight attempts at rebellion (1817, 1843 and 1848J, there has been a remarkable acceptance, on the part of the people, of this legislation. The greatest difficulties have arisen in connection with the liquor traffic. Revenue seems, in spite of many protests to the contrary, to be the first and last object of the Government, and the welfare of the people takes a second place. By far the greatest proportion of the inhabitants of the island are Sinhalese, who are followers of Buddha, while the Tamils, wffio come next in number, are Hindus, and the Arabs, Mohammedans. The Christians form a very small proportion of the population. Under these circumstances it will readily be seen that the religion of the people, whether Buddhism, Hindu- ism or Mohammedanism, is against the use of intoxicating liquors, and the liquor traffic would be largely prohibited, if the question was left to the decision of the people. That may be the reason why the authorities refuse to grant any practical local option, and leave the licensing power in the hands of the revenue officials. The recent history of the liquor question in Ceylon forms one long series of mistakes and blunders, some of which are worse than crimes. Its people for ages have been total abstainers, its former kings refusing to receive revenue from intoxicants, or to have any connection whatever with the manufacture or sale of such things. It is no exaggeration to say that the introduction of European spirits has been a great curse to the people. Many of the leaders of these people declare that the invaluable blessing conferred by British rule is threatened with partial destruction, if the strongest possible steps are not immediately taken to stem the flood of intemperance which is spreading over the country. While a large portion of the island is at present practically free from the evil, the growth of the traffic during the last thirty- five years has been enormous. The importation of European spirits has more than doubled, while the consumption of arrack (spirit) is now very great indeed, and there is much toddy drinking also. The following' is in round figures the amount of spirits imported into Ceylon, in 1876 and igo6 : Year. Brandy (gals.) Gin (gals.) Whisky (gals.) Totals. 1876 49,000 28,000 r9o°° 1906 45,000 80,000 77,000 202,000 No wonder the religious and educational leaders complain, no wonder the planters declare that the coolies and natives are becoming- deteriorated, and that the people themselves, when they see their fellows going to destruction through alcoholic liquors, should be desirous of some more stringent legislation against this traffic. Some time since a Buddhist preacher is reported to have declared : — “ Before we were civilised, or heard of the Christian religion, “our people were known for their sobriety. Your Western “ civilisation has taught us the drink habit, and unless immedi- “ ate repressive measures are taken we shall soon become the “ degenerate descendants of a noble race.” At the latter part of the nineteenth century the Good lempiar Order and the W.W.C.T.U. commenced operations in the island, and although neither at present have a large membership, much good work has been accomplished. In 1904 a remarkable Temperance revival broke out, especially among the Sinhalese, over 190,000 taking the total abstinence pledge. A most inter- esting account of this uprising was given to the writer by Mrs. Stevenson, of Colombo, in which she says : — “ One man who had been a victim of drink was the first to “ cry out against it. A small band in his native village joined “ with him. The movement took root in other villages and “ swept onward with surprising rapidity — literally thousands “ enrolled themselves under the total abstinence banner. The “ movement advanced with such rapidity that the arrack “ (brandy) farmers and dealers became alarmed. They went to 173 “ the revenue collectors, and said that they simply could not pay “ their revenue taxes. The Government set officials to watch, “and verify or disprove the statments of ‘the trade.’ They “ found them unquestionably true. Revenue, in the East as in “ the West, is the sacred centre of a nation’s life and honour. “ In Ceylon, the thoroughly pernicious system obtains of selling “ the licences at what is practically an auction, giving them to “ the highest bidder. W^lien it became evident that the sacred “ rights of revenue were endangered, the Government addressed “ a letter to the head-men of each village, telling them that they “ would each be held personally responsible for the acts of every “ member of this new Temperance Society, if its existence was “ encouraged in their village. Many of the head-men who had “ joined the movement returned to their arrack drinking, and “ many of the people followed. Is it to be wondered at that the “movement quickly subsided? A movement is on foot to re- “ organise, but this, for some time, must be difficult, unless more “ enlightened views are taken by the Government.” The subsequent action of the Government was even worse instead of better, showing its lack of appreciation of the evils of alcoholism and of the feeling of detestation to the liquor traffic held by the mass of the people of Ceylon. In spite of the fact that the Temperance movement had been largely destroyed in the interest of the arrack renters and the revenue, a few noble- minded people, many of them Government employees, Euro- peans, and others, kept the movement alive, and in igii another fairly strong movement had again been organised throughout the island. Then came the Excise Commission Report and the determination of the Government to force upon the people some 1,200 toddy shops, and the opening of a Government distillery. The people being now better organised, immediately opposed the action of the Government with great determination, and while they have not yet succeeded in getting the toddy licences pro- hibited, they have succeeded in stopping the establishment of Government distilleries. Then followed the most extraordinary action ever taken by British representatives in reference to Temperance. Amending the General Orders to Government Servants the Ceylon Govern- ment issued a circular dated May 2nd, 1913, the terms of which were as follows : — “ (i) Any public servant who wishes to join a Temperance “ or Total Abstinence Society must first obtain the permission “ of the Head of his Department. “ (2) If permission is accorded it will be on the express con- “ dition that the officer takes no part In the management of the “ Society, and that he does not attend public meetings organised ‘ ‘ Ijy the Society. 174 “ (3) Permission to join such societies should not be given “to administrative officers, such as head-men.’’ A wild outburst of protest arose both in Ceylon and in Great Britain against this action of the Ceylon Government. Letters and resolutions of protest were sent to Mr. Harcourt, Secretary of State for the Colonies, in large numbers. Questions were asked in Parliament, and everything that was possible was done to get the Order annulled. On June iith, Mr. John Newton, Secretary of the Native Races and the Liquor Traffic United Committee, who had done so much to oppose the Order, received a cablegram from Dr. Fernando, of Colombo, stating that the Ceylon Government had unconditionally withdrawn the Order prohibiting Government officials and village head-men from belonging to Temperance Societies. On June i6th, the Secretary of State for the Colonies wrote to Mr. Newton, confirming the reported withdrawal of the obnoxious order. This was a great victory for the Temperance organisations, but it is to be feared that much harm has been done to the movement in Ceylon, which will take some years to rectify. In 1870 there were about 1,500 general liquor licences in the Island, and with the approval of the Governor (the late Sir William Gregory), is was determined to make a gradual re- duction in the number, and Sir M’est Ridgway, who was ap- pointed Governor in 1895, warmly approved of this reduction, so that the number of licences issued fell to about 1,000, and in 1911 they had still further been reduced to about 850. This action on the part of the Government was heartily approved by every section of the community. In 1911 a sudden change was proposed which in 1912 culminated in an .Act passing through the Legislative Council, permitting the opening of 1,600 new Toddy liquor shops. .A general outburst of indignation arose throughout the island, but in spite of all the opposition, both in Ceylon and in Great Britain, some 1,200 of these todd}' licences were issued. Over 4,500 Buddhist priests — practically the whole priesthood of the island — petitioned the Secretary of State (Mr. Harcourt) to save them and their people from the curse of drunkenness, and in several of the memorials sent to the Govern- ment were words to this effect : — “ Our prayer to our Christian Governors is ‘ Lead us not into temptation.’ ’’ Such an appeal surely ought not to fall upon deaf ears. The fact that between 80 and 90 per cent, of the inhabitants of Ceylon are by religion total abstainers, made the issue of these licences totally unnecessary, and subsequent events proved that thev could not be successfully conducted in a large number of 175 places. The liquor party at first thought no doubt that it would be a good speculation to secure these toddy licences, and they accordingly bid high for the licences, but the people, led by their priests, frequently determined not to let, lease, or to sell any land or buildings for the opening of these new liquor shops, with the result that great obstacles were placed in the way of this extension of the liquor traffic. Masses of the people also as- sembled in public meeting and pledged themselves not to touch toddy or to have anything to do with the new toddy liquor shops. The Government really forced these liquor shops upon many of the villages, in some places appropriating Crown land for this purpose, in others taking a piece of road reservation, and in one instance where these things could not be done, a portion of a burial-ground was acquired, to the profound disgust of the inhabitants. That the Government made a great blunder is shown by the fact that in a number of cases the persons who purchased the licences have had to surrender them, because they could not sell enough toddy to make it a paying concern. In these cases the licences have been put up to auction again and re-sold for enor- mous reductions upon the original offers. In one issue of the Ceylon Government Gazette (30th August, 1912), no less than 87 of these surrendered licences were advertised for re-sale, a clear proof that they were not required by the people. But if additional evidence was needed this is forthcoming in the prices obtained at the re-sale. In Udagaha North, Western Province, eight toddy licences were sold in May, 1912, for 1,590 rupees (;^io6 or $530). The purchaser having done so little business that he could not continue to pay this amount, the licence was re-sold in January, 1913, for the unexpired five months, for 50 rupees only (;i ^3 6s. 8d. or $16.66). In Udagaha South eight licences, and in Kottawa four licences, were re-sold at the same price. In many other places similar results and prices obtained. In 1912 (July 22nd) a large and influential deputation from the Native Races and the Liquor Traffic United Committee, waited upon the Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Har- court), and presented a memorial in reference to the terrible state of things in Ceylon. Sir Herbert Roberts, Bart., M.P. , introduced the deputation, and two remarkable addresses were delivered, one by Dr. H. M. Fernando, of Colombo, who repre- sented the Low Country Products Association, of Ceylon, and the other by Mr. D. B. Jayatilaka B.A., late Principal of the Buddhist College at Colombo. Dr. Fernando said : — “ During the last thirty years excise reform has been at- “ tempted on three distinct occasions. In every instance the 176 “ solution of the problem has been left to the ingenuity of a “ Government official who has invariably furnished a report and “ formulated suggestions. The questions involved have never “ been thrashed out by a representative committee of official and “ unofficial members working together. No evidence has been “ taken from unofficial sources. The wholesale dumping of “ toddy shops throughout the country, with a suddenness and “ secrecy almost dramatic, at a time when the Excise Bill was “ being considered in the local legislature, has created a pro- “ found sensation in the Colony. More than twenty meetings “ have been held at various centres, which were followed by a “ monster meeting in Colombo, to which delegates were sent “ from the provincial towns. At all these meetings strongly- “ worded resolutions condemning the establishment of the toddy “ shops have been passed unanimously. Speaking from an “ experience of over thirty years I can most emphatically assert “ that never before in the Island has a Government policy re- “ ceived such widespread condemnation and disapproval.” Mr. Jayatilaka said : — ” I have the honour to represent the views and interests of ‘‘ the Buddhists of Ce3don, who form the bulk of the people of ‘‘ the Island. In reference to Excise reform, we hold that the ” Government has not set about this important task in the right ‘‘ way. No question of such vital importance to ever}' member ‘‘ of the community has been before the Government in recent ‘‘ times. But at no stage of its long course of investigations and ‘‘ deliberations did the Government take the people fully into its ‘‘confidence. It ignored public opinion and showed itself very ‘‘ impatient and intolerant of all the criticism and opposition to ‘‘ any part of the scheme. It is now clear that the Government ‘‘ has miscalculated the strength and misunderstood the origin ‘‘ and character of that opposition. In reference to the estab- ‘‘ lishment of arrack distilleries, we view this proposal with ‘‘ serious alarm. If the Government embarks upon this enter- ‘‘ prise* the step is bound to have the serious effect of lowering ‘‘ the dignity and prestige of the British Government in the eyes ‘‘ of our people. In this connection it must be remembered that ‘‘ Ceylon is a Buddhist country. It mav be aptly described as ‘‘ the home of Buddhism. Now Buddhism, strict!}' speaking, ‘‘prohibits the use of all intoxicants; more than that, it con- ‘‘ demns as a low, vicious, and unrighteous occupation the manu- ‘‘ facture and sale of any kind of intoxicating drink or drug. This ‘‘ principle was strictly obser^-ed by the Sinhalese Kings of old, ‘‘ not one of whom ever had anything to do, directly or indirectly, ‘‘ with the manufacture or sale of liquor. These facts of history ‘‘ are remembered by our people, and it will give a very severe This proposal was vetoed by the Colonial Secrelar}'. ‘ shock indeed to the ideas which they habitually associate with ‘ the duties of sovereignty if they ever find ihe British Govern- ‘ ment has established distilleries of its own for the manufacture ‘ of arrack. Every act of Government is generally regarded ‘ by our people as an expression of the King’s will and pleasure ‘ carried into execution by his servants. Such being the case, ‘ what the moral effect of this proposal will be if it is really car- ‘ ried out, can be easily imagined. For one thing, it will most ‘ certainly impair those feelings of personal attachment, devo- ‘ tion and reverence with which our people have ever been used ‘ to look up to the British Throne as the fountain head of all ‘ that is good and noble, and the source of everything that is ‘ calculated to promote the well-being of those who owe allegi- ‘ ance to it. “ In reference to the omission of any scheme of local option, ‘ I respectfully submit that no scheme of Excise reform which ‘ really aims at the promotion of sobriety can ever attain this ‘ object unless our people themselves are associated in its ‘ working. Of course, official attitude is dead against such a ‘ proposal. They tell us over and over again that no such thing ‘ as local option is possible in Ceylon. With all due deference, ‘ I venture to say that that opinion is entirely wrong, and can ‘ only be explained as the offspring of that prejudice, so habitual ‘ to the official mind in Eastern lands, which maintains the view ‘ that Orientals must be treated like little children to the end of ‘ all time. But, sir, the people of Ceylon, both Sinhalese and ‘ Tamils, are not just emerging from a state of barbarism into ‘ civilisation. They have behind them an historic past, great ‘ in achievement, of which an)? nation may well be proud. Cen- ‘ turies before the arrival of the Europeans, there was in the ‘ Island a regular and settled form of government, under which ‘ the people enjoyed some measure of local self-government. ‘ The village councils and tribunals, which exist even to-day, ‘ are the survivals of that ancient system. It is scarcel}? rea- ‘ sonable to hold that those who inherit such traditions are ‘ utterly incapable of exercising their judgment in a matter ‘ closely affecting their material and moral welfare. “ Our religion, our traditions, our habits and customs are ‘ all opposed to this alien vice It can, therefore, be checked ‘ only by the hearty co-operation of the people with the Govern- ‘ ment. But such co-operation is possible only if some responsi- ‘ billty is thrown on the community, and the people are given ‘ some definite controlling influence over the liquor traffic. The ‘ adoption of a liberal measure of local option will undoubtedly ‘ result in the gradual reduction of the revenue from this source ; ‘ but whatever loss may be incurred will be repaid tenfold by the ‘ decrease of crime and by the increase of the prosperity and ‘ happiness of the people. We appeal to you, therefore, to give ‘ our people the right to defend themselves against this curse 178 “ which, if not checked now, will in the not distant future repro- “ duce in our country, perhaps in a more virulent form, many of “ those evils which have become the despair of the social re- “ former in these Western lands.” Mr. Harcourt’s reply to the deputation was sympathetic, but while, unfortunately, he refused to advise His Majesty the King to disallow the new Excise Law, he declared in favour of Local Option. In a letter to Sir H. E. McCallum, the Governor of Ceylon, under date of 26th July, 1912, he said : — ‘‘ You will observe that several members of the deputation ‘‘ urged that some form of ‘ local option ’ should be introduced ” in connection with the issue of licences. I note that this sub- ‘‘ ject was discussed at length by the Select Committee of the ‘‘ Legislative Council which considered the draft of the Ordi- ‘‘ nance, and that the Committee has placed on record certain ‘‘ recommendations for the guidance of the officers entrusted ‘‘ with the framing of rules under Section 31 (2) (b). These ‘‘ recommendations, however, are only to the effect that the ” licensing officer should consult certain recognised public bodies ” and should afford an opportunity for the residents of the ” locality concerned to place their views before him. It appears ‘‘ to me, how’ever, that it is most desirable that the issue of ‘‘ licences should be placed more directly under the control of ” public opinion than is contemplated in these recommendations. ” I am strongly of opinion that the proper course to adopt is to ” provide, by the rules framed under the Ordinance, for the ” establishment of Licensing Boards in each Province, or possi- ” bly in each district, by whose advice the Government Agent ‘‘ or other licensing officer will be guided in deciding whether ‘‘ or not to issue a licence for any arrack or toddy shop. I attach ” great importance to this matter, and I should be glad if you ” would devise as soon as possible, a scheme for giving effect ‘‘ to this suggestion.” The Governor of Ceylon opposed the establishment of Licensing Boards, with the result that Mr. Harcourt agreed, in October, 1912 ; ‘‘ That, in the first instance, the Boards should possess merely advisory powders,” which is a very small conces- sion, and under the present officials will in all probability be rendered of still smaller effect. The principle has, however, been admitted, and under a more enlightened Governor and Legislative Council it will, we hope, be brought into full opera- tion, to the betterment and happiness of the people. CHAPTER V Burma, Cochin China, Siam and Tibet “ The State in ancient days thought it its duty to put down wine-drinking' as much as to put down adultery, theft, murder and all the other classes of crime. The effect of this religious prohibition was that the country was remarkabl}' free from the vice of intemperance. Occasional references are made in old literature to the evils of intemperance. These narrations point a moral, and teach by the citations of examples how ruin is brought about by the violation of drastic rules. And when we read of some Pauranika personages indulging in prohibited drinks, we have to remember the revealed teaching ; only their good deeds should find imitation, not their bad ones.” Mahamahopadkyaya Pandit Adityaram Bhattacharya, HI. A., Chairman of the Reception Committee, All-India Temperance Conference ( 1905.) The great mass of the people throughout Burma, Cochin China, Siam and Tibet are followers of Buddha, and therefore total abstainers. Probably throughout Asia there are more than 500,000,000 Buddhists, and every effort is made by the priests to maintain the principles upon which their religion is founded, which are : Self conquest and universal charity. The following short extract from the Buddhist Scripture will give some idea of the teachings of Buddhism : — “ (i) To serve wise men, and not to serve fools, to give “ honour to whom honour is due. (2) To dwell in a pleasant “ land, to have done good deeds in a former birth, to have right “ desires for one’s self. (3) Much insight and much education, “ a complete training and pleasant speech. (4) To succour “ father and mother, to cherish wife and child, to follow a “ peaceful calling. (5) To give alms and live righteously, “ to help one’s relatives, and do blameless deeds. (6) To “ cease and abstain from sin, to eschew strong drink, not “to be weary in well doing. (7) Reverence and lowli- “ ness, contentment and gratitude, the regular hearing of the “ law. (8) To be long suffering and meek, to associate with “ members of the Sangha, religious talk at due seasons, (g) “ Temperance and chastity, a conviction of four great truths, “ the hope of Nirvana. (10) A mind unshaken by the things of “ the world, without anguish or passion, and secure, (ii) They “ that act like this arc invincible on every side, on every side they “ walk in safety, and theirs is the greatest blessing.’’ At the first Universal Races Congress, held in London, July, 1911, Mr. C. A- Hewairtarne (Ceylon) declared ; — 180 “ Buddhist civilisation uplifted the lower civilisations that “ it came in contact with; it was strange the European civilisa- “ tion had had a contrary effect. The effect of European civili- “ sation for two centuries was fearful to relate. European “ civilisation was bent on subjugating the so-called inferior races, “ and wherever they stood in its way they were exterminated. “ either by the sword, or, what was worse, by the insidious “ poison of the liquor it introduced. The success of Buddhist “civilisation on backward races was due to two factors: first, “ in the spread of Buddhism there was no ultimate desire to get “ possession of the country, or to exploit the inhabitants for “ selfish purposes, but the missionaries only desired to uplift “ them from their ignorance; and, secondly, wherever Buddhism “ was preached the use of intoxicants and narcotics was for- “ bidden. Such being the case, it seemed deplorable that there “should be so much prejudice against the Asiatic.” Burma. — Although for political considerations Burma is part of the Indian Empire, for all other purposes it is an entirely independent nation. In religion the Burmese are followers of Buddha; neither Christianity nor Mohammedanism has made much progress, although there are a number of Christians and Mohammedans in the capital and the principal ports. The Burmese are stated to be a well-educated people, the Buddhist monks undertaking the work of education. One of the chief points of the education is to warn young people never to use any kind of intoxicants. On the annexation of Upper Burma, in 1886, the strong Temperance principles of the people were recog- nised by the Government of India, for in a despatch to the Secretary of State, under date October, 1886, giving instruc- tions to civil officers, it is stated : — “ Burmese of all classes, monks and laity, very strongly wish “ that drinking shops and the habit of drinking should be dis- “ couraged in Upper Burma. In the time of the late King, traffic “ in liquor was altogether forbidden. No doubt there is some “ making and drinking of toddy, of rice beer, and even of spirits “ in Burman villages. But the sense of the better classes is “ against the practice. No revenue was ever raised by the late “ King from liquor, lest he should seem to be encouraging evil. “ And under the circumstances, it seems expedient to meet the “ wishes of the people by declining for the present to licence “drinking shops.” Unfortunately, the wishes of the “ Burmese of all classes, monks and laity,” were not long respected, and it was decided to licence shops for the sale of fermented liquors and spirits “ to Europeans, Indians and Chinese.” The Burmese were pro- hibited from purchasing liquors and it was rnade a punishable 181 offence for the holder of a licence to sell liquors to Burmese Although this is the law to-day, in a very short time from the opening of the liquor shops the Burmese who required the liquor could get whatever quantity they wanted. A Government report issued in 1893 showed the futility of attempting to shield the people from the temptation to drink when once they had estab- lished the liquor shops in their midst. This report stated : — “ The licences for the sale of liquor are intended for the “ convenience of the non-Burman population of Upper Burma, “ and the sale of either liquor (except tari) or opium to Burmans “ is prohibited by law. But there can be no doubt that the pro- “ hibition is in practice inoperative.” Within a very few years of the opening of the liquor shops among these people, the Government went a step further, and where there had always been the strongest opposition to the manufacture of any kind of intoxicant, there were established a number of distilleries for the wholesale manufacture of spirits. No wonder the leaders of the Burmans ‘‘view any attempt to con- vert the natives to the Christian or any other foreign faith as an interference with their allegiance.” They saw their Christian rulers not only introducing alcoholic liquors and opium among their people, but actually manufacturing spirits and licensing shops for the sale of both poisons throughout their country.” The Rev. W. R. Winston, of Mandalay, Upper Burma, writing in 1892, said : — ‘‘ On the annexation of Upper Burma the British found the ‘‘ fifth commandment of the Buddhist religion, ‘ Thou shalt not ‘‘ take anything that intoxicates,’ was the law of the land, and ‘‘ the only law on the subject the Burmans had ever known. Bad ‘‘ as Burmese rule was, corrupt, weak, and worn out, and badly ‘‘ in want of funds, it never sunk so low as to derive revenue ‘‘ from the sale of licences. Now, observe how we have pro- ‘‘ grossed with this business during the past few years of our ‘‘rule. The Excise revenue from liquor and opium licences is ‘‘ advancing by leaps and bounds.” The Excise Revenue returns show the amount received from liquor and opium licences to be as follows : — Year. Rupees. 1891-2 4,307,029 287,135 1911-12 7,687,214 512,481 Increase in 20 years Rs. 3, 380, 185 U435.675 2,562,405 ^^225,346 $1,126,730 Mr. W. S. Caine, who visited Burma in 1897, said : — ‘‘ On the wTiole the Burmans appear to me to be the soberest and most abstinent of all the peoples of India, and if it were not 1S2 “ for Europeans and Chinese, the Government might close every “ liquor and opium shop in the province without a murmur from “ any Burman. The drinking, however, among Englishmen and “ Europeans generally is appalling in its quantity.” To-day, however, numbers of Burmese drink. Strange as it may appear, but side by side with the opening of the liquor and opium shops by one set of Europeans, who happened to be Government officials. Temperance and Anti- Opium Societies were commenced by another set of Europeans, who were conscious of a deep wrong being inflicted upon these people. The Good Templars and the W.W.C.T.U. were early in the country, forming local branches and Temperance Societies that they might do something to stem the evils of alcohol and opium. These organisations have been able, no doubt, to do much to prevent the unrestrained spread of the traffic and to bring about some few reforms. The introduction of barmaids was soon found to be a great inducement for drinking and immorality. In 1898 the various Societies, together with The Rangoon Gazette, took up the case of an Australian barmaid in Penang who went to the police on the second day after her arrival, saying that upon her advent into her position she was told to drink and lead an immoral life. Strong feelings were aroused by this exposure in the public press, and the Government were compelled to appoint a Committee to inquire into the matter, with the result that the liquor shops, which had been permitted to remain open day and night, were ordered to close at i a.m., and all employees, tc^ether with soldiers, were prohibited from being served with liquor, the penalty being the forfeiture of the licence. But this did not have the desired effect, the law was continually being broken. A demand was therefore made for the prohibition of the employ- ment of all barmaids. The result was a great victory for the Temperance organisations, for in igoi a notification was pub- lished in the official Burma Gazette to the following effect : — ‘‘ In exercise of the power conferred by Clause (d) Section ‘‘ 65 of the Excise Act (XII. of 1896), the Financial Commis- ” sioner directs that the following conditions shall be made to ” licence form VII. : That no female he employed in any capacity whatever within the premises of the bar.” This was the commencement of a reform which eventually extended to the other provinces of India. The next step was to close all liquor shops from 12 to 6 a.m. . and the District Magistrates issued circulars to all the liquor sellers warning them that in the event of employees drinking or 183 houses being opened during prohibited hours, or selling to soldiers, the penalty would be revocation of licencs and confis- cation of goods. In 1911 the District Magistrates throughout Burma were instructed by the Lower Burma Chief Court and the Judicial Commissioner of Upper Burma, to bring to the notice of the Excise Commissioner in Burma all cases wherein intoxicating liquor has been the cause of, or contributed to, crime. The Excise Authorities are then to proceed to trace the origin of the supply of liquor, in order to take action against the vendor in cases of breach of his licence, or, if illicitly sold, with a view of suppressing the sale of such liquor. The statement showing convictions for drunkenness in Municipal and non-Municipal areas in which convictions have been recorded are very incomplete, and yet they show an alarm- ing increase during the three years ending 1912. The total con- victions for drunkenness are reported to be as follows : — 1909-10, 2,495; 1910-11, 3,188; 1911-12, 3,618; being a propor- tion to 10,000 of the population as follows 20.68, 26.43, and 29.92. In the last report of the Excise Administration in Burma it is stated : — “ That a new Excise Act was needed for Burma, and a Bill, “ drafted to this end in consultation with the Inspector-General “of Excise, is now under consideration,” and that “enquiries “ seem to establish the view' that more violent crimes are due lu “ the consumption of illicit liquor than of liquor sold from “ licensed shops, and Sir Harvey Adamson shares the Financial “ Commissioner’s opinion that more shops are required in the “ Pakokku District. The licensing of shops in areas w'here “ illicit production of liquor is prevalent is in consonance with “ the Excise policy of Government and it behoves District “ Officers to consider carefully the adequacy of existing facili- “ ties in such areas and to initiate proposals for their increase “ where their insufficiency is clearly established.” The Government, knowing and admitting the fact when the country was annexed, that “Burmans of all classes, monks and laity,” were opposed to the liquor traffic, and to meet their wishes, licensed drinking shops were not at that time to be per- mitted, it is simply diabolical to teach these people to drink alcoholic liquors, and gradually and persistently to increase the temptations among them. The people have no voice in the matter; local option, which they continue to demand, is refused, because it is feared they would adopt entire Prohibition, and thus remove one of the chief sources of revenue. 184 Mr. James D. Neilage, of Ouseen, Burma, under date Feb- ruary 2nd, 1913, writes : — “ Ninety per cent, of the drunkards here are Christians, “ while of the Buddhists, Mohammedans, and Parsees, — non- “ Christian, 95 per cent, are life abstainers. Of the Hindus “ 80 per cent, are abstainers, the percentages being lowered by “the Pariahs or outcastes Hindus, who are, to all intents and “ purposes, Christians. We have a population of some thirteen “ millions in Burma, of which not more than fifty thousand “ are Christians, and of that fifty thousand not more than five “ thousand are abstainers — if that. That is why we have no “ legislative enactments curbing the liquor curse for many years. “ The educated Hindu and Buddhist laugh at Christians chatter- “ ing about Temperance, while Christians import every gallon “ of grog that comes to the country, and drink 90 per cent, of “ it. They tell us plainly, ‘ your talk of trying to get the liquor “ traffic put down is rank and ugly hypocrisy.’ This is why no progress is made as far as law is concerned — but — there is a “ decided improvement in the drinking habits of the country — “ the result of reading and education on the subject, in which “ Good Templary has done a little, and the fact that where firms “ can get abstainers they won’t keep drunkards — it does not pay. “ If we could remove all the Christians from Burma we would “ have Prohibition in six months.’’ Cochin Chin.\. — The Eastern division of the Indo-Chinese peninsular named Cochin China consists of the territories of Annam, Cambodia, Laos, Tong-king, and the French Colony of Cochin China. The Empire of Annam dates back to about 2,400 years before the Christian era, but from no b.c. until 907 a.d. the country was under the government of Chinese Governors. By revolution this was changed, and from 960 a.d. the govern- ment has again been in the hands of a native dynasty. Buddhism is the popular creed, although a large number of the most learned people hold the doctrine of Confucius. In either case, the followers of Buddha, Confucius, or Mahomet are total ab- stainers and opposed to the importation and manufacture of all intoxicants. This may also be said of the people of the king- doms of Cambodia and Laos, which are ruled by native kings. Tong-king', and the non-Christian population of Cochin China. On the borders of Cochin China are a tribe called the Chams, a Mohammedan people, stated to be of Arab origin, who, in spite of their inter-marriage with the Chinese, preserve the war-like qualities of their ancestors, maintaining a gay and open charac- ter, together with a strict abstinence from the use of intoxicants and theft. In 1787 a portion of Cochin China was ceded to the French, and from time to time the territory has been enlarged. 185 until in i8g8 the whole of the six provinces came under entire French control. With the introduction of Europeans into the country, and with the control of the ports by France, a large and increasing amount of intoxicating liquors has been imported into the country, much to the annoyance of the chiefs, and the injury of the people. Apart from the efforts put forth by the native leaders, there does not appear to be much done to stem the evils flowing from the traffic in intoxicants, and spirits and opium are now among the chief imports, and therefore provide a large revenue for the Government. The population of the whole of these territories is estimated to be nearly 17,000,000, of which about 500,000 are stated to be Christian. Siam. — The kingdom of Siam embraces the greater part of Indo-Chinese and part of the Malay peninsula. Buddhism is the religion of the people, but there have been several disruptions, so that there are several divisions of Buddhists to-day. The orthodox Buddhist must conform to the total abstinence princi- ple of Buddha, and this is practically universally carried out. At all functions where the King and his ministers have to pledge themselves to administer impartial justice, they take the oath by drinking water. Similar action is taken at all other important festivals. The laws of Siam, both civil and criminal, bear the impress of Chinese influence. In all cases the evidence of drunkards, gamblers, persons of bad character, and persons who cannot read, is rejected. One reason accounting for a considerable amount of drunkenness among the people arises from the intro- duction of spirit and demon worship, which has gained a con- siderable number of adherents in certain parts of the country. These pay homage to spirits and demons by drinking a large quantity of intoxicating liquors. Tibet. — Until very recently, Europeans have had great difficulty in entering the country of Tibet. In fact very few have even yet penetrated to the great capital city of the country, Lhasa — the word meaning “God’s ground.’’ In 1328 Friar Odoric is reported to have reached Lhasa. In 1600 the Jesuit Antonio Andrada crossed Tibet from India to China. In 1661 Fathers Grueber and D’Orville reached Lhasa. In 1774 an Englishman, George Bogle, passed through a portion of the Country, but Thomas Manning was the first Englishman to enter the sacred city, which he did in 1811. During the whole of the nineteenth century Europeans were forbidden to enter the country, although in 1844 two French missionaries. Fathers Hue and Gabet, succeeded in reaching the city, but they were soon expelled. Again in i860. Father Desgodins travelled in a por- 1S6 tion of the country, but was prevented from approaching Lhasa. Later, the Russian Colonel Prejevalsky explored a portion of the northern country, but was unable to penetrate into the south. In 1906 Sir Sven Hedin, the Great Swedish explorer, suc- ceeded in getting into the country, and remained there for over two years. He took no alcoholic liquors with him, and found none, except at one place. Sir Sven Hedin discovered that every point of entry was watched more strongly than ever. “For two and a half months,’’ he says, “ I had to travel disguised as a Lama. This I did by colouring my face and hands every day with Indian ink. During the latter part of my journey I wore Tibetan dress, travelling as a Tibetan chief.’’ A great testi- mony to his Temperance principles is shown in the following statement — ■ “In spite of the awful cold and hardships endured I only “ lost one man, a caravan leader, who died from apoplexy. Per- “ sonally I never experienced a day’s illness.’’ Something of the hardships endured may be imagined from the following graphic account of the journey given by Sir Sven Hedin himself : — “ During the first year I travelled for no less than eighty- “ four days without sight of human beings apart from my own “ companions. While in the second year, for a period of sixty- “ four days I never got a glimpse of human life. Previous to “ my expedition the whole country north of the Brahamaputra “ was a great white unexplored patch; no one had ever been ‘ ‘ there. ’’ The Government of Tibet is under the Chinese Government, and a Tibetan National .Assembly. In 1904 difficulties arose over the non-fulfilment of a Convention made between China and Great Britain. .A mission, with a military escort, was therefore des- patched from India, to secure the observance of the convention, and, no doubt to open up the country for British trade. The Tibetans opposed the British with great determination, but after much fighting, the mission and the British soldiers entered Lhasa, and a new convention was signed for trade marts. Up to this time no intoxicating liquors had ever been imported into the country, and so far as is known, none have ever been manufac- tured or sold. It is to be hoped that the Chinese Government will allow neither the British nor the Russian Governments to import European spirits into the country, and that the old order of Prohibition may be maintained. CHAPTER VI Japan, Korea and Siberia “While the Temperance question in Japan has so far been largely a personal moral issue, the evils of alcohol, and the stirring news of what is transpiring in other parts of the world, suggested to the Temperance workers the responsibility which lies upon the statesmen of Japan relative to this great issue. Laws will have to be adopted to suppress the curse, and to secure this, political action wil have to be taken. In a matter of such great importance the first thing to think about is the sobriety of our people and the safety of our nation.” Taro Ando, President Japan National Temperance League, Tokyo ( 1906). Like a great many of the other Asiatic nations, the religions of Buddha and Confucius are largely accepted by the people of Japan and Korea, although the so-called religion of Shinto is extensively followed by large numbers of the inhabitants of both countries. Unlike other Asiatic religions, Shintoism contains no moral code. Motoori (1730-1801) the famous writer, declares “ That in Japan there is no necessity for any system of morals for every Japanese acts right if he only obeys his own heart.” And again, ‘‘ The whole duty of a good Japanese consists in obeying implicitly and without question the commands of the Mikado.” Both Buddhism and Shintoism have been virtually disestablished, and the latter is declared not to be a religion. At present, however, there are over 80,000 Shinto priests, and the Emperor’s state visit to the shrines of Ise at the close of the Japanese-Russian war has again powerfully influenced the public mind in favour of Shintoism. In Korea there is no Gov- ernmental interference with the traffic in intoxicants, and in Siberia, Russian vodka holds full sway. The entire country seems practically to be in the hands of the liquor traffic. Japan. — For centuries foreigners were not admitted to Japan and the Christian religion was prohibited. By the revolution of 1868 all this was changed. Full religious liberty was established and the country opened to all who cared to enter. European and American traders have simply swarmed into the country, so that they have virtually Europeanised and Americanised not only the schools, the railways, the factories in which women and even children toll wearily from early to late ; but the liquor traffic has entered with its attendant evils; and drunkenness, crime, pauper- 188 isin, immorality, insanity and premature death are fast becoming widespread among the gallant and once sober Japanese. A large number of breweries and distilleries have been estab- lished, and the licence system has gained a strong foothold throughout a large portion of the country. The extension of the liquor tralhc in this country is in keeping with the declaration made by a Japanese manufacturer. “ We have our duty plainly before us, to establish our commodities firmly upon the world’s market. Let us get our hold of them before we are tied and handicapped by Government interference.” During the great war with Russia in 1904-5 the Japanese army in the field was prohibited from using any kind of alcoholic liquors, and the testimony of officers and press correspondents to the great advantage of this abstinence is world-wide know- ledge. On the other hand the defeat of the Russian army, and the surrnder of Port Arthur, is certainly to be attributed in a great measure to the drunkenness, both among the officers and the men. On entering Port .Arthur, the Japanese found an enormous quantity of vodka, w'hich was destroyed to save the Japanese army from drunkenness. The home life of the army, however, is very different, for in the matter of the .Army Canteen the Japanese Government have followed the evil custom of the Western world, providing their men with alcoholic liquors (sake) in so-called ‘‘ limited quantities,” enough to create a growing amount of drunkenness and other evils in the army. On the return of the troops from the war with Russia, a large number of drunken riots took place, similar to those witnessed in Great Britain when the troops returned from the South .African war. The celebration of peace, by drunkenness and riot, is one of the most extraordinary peculiarities of civilised nations. The Good Templar IVatchword says : — ‘‘ In the history of nations, nothing forms more remarkable ” reading than the story of the rapid development of ‘ Little ‘‘Japan.’ The Japanese are not only wonderfully ingenious, ‘‘ but they are energetic, strong, nimble, and splendidly brave. ‘‘ They live chiefly on a vegetarian diet, and touch no intoxicating ‘‘ drinks. The great victory of the sober Japs over the vodka- ‘‘ drinking Russians was a revelation the world will not soon ‘‘ forget. ” The Japanese have organised a thorough system of public education, but the liquor traffic is largely vitiating their handi- work. In June, 1907, the Minister of Education issued the following instruction to the Educational Authorities throughout the country : — • 189 “It is scarcely necessary to say that the duty of scholars “ and students is to have a steadfast mind, to propose to them- “ selves a fixed purpose, and to look forward to achieving great “ results by zeal and diligence. Nevertheless among the youths “ of both sexes I detect, to my great regret, a tendency to occa- “ sional despondency and ethical decadence. Certain of those “ now in the schools show an inclination to luxury, or torment “ themselves about empty theories, or, in extreme cases, allow “ their minds to become absorbed in dissipation, and violating “ the precepts of virtue, lose their sense of shame. Unless steps “ be taken to severely reprimand these errors, their harmful “ results will be incalculable.’’ With a view to lessening the evil, and protecting the young' people, a Bill was introduced and passed through the Lower House, prohibiting the sale and use of all kinds of alco- holic liquor by young people under twenty years of age. When the Bill reached the Upper House it was met with the most bitter opposition, and was defeated by a majority of seven, the vote being: for the Bill, 97; and against, 106. After some further discussion it was resolved to refer the matter to the Educational Department, and official warnings have been sent to the liquor sellers not to serve young people with liquor, especially imported spirits from Europe and America. Shortly after the opening of the country in 1868 to foreigners and the introduction of the foreign brewer, distiller and wine manufacturer. Temperance organisations were formed to coun- teract the evil, and if possible, to prevent the growth of the traffic. Eventually these organisations amalgamated their forces and formed the Japan National Temperance League, which has now over 100 affiliated societies located in various parts of the country. The W. W.C.T. U. also has some thousands of mem- bers in a large number of branches, with a National Union for the whole of the country. The growth of the traffic has at last roused these organisations to the need of taking action in the Legislature, and the National Temperance League is developing a plan for securing Prohibition in those places where the people are demanding the suppression of the traffic; it also urges that no liquor shops shall in future be opened in any district without the consent of the inhabitants. In 1894 some valuable information was given by the Rev. John L. Bearing, concerning the introduction of Prohibition into the Island of Okushiri. It is only a small island, about fourteen miles long and seven miles wide. Herring fishing is the chief source of Industry ; these fish approach the coast in great quanti- fies in the spring, and from their sale the people get sufficient to 190 feed and cloth themselves and their wives and families. Although the soil is very fertile, farming and gardening was almost un- known, hence between the fishing seasons the fishermen led an easy, indolent life. In 1884 there were only about 260 people living on the island, but these had become very much addicted to the use of intoxicating liquors, no less than 6,000 yens (^600 or $3,000) being spent in sake alone. Although at first sight this does not appear to be a large amount, when it is remembered that or $5 per month was ample for the entire support of a whole family, and that the earnings were very small, this amount was very large indeed. Of this Mr. Dearing says : — “ What wonder, then, that in the face of such an outlay for “ liquor the people often suffered severely from hunger and “ cold ! Their houses were thatched with coarse grass, and “ were very poor shelter from the cold in winter. They had no “ roads, and but one poor school; and for their fishing they had “ only four good fishing nets on the island. The Government “ authorities seeing their wretched state, urged them to adopt “ a system of storing provisions, so that in the mid-winter “ months famine would not threaten them as it had; but they “ found themselves unable to do this, on account of the payment “ for the sake, and nothing was left for provisions. “ At this time, two or three bold men began to openly de- “ nounce the sake, and all alcoholic drinks, and to declare that “ their sufferings were caused by the liquor. The crusade they “ started was met by strong opposition; but finally the inhabi- “ tants of the island entered into a compact in July, 1884.” There is no need to give the compact in full. In its intro- duction it is declared that the amount of money spent for sake was very great, and that the only possible way of averting ruin was by ceasing to use the liquor, and preventing its admission to the island. They therefore pledged themselves to the follow- ing compact : — “ Article i : We, the inhabitants of Okushiri Island, jointly “ and severally, in accordance with the covenant hereby required, “ do pledge ourselves to abandon wholly the sale, purchase, “ and use of alcoholic beverages. “ Article 2 : Any islander refusing to sign this covenant and “ engaging in the sale, purchase, and use of alcohol, shall not “ receive sympathy or aid from his fellow-islanders as a whole. “ no matter what circumstances he may be placed in.” Further articles provided for heavy fines on any one who should introduce, or sell intoxicating liquors. The fines to be used for buying grain for public purposes. All immigrants were compelled to sign the covenant before they were allowed on the 191 island. The wonderful chang-e which followerl is best told in Mr. Dearing’s own words : — “ Briefly observe the result. The covenant was rigorously “ observed. Even Government officials, of whatever rank, had “ to give up sake drinking when they visited the island. Of “course, every drinker had to reform or leave the island. In “five years the population increased five-fold, and the capital “ invested in fishing ten-fold. The bad roofs were replaced by “ shingles; good roads were built all over the island; four large “ public granaries were erected and filled with rice, and each “ family had a private store in reserve. New land has been “ brought into cultivation, and 4,000 yens (;,^'400, $2,000) worth “ of hemp is now grown annually for the manufacture of fishing- “ nets. Before the compact the nets were brought from the “ mainland. “ The school has been greatly improved, and several branch “ schools have been established. Order reigns on the island. “ Crime, which was formerly very prevalent, has largely passed “ away. It is a law-abiding island. At the end of the first five “ years an influential official tried to oppose its renewal, but it “ was renewed notwithstanding. God grant that it may be “ renewed every five years to the end of time. Would that the “example and practice of these simple fishermen of Okushiri “ might teach many of the more enlightened and better educated “ but less wise people of Britain and America that total absti- “ nence and Prohibition are not only possible but beneficial.’’ The Prohibition Covenant has now become a settled law of the island, its population, after nearly thirty years’ experience, is stated to be more than ever opposed to permitting alcoholic liquors to be again introduced into their midst. It is not sur- prising to learn that other communities on the mainland, .seeing the success and advantages which have followed the adoption of Prohibition on the Island of Okushiri, have, as far as they have the power, pledged themselves in like manner, and are enjoying similar happy results. The Government of Japan is a constitutional monarchy. It is stated to be the oldest consecutive Government in the world, dating back to the seventh century before the Christian era. The Legislature consists of two Hou.ses, the Chamber of Peers, with 367 members, partially appointed by the Emperor, and par- tially elected, and the Chamber of Representatives, with 381 members, elected by male resident tax-payers. The population numbers about 55,000,000, a large proportion are from religious conviction total abstainers. Korea — After centuries of independent Government, Korea, in iqio, was formerly annexed to Japan, and the name of the 192 country chang-ed to Cho-sen. It was one of the King's of Korea who first attempted to secure the adoption of total abstinence by the people. In the year 1401, the first year of the reig'n of Tayo, King- of Korea, there was a great famine in the land, so that all the grain was wanted for food, and the King commanded that brewing should cease, but his orders were not obeyed until he had banished intoxicating liquors from his own court. INIr. Longford, in his interesting book, “ The Storj^ of Korea,” gives the incident as follows : — ‘‘ The national alcoholic drink of the Koreans is, as is that ‘‘ of the Japanese, brewed from rice, and in order that all the ‘‘ grain might be spared for food, the King ordered that brewing ‘‘ should temporarily cease. When he found that his orders were ‘‘ not obeyed, he concluded that it was because drink was still ‘‘ served in the Court, and he therefore ordered that its use ‘‘ should cease even there. With this example before them, the ‘‘ people could no longer indulge in what their sovereign ab- ‘‘ stained from, and his first orders were then readily obeyed.” This enlightened King passed away and the Temperance movement, introduced under such circumstances, lasted much longer than the time of famine, but largely died with the King, and drunkenness and crime reappeared again throughout the land, until drunkenness, we are told, brought ‘‘ no disgrace among the upper classes and was common to all classes.” Miss Lucy Broad, Korean delegate to the M'.W.C.T.L'. Conference held in Glasgow, writes : — ‘‘In Korea there are no licensing laws, and whoever chooses ‘‘ to set up one of their earth-built stills can make and sell the “ sill of the country, so that we find in one town of 120 houses. ‘‘ go are drink shops. But the Free Church refusing membership ‘‘ to anyone drinking or selling intoxicating liquors has led to a ‘‘ great diminution. In Chai Ryeng, three years ago, there were ‘‘ 500 liquor shops; now 350 have been put out of business by ‘‘ the Gospel. No matter by what name we call the cruel spirit ‘‘ of alcohol, or in what country we find it, the same trouble ‘‘ follows its use, and many Korean women have found it bring “ them the hunger-bite of poverty and unmerited blows and ‘ ‘ thrashings. ” Mr. A. Henry Savage-Landor, in his book ‘‘ Corea or Cho- sen, the Land of the Morning Calm,” gives us this account of his visit to the country : — ‘‘ W’hen the Coreans eat in their own houses, the men of ‘‘ the family take their meals first, being waited on by their “ wives and servants; after which the females have their repast ‘‘ in a separate room. The women seldom drink intoxicants, and 1^3 “ have to be satisfied with water and rice wash. Whenever I “ went to call on a Corean gentleman, I invariably found him “ gorging or in the arms of Morpheus. Naturally a life of this “sort makes the upper classes soft, and somewhat effeminate. “ They are much given to sensual pleasures, and many a man “ of Cho-sen is reduced to a perfect wreck when he ought to be “in his prime. Tire habit of drinking more than is proper is “ really a national institution, and what with over-feeding, “ drunkenness, and other vices, it is not astounding that the “ upper classes do not show to great advantage.” There is no doubt that the drinking propensities of the Koreans have been the chief cause of their downfall as a nation. Many writers have expressed their wonder that the Koreans have failed to rise, either in education or any branch of science, to the level of either of their neighbours — the Chinese or the Japanese. The facts are plain to those who have studied the individual life of these people; the Koreans have been a drunken, indolent people, while the Japanese have been a sober and energetic people, and the Chinese, though a large number have been cursed by opium, have at least kept themselves free from the curse of alcohol, and are fast freeing themselves from that of Opium. Siberia. — The great country of Siberia is under Russian rule, and now has a population of 8,220,100, in igio. In addi- tion to the aborigines, the Russian population is largely made up of exiles, their descendents, and a number of immigrants. The exiles comprise princes, counts, barons, professors, merchants, tradesmen, and artisans, numbers of whom were sent into Siberia for some political offence. The largest number of these exiles, when their term of banishment is ended, prefer to remain in Siberia, rather than return to the Fatherland. By this means the country is being peopled and a number of flourishing towns have sprung into existence, especially is this the case on the banks of the rivers Obi and the Yenesei. The great Trans- Siberian railway, covering a distance of nearly 10,000 miles, has opened up some splendid land for agriculture, mining and other industries. A number of very good educational institutions and Civil Governments have been established. Imfortunately vodka, the spirit which is cursing Russia, has been a part of the people’s diet for many years, taken in many cases as a kind of solace for the sorrow and misery through which so many of the inhabitants have passed. Mr. Henry Johnson says : — “ The people, high and low, from Government officials down “ to the peasant, with some exceptions, are addicted to the “ vodka habit, with much ruinous effects in business, and on “morals and health,” x 194 Mr. Seebohm, another traveller, says : — “ We left the settlement of Rueeika with gloomy anticipa- “ tions of the future. Debt and drink continually drain every- “ thing of value into the hands of half a dozen merchants, who “ are gradually killing off the geese that lay the golden eggs.” And Captain Wiggins, the ” Modern Discoverer of the Kara Sea route to Siberia,” says : — ‘‘We found at Silovanoff quite a model village, inhabited ‘‘ by a fanatical sect called Scoptsi, who had been exiled from ‘‘ Russia on account of their peculiar practices. They were re- ‘‘ markable for their industry and cleanliness; they drank noth- ‘‘ ing but milk and a very mild beer. All intoxicants, as well as ‘‘ tea and coffee, were forbidden.” But this seems to have been the only place where vodka was prohibited. The Archbishop of Krasnioarsk invited Capt. Wig- gins and his friends to meet him and some half dozen prie.sts. ‘‘ I was heartily welcomed,” says Capt. M’iggins, ‘‘ and soon a ‘ spread ’ was prepared in which vodka and wine, of course, pre- dominated. When 1 declined their pressing invitation to par- take, they could not understand my refusal. And this is the case wherever I have been, either at a banquet or a simple meal — people can’t understand my not drinking. This cursed vodka is undermining not only the health of the people, but the very con- stitution of the realm.” While Russia has introduced its State vodka shops into Siberia, permission is still refused to establish Good Templar Lodges or to form ordinary Temperance societies, therefore little practical effort on behalf of Temperance reform can be put forth. CHAPTER VH Hong Kong, Phillippine Islands, Malay, and Straits Settlements “Children should be taugfht to take only such articles of food as tended to build up healthy and strong bodies, and particularly to abstain from every form of alcoholic liquors, which was poison to all, but especially to the Eastern body. This was an important matter now, because, unfortunately, in the higher castes of the land the drink habit was spreading. As they saw from the Custom House returns, more and more of the poisonous liquors of the West were being brought into their land. It was theirs to set a good example, but if they set a bad one, it was for the teachers to step in and teach the boys and girls to abstain from the poison, and to understand the dangers of the drink habit." — M/s. An?iie Besant (1909). The larg'e number of Islands in the China Sea, Indian Ocean, and the Pacific, under the authority of either France, Great Britain, Portugal, or the United States of America, are greatly cursed by the importation of alcoholic liquors, or opium, or both. The aboriginal natives of all these Islands are well known to be opposed to the introduction of these drugs. But European and American statesmen, for the sake of revenue, permit these poisons to be sold tO' the people. Hong Kong for years has been a huge depot for the distribution of opium and alcohol. The Phillippine Islands have been flooded with liquor from the United States, while the Straits Settlements have been inundated with European spirits. Hong Kong. — ^The population of Hong Kong is about 450,000, of which only about 21,000 are white residents, including the naval and military garrison, the remainder are Chinese. Repeated protests have been made to the British Government, both against the alcohol and opium traffic, but with practically very little effect. The plea is that alcohol must be provided for the foreigners, and that opium is necessary for a large number of the Chinese, the real reason is ihc need for revenue both in India and Hong Kong. In reference to opium, so strong was the opposition, both by Europeans and Chinese, in igo8, that the Government announced that an arrangement had been made with the opium farmers, to close 26 of the opium divans, but when it is remembered that 165 were allowed to continue, this was a very small reform indeed. Owdng to the action of the Chinese Government the warehouses of Plong Kong are full of Indian opimn, and the 196 merchants are finding it impossible to get rid of their stocks. The result is they are appealing to the Indian Government for help, what the result will be no one can foresee. 'ITie opium merchants suggest that their stocks of opium should be “ taken over by the Chinese Government,” and if this is done, they ex- press their willingness to put an end to further purchases. They also ask that the sale of Indian opium in Calcutta and Bombay may be stopped. There is a consensus of opinion, both in China and Great Britain, that this traffic with China must cease, and whatever the consequences to the opium merchants of Hong Kong or India this will shortly be an accomplished fact. In reference to alcohol, while it is generally admitted that a poll of the people would sweep the whole liquor traffic from the island by an overwhelming majority, the Governor, M. Nathan, in a letter to the Secretary of State (June, igo6). in reference to giving powers of local option in regard to the issue and renewal of licences for the sale of intoxicating liquors, says: — ‘‘This matter has not been the subject of legislation in Hong Kong.” The growing curse of the liquor traffic has, however, compelled the Government to pass restrictive laws. In 1912 it was decided to abolish the barmaids. The introduction of young women from Europe and Australia, to sell alcoholic liquors, had been found to be a great inducement to drinking and drunkenness, and immoral- ity, hence the abolition of the system. It was also suggested that after a time limit of three years ” All existing publicans’ licences shall be abolished and a Public-House Trust substituted, thus withdrawing from the public as far as possible any incentive to excessive drinking, and securing the supply of liquors of good quality.” While admitting the evils, the Government seem afraid to risk the loss of revenue, and therefore instead of sup- pressing the traffic, propose simply to change the system of selling the liquor, forgetting that the evil is in the liquor and not in the system of sale or the men who sell. The Overland China Mail, dealing with this question in an article on the i6th March, 1912, says: — ‘‘ The Legislative Council of Hong Kong at various times ‘‘ has tackled sundry difficult questions, and in some Instances ” has achieved meritorious success; but it has also on its records ‘‘ many significant failures. In this matter of the liquor question, ” it deals with a topic which has puzzled the wisest brains almost ‘‘ from the rosy dawn of recorded history. To-day the licensed ‘‘ victualler is certainly hedged around In most countries with ‘‘ restrictions which various legislatures in their zeal for the ‘‘ betterment of humanity have found it necessary to impose. ‘‘These restrictions are no doubt responsible in some measure ‘‘ for the continued improvement in the drinking habits of the 197 “ world at large, but an even greater factor has been the general “ condemnation of drunkenness by the concensus of public “ opinion. Hong Kong, by reason of its compactness and small “ area, can Institute reforms in the liquor trade that would be “ almost impossible elsewhere. 'I'lie Committee who investigated “ the question are all men of high standing in the C(jnnnunity, and “ they have not arrived at their conclusion without serious con- “ sideration of tlie many and intricate problems presented, 'ihey “ evidently think the scheme which they propound feasible under “ certain conditions, principal among which is the entire elimina- “ tion of the private licensee. It is on this point we imagine “ the warmest controversy will arise, for when all is said and “ done, it is applying the doctrine of municipal socialism to the “ fullest extent of its possible demonstration. And municipal “ socialism is rather at a discount these days in most centres of “ thought where the freedom-loving .Anglo-Saxon predomi- “ nates. ” The Good Templar and Temperance friends generally have strongly opposed municipalisation of the liquor traffic, so that the matter is still awaiting settlement. That something must be done to stop the present evil results of the traffic, everybody admits, the Government say. What? The Temperance party say. Prohibition. The Phii.i.h’pines Islands. — T his group of islands situated in the China Sea and the Pacific Ocean, was for over three hun- dred years under Spanish rule. In 1893 it was annexed to the United States of America. The total population is about 8,500,000, of which about half are located on the island of Luzon. Under the Spanish regime, there was little drinking among the natives, their favourite drink consisting of juices distilled from native plants, and although fiercely Intoxicating was seldom used to excess. Two American writers (Messrs. Wooley and Johnson) make the following statement in their book, “ The Nineteenth Century Temperance Progress ” ; — During the three hundred years of Spanish domination, “ the vice of drunkenness was not developed. The problem of “intemperance was introduced by the United States in 1898. “ During the summer of that year the American forces captured “ the city of Manila. Before the city fell into their hands it con- “ tained three bars, which were supported by the few European “and American residents, small shops where fruit, nuts, etc., “ are sold, occasionally furnished the native vino. Within the “ first few months of American control the number of dram shops “ increased to about four hundred. Drunkenness and debauch- “ ery ran riot among the soldiers. The report of Judge-Advocate “ John A. Hull, of the eight army corps stationed in the Phillip- “ pines, for the ten months preceding June 30th, 1899, shows that 198 “ during that period, among the average 20,078 men of the com- “ mand, 12,401 were tried for various offences by court-martial. “ The natives have not yet adopted the customs of the Land of “ the Free. The price of the liquor is high, and moreover the “ natives hate the American and all his ways. When the relation “ between their resources and the price of American liquor is “ better adjusted, and when they have overcome their prejudice “ against American institutions, it is to be expected that the “ Phillippines, like their great foster mother across the Pacific, “ will take up the new burden of national drunkenness and join “ tlvc march of civilisation.” Under the rule of the United States the liquor traffic has developed to an alarming extent. Ship loads of American intoxi- cating liquors are being poured into the country. The licensing system is under the direct control of the Government officers, whose duty appears to be to raise revenue, irrespective of the moral, physical or material welfare of the people. A licensing law has been passed which prohibits white men from conducting liquor saloons for selling intoxicating liquors to the natives, but they licence natives to sell these liquors, and are very lax in prosecuting white men for violations of the law. The Straits Setti.emexts.- — This is a collective name given to a number of islands in the Malay Peninsular under British rule. The Settlements have formed a Crown Colony since 1867, previous to which they were administered as a part of the Indian empire. Alcohol and opium have been the two great curses of the people for many years, and many efforts have been put forth by Europeans and Chinese to suppress, or at least mitigate, the evils. These efforts have unfortunately been opposed by the Government officials, with lamentable results to all con- cerned. This was shown by the way evidence was secured for the Opium Commission of 1894. Dealing with this question The Malaysia Message, of Singapore, says : — ” We very much regret that officials in Singapore are cmu- ‘‘ lating the example of those in India in attempting to suppress ‘‘anti-opium evidence. . . Some of our readers will smile when ‘‘ they learn that one of the persons whom the Colonial Secretary ” has been discreet enough to ask for his opinion as to the harm- ‘‘ ful character of opium, is the opium farmer ! A long list of ‘‘ other pro-opiumists, more or less interested financially in the ‘‘ opium traffic, might be given.” In April, 1910, The Lancet, the leading British Medical Journal, drew attention ‘‘ to the increase in the consumption of alcohol in recent years among the Chinese in the Straits Settle- ments, following, it is alleged, the more stringent regulations im- posed upon the opium traffic.” This danger the Government ought to have foreseen and prevented. In reference to the 199 spirits imported “ intended, originally, no doubt, for the con- sumption of the European sailor, but increasingly used by the ubiquitous Chinese,” the Lancet says: — ‘‘ We do not know what it is that these bottles contain, but ‘‘ of their danger to health there can be no doubt. Even on the “ seasoned European saTTor they have a most paralysing effect, “ men lying comatose, sometimes for 36 hours after a debauch, “ and on the more abstemious Oriental, the results are even more ‘‘pronounced. It seems obvious then that in the interest of ‘‘ public health, preventive measures should be devised against ‘‘ the habit. ” The Good Templars, W.W.C.T. U., and other Temperance organisations working among these people have repeatedly urged that the natives should at least be prohibited from obtain- ing alcoholic liquors, and it is gratifying to know that in several places the Liquor Licensing Boards have endorsed the issue of all licences as follows : — ‘‘ Licensees may not sell spirituous liquor to natives of British India either on or off the premises.” This is a great step in the right direction, and if this policy is extended to the whole of the inhabitants and the traffic pro- hibited altogether, the sobriety, which the Government and Planters desire, will be secured. Federated Malay States. — Reports from missionaries, merchants, and planters’ associations show that the liquor traffic is extending in each of the islands forming the Federated Malay States. The Rev. W. E. Horley states that ‘‘ the sale of intoxi- cating liquors is decidedly on the increase, especially w’ines and beers.” Mr. W. D. Cooper states that ‘‘Port wine can be bought for 2^d. per bottle, and 15 reputed pint bottles of Rotter- dam gin for about 4s. These were drunk by Timils and Chinese. On the Rubber Estate of a friend, the owner estimated that hun- dreds of his men were drunk every Sunday.” The Planters’ Association of Negri Sembilan, and other Business Associations, have repeatedly complained to the Gov- ernment officials in reference to the effects of drinking among the Indian coolies working on the plantations, and employees else- where. In 1909 the report states : — ‘‘ The drink question is again receiving considerable atten- ‘‘ tion amongst the planting community. Your Committee are of the opinion that the present condition of affairs in this ‘‘ respect is absolutely disgraceful. To raise revenue, licences ‘‘ are promiscuously issued to Chinamen, in the majority of cases ‘‘ with absolutely no Government supervision over the quality ‘‘ of liquor sold. ” Yet all that these Business Associations suggested to meet a condition of things which they call ‘‘ absolutely disgraceful,” 200 is better supervision over the quality of the liquor and an in- crease in the duties on the liquors. In 1907 the Good Templars of Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, petitioned the High Commissioner in reference to the growing evils of the liquor traffic, stating : — “ Liquor drinking is not the habit and is against the religion “ of the Malays, who are natives of the States, and the Chinese, “ being naturally of a sober race, drink but little. Unfortu- “ nately, because of the great facilities afforded the community “ of obtaining liquor we believe that drunkenness is on the in- “ crease amonst all classes of Tamils, Sikhs, Chinese, the “ poorer classes of Europeans and Eurasians, and even the “ Malays, because of the temptations of the liquor-shops, are “ addicted to the habit of drinking liquors. “Therefore we humbly pray that the Government of the “ Eederated Malay States will cause to be established a Board “ of Licensing Justices, as is now in vogue in the Straits Settle- “ ment, to whom should be conferred the necessary authority, “ either to issue or refuse licences to liquor-shops. “ We further pray that the duty on liquor may be consider- “ ably increased, as its cheapness is an added temptation to “ drunkenness; we also pray that the cheap brands of liquor, “ which do enormous harm to those who drink it, should be pro- “ hibited Irom entering the States. We know that there are “deaths from alcoholism, and some can be traced to the low “ drinking -shops of the Federated Malay States, where abomin- “ able concoctions are prepared and sold to the unsuspecting “ victims. “ We also pray for the abolition of the Spirit Farm, as we “ are assued that with such a large vested and licensed Corpora- “ tion, whose one object is to increase the sale of liquor, must “ necessarily lead to the increase of liquor-shops, whereas, if “ the Government itself controlled the traffic, it could restrict “ the sale very materially. We are all aware that ‘ we cannot “ make men sober by any enactment,’ but we do feel that the “ restraint of good laws can do much to prevent the people from “ becoming drunkards. “ For and on behalf of the hitherto sober races around us, “ and also on behalf of the poorer Europeans and Eurasians, we “humbly pray that the Government of the Federated Malay “ States will give a kind consideration and a favourable reply “ to our humble petition.’’ Other petitions went to the Government praying for an alter- ation in the system of licensing, for greater restrictions in the number of liquor shops, etc. In response to these appeals a new enactment was adopted in 1909 which gave the right to issue or refuse licences to a Licensing Board appointed by the resi- dents, based upon the Act of the Straits Settlement. PART IV AFRICA ■'i lo V on Kl HoRTwef Atltatitf OedAn. •t^CNCrt \y j Congo &-_..i 'f^’'ke Strte (rtnntlm i APAiCif d u ttBd- ll n g g: The vbit\ portion is \ Trobl^topy Territory (halted Soath Afrios is Lieaosa, \ Tbe Area eorerad >j tlM firossaio Ginarel Act. IwO. Tba ahadad portion ie still oeder li^or.lbat by farther ilnterBatlonal ACrecsaat, can be broa^t uder Probibliion. ) I CHAPTER 1 The Brussels General Act and Prohibition in Africa “ I speak after sixteen years’ experience, and I say confidently that unless immediate steps are taken to stop the liquor traffic — not by putting’ on higher duties but by absolute prohibition — a state of things will soon be brought about that must ultimately lead to the entire abandonment of the country. I cannot believe that the conscience of Europe will long allow that the vast populous regions of tropical Africa should be used only as a cesspool of European alcohol.” Sir George Goldie, P. K.C.M. G., Founder of Nigetia ( 1890). In 1889 an International Conference was held at Brussels to consider the great questions of the slave trade and the liquor traffic in Africa. After considering these and other questions relating to European management of commerce and government in Africa, a General Act was adopted on July 2nd, i8go. Chapter VI. providing for the abolition of the slave trade and the prohibition of the liquor traffic in certain large territorial areas, and for regulation in other parts by the im- position of a moderate excise duty on imported spirits. The nations represented at this most important gathering were Austria-Hungary, Belgium, Tbe Congo, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Persia, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United States of .America, and Zanzibar. The findings of the representatives of this Conference are known as the “ Brussels General Act, 1890,” but before they could be adopted the Conference provided that they should be submitted to all the Governments represented for their ratifica- tion, and it was further resolved that they “ shall be ratified within the shortest possible period, which shall not in any case exceed one year.” The six Articles dealing with the prohibition or regulation of the liquor traffic were confirmed by all the Gov- ernments, and came into force in July 2nd, 1901. Since that date there have been several increases in the excise duties placed upon the importation of spirits, but generally the law is that agreed upon by the Brussels Conference. Chapter VI., ‘‘Measures to restrict the traffic In spirituous liquors,” is as follows : — 20A “ Article XC.— Justly anxious about the moral and material “ consequences which the abuse of spirituous liquors entails “ on the native population, the Signatory Powers have agreed “to apply the provisions of Articles XCl., XCIL, XCIIL, “ within a zone extending from the 20th degree north latitude “ to the 22nd degree south latitude, and bounded by the Atlantic “ Ocean on the West and by the Indian Ocean on the East, with “ its dependencies, comprising the islands adjacent to the main- “ land, up to 100 sea miles from the shore. (See map.) “ Article XCI. — In the districts of this zone where it shall “ be ascertained that, either on account of religious belief or “ from other motives, the use of distilled liquors does not exist “ or has not been developed, the Powers shall prohibit their im- “ portation. The manufacture of distilled liquors there shall “ be equally prohibited. “ Each Power shall determine the limits of the zone of pro- “ hibition of alcoholic liquors in its possessions or protectorates, “ and shall be bound to notify the limits thereof to the other “ Powers within the space of six months. The above prohibition “ can only be suspended in the case of limited quantities destined “ for the consumption of the non-native population and imported “ under the regime and conditions determined by each Govcrn- “ ment. “ .\rticlc XCII. — The Powers having p)ossessions or exer- “ cising protectorates in the region of the zone which are not “ placed under the action of the prohibition, and into which “ alcoholic liquors are at present either freely imported or pay “ an import duty of less than 15 francs (12s. 81 , d. or S3. 55) “ per hectolitre (nearly 22 J imperial gallons) at 50 degrees “ Centigrade undertake to levy on these alcoholic liquors an “ import duty of 15 francs per hectolitre at 50 degree Centigrade “ for three years after the present General Act comes into force. “ At the expiration of this period, the duty may be increased “ to 25 francs (igs. gid. or $5) during a fresh period of three “years. At the end of the sixth year it shall be submitted to revision taking as a basis the average results produced by “ these Tariffs, for the purpose of then fixing, if possible, a “ minimum duty throughout the whole extent of the zone when the prohibition referred to in .Article XCI. is not in force. “ The Powers have the right of maintaining and increasing “ the duties beyond the minimum fixed by the present .Article “ in those regions where they already possess that right. “ .Article XCIIL — The distilled liquors manufactured in the “ regions referred to in .Article XCIL, and intended for inland “ consumption, shall be subject to an Excise duty. Thi.s Excise “ duty, the collection of which the Powers undertake to insure 205 “ as far as possible, shall not be lower than the minimum import “ duty fixed by Article XCIl. “ Article XCIVb — Signatory Powers having in Africa pos- “ sessions contiguous to the zone specified in Article XC. under- “ take to adopt the necessary measures for preventing the intro- “ duction of spirituous liquors within the territories of the said “ zone by their inland frontiers. “ Article XCV. — The Powers shall communicate to each “ other, through the office, at Brussels, and according to the “terms of Chapter V., information relating to the traffic in “ alcoholic liquors within their respective territories.” Several meetings of the Brussels Conference have been held since 1892, when the question of the spirit traffic with Africa has been under consideration, but after twenty-four years working of the Brussels General Act there is still much to be done. It is gratifying to know that “ The United Committee for the Prevention of the Demoralisation of the Native Races by the Liquor Traffic,” representing the whole of the Missionary and Temperance Organisations of Great Britain, are ever alert on this important question, and also that an International Feder- ation has been formed representing Belgium, Germany, France, Great Britain, Ital)q Switzerland, Spain, and the United States, to assist in protecting the natives from the inroads of the liquor traffic and to maintain the Prohibition Zone adopted in 1890 by the Brussels General Act. In June, 1910, a great International Missionary Conference was held in Edinburgh, at which the question of the Native Races and the Liquor Traffic was considered, and a Memorial to the various Governments was drawn up and signed by delegates representing Europe (492), America (273), Africa (25), Asia (130), Australasia (12), and various {5), a total of 946 signatures. The Memorial was as follows : — “ We, the undersigned, attending the W^orld Missionary “ Conference in Edinburgh, from many Missionary .Societies and “ diverse nations ; “ Recognise with great thankfulness the united action which “ has been taken by the Great Powers in the protection of Native “ Races from the Liquor Traffic, particularly in the Clauses of “ the Brussels General Act relating to the importation of spirits. “ In view, however, of the fact that Africa is now being “ opened up for the first time by railways, and that improved “ means of communication are bringing new regions within the “ sphere of commercial activity : “ We respectfully appeal to the Governments of the Great “ Powers again to take this matter into consideration at an earlv 206 “date, so that the Natives of Africa may eventually be freed “ from a trade which is antagonistic to the spiritual, moral and “ material welfare of the African Races.’’ The Memorial was presented to Mr. Harcourt (Secretary of State for the Colonies] on July iith, 1911, by a large and in- fluential deputation organised by the Native Races and Liquor Traffic Committee. The Committee appended to their Memorial five important suggestions which were signed on their behalf by the Duke of Westminster (President), the Bishop of London (Chairman), Sir John H. Kennaway (Vice-Chairman), Dr. C. F. Harford (\^ice-Chairman of Executive Committee), Henry Gurney (Hon. Sec.), and John Newton (Secretary). “ I. That His Majesty’s Government use the initiative con- “ ceded to it by the Brussels Convention of 1906, to call another “ meeting of the Powers at the earliest possible date to consider “ the question of the sale of spirits to the natives of Africa, “ more especially with a view to the extension of the prohibitory “ zones towards the Coast line. “2. That pending a meeting of the Powers immediate steps “ should be taken by His Majesty’s Government to come to an “ agreement with France and Germany for the further restriction “ by increased duties or otherwise, of the importation of spirits “ into their Colonies on the Gulf of Guinea. “ 3. That the system of Local Option by chiefdom now “ being adopted in Sierra Leone be extended to the whole of the “ British West African Colonies, irrespective of the effect of the “ system on local revenue. “ 4. That inquiry should be made by Commission or other- “ wise as to the best way of raising revenue to meet any de- “ ficiency caused by the diminution of the yield of liquor duties. “ 5. That the use of spirits as a form of currency, and the “ pawning of children for spirits or other debts, be made illegal.’’ Mr. Harcourt gave a sympathetic reply. He announced that His Majesty’s Government would arrange for a meeting of the Brussels Conference again to consider the question of the sale of spirits to the natives of .\frica, the British Government reserving to themselves the right, if necessary, to go farther in their own territories than any general agreement of the Powers might do. The International Conference re-assembled at Brussels on the 4th January, 1912, when the International Federation for the Protection of the Native Races from the Liquor Traffic pre- sented an important Memorial, in which it was stated; — “ The Federation, while assuring your Excellencies of its “ decided preference for total prohibition of the importation and 207 “local manufacture of spirits intended for native consumption, “ especially in Africa, has, nevertheless, thought it right to “ urge upon your Excellencies the five following ‘ desiderata’ : — “ I. The strict carrying out of the provisions of the General “ Act of Brussels, and the Acts of the Conferences of 1899 and “ 1906, in the countries within the limits assigned by the former “ document, and the gradual extension of the prohibition zones “ from the interior to the coasts. “ 2. The gradual raising of the customs and excise duties. “ 3. The establishment of strict control over the quality of “ spirits imported or manufactured on the spot, and the sup- “ pression of private stills. “ 4. The limitation of the alcoholic strength of spirits which “ should only be introduced and distributed in the state in which “ they are to be drunk, and in their original packing. “ 5. The prohibition of the importation, manufacture and “ sale, even for consumption by others than natives, of liquors “ of the absinthe type. “ Many of these proposals are not new, and your Excellen- “ cies will easily recognise, in the first three articles, either the “ provisions of the Acts of preceding Conferences or what was “ inserted in their protocols, and your Excellencies will see by “ this that the grand work of these international conferences “ has been the object of our thorough examination, as well as “ of our most sincere admiration. “ But we have set before ourselves as our principal ob- “ jective to draw the kind attention of the present Conference to “ this fact : that the customs and excise duties established in “ 1889-90, and considerably raised since then (in 1899 and in “ 1906), have not been able to prevent, but only to diminish, “ the increase in the consumption of spirits in Africa, in the zone “ designated by the General Act; the insufficiency of the results “ obtained follows from several causes, the chief of which are, “ on the one hand, the diminution in the net cost of spirits and “ the cost of their transport, consequent on improvements intro- “ duced into the distilleries, and improved services of sea and “ river navigation, and the construction of railways, and, on the “ other hand, the increasing value of native labour. “ Under these conditions, protective tariffs being at present “ the principal means of combating alcoholism in the colonies, it “ seems necessary to add to them additional measures of defence “ in the nature of those which we have had the honour of sug- “ gesting to your Excellencies, persuaded that your Excellencies “ will not this time limit their programme to inquiring into the “ amount of the duties, for it is important to look forward to “ the day — perhaps not far distant — when, by reason of their 208 “ specific character, these duties will have reached the maxi- “ mum that our sense of justice could authorise ; indeed, civilised “ nations could not permit themselves to offer to savage races, “ whom it is their duty to protect, beverages which are injurious, “ and even dangerous, at unreasonably high prices, even on the “ praiseworthy pretext of preventing the excessive consumption “of them.” Unfortunately, no decision was arrived at, for, owing to the French representatives tabling a series of proposals which the other representatives could not accept, the matter was referred to the various Governments and the Conference ad- journed sine die. Unless, therefore, the French Government submits its proposals and asks for another meeting, no inter- national action can be taken until 1914, which is the earliest date at which the Brussels Conference can again assemble. Each separate Government can, of course, institute reforms within its own Colonies — but it is to be feared that little will be done with- out international agreement. The next regular meeting of the Conference is due to be held in 1916. CHAPTER II North Africa “ Wine brings a tenfold curse. It brings a curse on him who makes it for another’s use, on him who makes it for himself alone, on him who drinketh of the poison draught, on him who carries it from place to place, on him to whom the poisoned grape is brought, on him who serves it to the eager guest, on him who sells it to another s hurt, on him who profits by the harmful sale, on him who buys it for himself alone, on him who buys it for another's use — these ten shall be accursed.” Mohammed traditional sayings [A. D. 570-632). The northern part of the great continent of Africa has its liquor problem, although Mohammedanism largely prevails throughout the whole of the area, except in Abyssinia. In Algeria, Egypt and Morocco there is an admixture of Jews. Total abstinence from religious conviction has been practised by these people for centuries, and the prohibition of the manufacture and sale of intoxicants has been generally adopted. The Koran strictly enjoins this upon all the followers of Mohammed. Carlyle, in his “Lecture on Heroes,” says: — “ The Mohammedans regard their Koran with a reverence “ which few Christians pay even to their Bible. It is admitted “everywhere as the standard of all law and all practice; the “thing to be gone-upon in speculation and life; the message “ sent direct out of Heaven, which this Earth has to conform “ to, and walk by; the thing to be read. Their judges decide by “ it; all Moslem are bound to study it, seek In it for the light of “their life. They have mosques where it is all read daily; “ thirty relays of priests take it up in succession, get through “ the whole each day. There, for twelve hundred years, has “ the voice of this book, at all moments, kept sounding through “ the ears and hearts of so many men A greater number “of God’s creatures believe in Mohammed’s word at this hour “ than any other word whatever. ... His religion is not an “easy one; with rigorous fasts, lavations, strict complex for- “ mulas, prayers five times a day, and abstinence from wine. “ It did not succeed by being an easy religion.” Mr. S. S. Cox, American Minister at Constantinople, stated in 1886 that : — “ Throughout the Mahommedan world the drinking of “ spirits or wine is substantially unknown, and has been for 0 210 “generations. Of course, in cities much frequented by Christ- “ ians and others, these liquors are consumed, but a Mahom- “ medan would not be tolerated in the services of the mosques “ were he known to be a drinking man.’’ On the coastline for many years the liquor traffic has existed, ostensibly for supplying Europeans. The opening up of the interior for commerce and travel has been taken advantage of by the liquor traders for the extension of the traffic. And people, little better than children where alcohol is concerned, have fallen victims to the terrible curse of alcoholism. The attempt on the part of a section of the Brussels Conference, in i8gg, to extend the prohibition zone to Northern Africa was de- feated on the ground that the natives were total abstainers by Mohammedan law' ; but, unfortunately, under the constant extension of the liquor traffic, every effort is being made gradu- ally to break down this law. Algeria. — There are nine distinct races of inhabitants in Algeria, all of whom, except the Europeans, are noted for their sobriety. The Berbers, Arabs, Moors, Turks, Kolongis, Negroes, Mozabites, and the Europeans. Of the total popula- tion about 750,000 are Europeans and nearly 5,000,000 belong to the other races. Under the Romans the country enjoyed a great degree of prosperity. Christianity was introduced and greatly flourished. This state of things, however, received a severe shock when the Romans were driven out of Africa by the X'andals. Later the Saracens, the Mozabites, and others became conquerors of the country. From 1505 to 1516 the Spaniards claimed authority over the people, but from that time until 1S30 the Turks ruled with an iron hand. Thousands of Christians were made slaves, piracy developed enormously, so that the Alg'erine pirates were dreaded not only by the .Arabs and Moors, but by the whole of the European powers. In 1830 the French Government declared war against Algeria, and eventually conquered the country, but its conquest has cost the French nation thousands of men and millions of pounds, for there has been a continuous struggle by the natives to free themselves from French rule. The country is now de- clared to be an integral part of France, governed by a Governor- General and a Consultative Council. A great deal of liberty has been extended to the .Arabs and Moors, who can now become French citizens and enjoy many of the civil and political privi- leges of France. Many improvements have been introduced. Over 2,000 miles of railway have been opened, and commerce extended info many parts of the country. It is greatly to be 211 regretted that the railway has led to a much larger distribution of intoxicating liquors among the people. The sale of alcoholic liquors, especially French wines, is being pushed with great vigour, thus creating an appetite for stronger liquors, spirits, etc. The evils have repeatedly been brought before the notice of the French Government, but without much effect. During recent years a mild attempt has been made to limit the importation of distilled spirits by increasing the amount of duty. This has had a slightly beneficial effect, but much more drastic legislation must be taken if the growing evil of alcohol- ism is to be remedied. Egypt. — Europeans, who number only about 250,000 out of a total population, in 1911, of over 11,250,000, have never been able to make Egypt a place of permanent abode because they refuse to modify their mode of living. They continue to drink all kinds of intoxicants, as they would in their own country, and therefore suffer the consequences of their folly. Thousands of years ago the principles underlying the basis of the modern Tem- perance movement were appreciated by the people of Egypt, and advocated by the ablest and best of her citizens. Heredotus, the oldest Greek historian (484 B.C.), who travelled extensively through Egypt and other countries, tells us of the wonderful longevity of the people, through their abstinence from the use of intoxicants, and affirms that “ after the Libyans (who were also abstainers from intoxicating liquors), there are no people as healthy as the Egyptians.” In the course of time the Egyptians learned to love alcoholic liquors, and wine flowed freely at all entertainments. \Afine and beer-shops were opened, and drinking became common among all classes. W. Taylor Smith, B.A., says; — ‘‘ Everything was done to induce customers to indulge in ” copious potations. The slaves in attendance plied them with ” continual recommendations to drink, often but too success- ‘‘ fully. Although the Egyptians were in the main a sober or ” even serious people, there seem to have been, at times, a con- ” siderable amount of drunkenness amongst them, both in beer- ‘‘ houses and in private houses, not to mention the wild carouses ‘‘encouraged at some of the religious festivals.” Then followed the conversion of the people to Mohammed- anism, and a wonderful change took place in their habits and condition. Practically the whole nation abandoned the use of intoxicants, and for centuries this abstinence has continued, so that it is perfectly true, as stated in the Encyclopasdia Britannica, that the Egyptians even to-day ‘‘are rarely guilty of the vice of drunkenness, wine being prohibited by the Koran. Eaters of 212 opium, and smokers of hemp, called hasheesh, are not un- common, though they are always of the dregs of the people.” Since 1863 the country has been largely under the influence of the British and French Governments, first by a Dual Control, and later by a British Occupation, 'file increase in the importa- tion of Furopean spirits and otlier intoxicants under both these authorities has been considerable. There is general condemna- tion of this. \A^riters, travellers, army officers, and others who have visited Egypt, or have held authority there, have spoken of the ill effect of alcoholic liquors being introduced to the natives. Mr. Talbot Kelly, in his work, ‘‘Egypt Painted and De- scribed,” says : — ‘‘ .\mong other jirohibitions of the prophet Mohammed, are ‘‘ indulgence in opium, hasheesh or tobacco, as well as intoxi- ‘‘ cants of any kind. Hasheesh and alcohol work more havoc ‘‘ among natives than any other influence, yet every cafe will ‘‘ supply the former and no restriction is placed upon the sale ‘‘ of drink, which in Cairo and other centres has such a demora- ‘‘ lising effect among the Moslem population.” Mr. |. M. Robertson, M.P. (Parliamentary .Secretary. Board of Trade), writing to the London Daily Chronicle, May a^tli, 191 1 , says ; — ‘‘It is no use to plead the difficulties in the way of good ‘‘ Government in I^gypt. .So long as we pronounce the Egyp- ‘‘ tians unfitted to govern themselves there lies upon us the clear ‘‘ duty of showing" them wherein good government consists. ‘‘ Under our rule, forms of retrogression and degeneration are “ arising alongside of forms of betterment. Tire traditional ‘‘ Moslem sobriety is being undermined by a rapidly-growing ‘‘ traffic in strong drink of the worst kind; and we are not in a ‘‘ position to deny that a native Government with a free hand ‘‘ would restrain evils which we entirely fail to check.” Lord Kitchener in his rejiort to .Sir Edward Grey. M.P., .Secretary for Foreign .\ffairs, dated Cairo, March 22nd, 1913, says : — ‘‘ 17,784 kilog. of hashish were seized in 1912 by the Coast- ‘‘ guards. Customs, and Police, as compared with 24,464 in ‘‘ 1911. Proceedings were instituted in 2,098 cases for the use ‘‘ of hashish in public establishments, and convictions were ‘‘ obtained in 1,996 cases, as against 2,669 cases instituted and ‘‘2,556 convictions in 1911. 197 persons were prosecuted for ‘‘the unauthorised sale of liquors, as against 274 in 1911. ‘‘149 were convicted and eight acquitted; eight cases were ‘‘ filed and 32 are still pending. Only ii liquor licences were 213 “ granted in 1912 as against 13 in 1911, and eight of them uere “ for public establishments in the European quarters of Cairo, “ AlexandriUj and Port Said.” Miss Anna Y. Thompson, writing from Cairo, July 30th, 1913, states : — ‘ ‘ There is great need for Temperance work here. 1 am ” sorry that beer drinking seems to be much on the increase ” among the Mohammedans. I cannot say among the better ‘‘ classes, but among the middle and poorer classes I have seen ‘‘ a good deal of it in Cairo. We as a mission, and the members ‘‘ of the W.W.C.T. U., work all we can in the way of example, ‘‘ in literature in Arabic, and the Sunday School Temperance ‘‘ Lessons, and Christian Endeavour Temperance subjects. ” Lord Kitchener’s report does not say quite as much about ‘‘ Temperance or intemperance as Lord Cromer did in his last ” report.” The question is repeatedly being brought to the notice of the Authorities, but with tittle practical result. Good work is being done by the Good Templar Lodges in the British Army and Navy at Alexandria, Cairo, and other places. This, how- ever, is largely in the direction of personal abstinence. Some small efforts are being put forth among the natives, but without the help of the Government very little permanent good will be effected. A very great restriction in the importation of Euro- pean spirits, or better still, their entire prohibition, should be secured. Morocco. — The population of Morocco consists of races of people similar to those found in Algeria, numbering nearly 8,000,000, of which only 25,000 are Europeans and about 300,000 Jews. The remainder are Mohammedans. From the eighth cen- tury until 1912, the country was ruled by an autocratic Sultan whose power was unchecked by any civil authority. The Govern- ment of Morocco is now administered by the French except at certain points on the coast which are under tlie authority of the Spaniards. Although so close to Europe, and within easy reach of Spanish and French wines, the despotic Sultan succeeded in keeping alcoholic liquors to a large extent out of the country. In 1864 a Decree was issued permitting Europeans to trade in any part of the country, and from that date to the present time a steady but largely increasing amount of alcoholic liquors has been sent into the country, the only restriction being a duty which has varied in amount from time to time. At an International Conference representing the great Powers, which assembled at Algeciras in 1906, the British Gov- 214 ernment attempted to secure a much greater restriction on the importation of spirits into the country, but only succeeded in getting a slight addition to the duty. While this was done, no doubt, with the best intention, the method is found to be in- effective, as the traffic in European spirits still grows year by year. Though there are no railways in the country, it is re- markable how easily alcoholic liquors are carried into the interior so that the evils of alcoholism are increasing with amazing rapidity. It is a fact that these millions of people are being seriously injured by alcohol. The Wesiniinster Gazette, November 2nd, 1912, stated : — “The liquor traffic is serious enough in France; unfortu- “ nately it is extending to Morocco. Throughout that Protec- “ torate, and especially in the district near the Algerian frontier, “ the natives, in spite of Mahommedan law, are being encour- “ aged by French traders to consume spirits; and those who “ remain faithful to their tradition are offered drugs, which are “ even more pernicious. There has been an immense over-pro- “ duction of alcohol in recent years in France owing to the “ excess in the supply of wine and the facilities for illicit distil- “ lation ; and Morocco affords a welcome dumping ground for “ some of the surplus. But here, as in France itself, it is “ probably only a reformed Chamber that can deal with the evil.” Tripoli, Tu.ms, .and the Sud.an. — The other countries of Northern .■\frica are gradually being cursed by the introduction of alcoholic liquors supplied by nations who claim to be more highly civilised. Tripoli is under Italy; Tunis, under France; and the Sudan under Great Britain. The inhabitants of all these countries are overwhelmingly Mohammedan, and until the intro- duction of European spirits and wine were noted for their sobriety. W'hile the large majority of the inhabitants are no doubt still loyal to their religious vows, it is also true that the inroads of alcoholism are clearl)' noticeable to all concerned. The importation of alcoholic liquors may be an easy method for the raising of revenue, but the destruction of the sobriety of the people must surely tell enormously against the true interests of trade and commerce in the end. \\’hen will the more civilised nations learn that in the prohibition of the liquor traffic is to be found the best road not only to the moral and physical con- dition of a people, but to the material prosperity of every nation? CHAPTKR /(/ East and Central Africa and Madagascar “ I protest ag-ainst the liquor traffic being introduced to these people because of its destructive effect on all legitimate commerce. I appeal here to the selfishness, if you will, of the trading community as a whole ; and I ask them, in the name of common sense and righteousness, if they are going to allow this traffic to deprive them of all honest gain in these countries which in so wonderful a way have been opened up to trade in modern times. If you continue to force njrn upon them you cannot expect them to buy cotton goods, for if they buy rum they will have nothing left with which to buy cotton and other useful articles.” The Rev, Dr. TayRr, East African Missionary ( 1907 ). The opening up of East and Central Africa, in fact the whole of Africa, might have been made a much greater blessing, both to the natives and the European traders alike, but for the introduction of the liquor traffic. Many also declare that Christianity itself would have been much more acceptable to the natives, had the traffic in gin been prohibited. A great struggle is going' on between Christianity and Mahommedanism, and apparently Christianity is not succeeding as was earnestly hoped and expected it would, while Mahommedanism has been largely adopted and is rapidly extending among these people. This is stated to have arisen from the fact that Mahommedanism teaches abstinence from all intoxicants, which is in keeping with the mode of life the natives have always been accustomed to live ; while side by side with the Christian missionary comes alcohol and opium, which degrade and destroy the people. Abyssinia. — The Ethiopian Empire of Abyssinia, under the rule of the Emperor Menilik II., has a population estimated to number about 8,000,000, of which about half are Abyssinians, and the remainder Galls, Damakils, and Somalis. The monarchy is one of the oldest in the world, an Emperor having ruled over the country from time immemorial. Christianity was introduced into the country about the year 330 A.D., and although the people are stated to have been rude and even barbarous, they were never addicted tO' drunkenness. Iheir strongest liquor was made from fermented cakes made from a kind of mead. ^ A number of Mahommedans and Jews have also been for centuries living in various parts of the country, and their habits of Tem- perance have always been beneficial. The introduction oF European spirits has been gre.atly re- sented by the present Emperor and by the leaders and priests of 216 every section of religious thought. It was decided in igio that no further quantities should be permitted to be brought into the country. The Aflonpost states that; — “ The Emperor Menelik, ruler of .\byssinia, has issued “ an edict in which he prohibits the importation of alcoholic “ beverages in his kingdom. He states that French wine and “ German beer have found an entrance into his court and after “ having discovered how the misuse of it works, he has come to “ the conclusion that if he does not put a stop to this drinking, “his kingdom will be in danger of becoming a prey to more “ sober nations. The Emperor is not against European art and “ science, on the contrary, he prizes them highly, but he is “ determined to fight with all his might against European poison “ which is the name he gives to all alcohol. He gives notice “ that he will punish every importer of alcohol by forcing the “ drink down his throat until he dies. In regard to the edict “ he says that drunkenness is debasing and harmful, that it “ w'eakens the human race and destroys both body and soul. He wishes that his people shall continue to be strong, healthy “ and independent, and as a means to this end he absolutely “ prohibits the use of intoxicants wherever his authority reaches. ’’ Tlie Emperor Menilik is wiser than many European nations, for, knowing the evils of alcohol, he endeavours to save his people from its curse by adopting a strict prohibition of the importation of spirits, which European traders are endeavouring to force into his country. British East Africa. — The various tracts of country in East and Central .Africa under British authority consist of the East Africa Protectorate (Nairobi), Nyasaland (Zomba), Somali- land (Berbera), Uganda (Kampala), and the Islands of Pemba and Zanzibar. The total population is estimated at about 8,000,000. All travellers and explorers and missionaries who have gone through this part of .Africa, are unanimous in paying tribute to the natives for their sobriety. Until Robert Moffat went to Africa in i8i6, Central .Africa was a sealed book to all the civilised races. He warned the European nations again.''t the introduction of alcoholic liquors among these people. “ Of one thing,’’ he said, “there is no doubt that the introduction of intoxicating liquors (to the native races) would end in the certain destruction of their temporal, as well as their spiritual interests.’’ The warning of Robert Moffat and others went unheeded, spirits of the vilest description were sent out, so that when Alexander Murdock Mackay landed at Zanzibar in i8y6, he found drink doing its deadly work among the natives. AA'riting to England in 1877, he says — 217 “ Drink is the curse of Africa. Every night men, women “ and children, may be seen, reeling with the effects of alcohol. “ Whoexer would introduce civilisation into .\irica, must be “ total abstainers, and if that is necessary for the pioneers of “ civilisation, what ought to be the attitude of the preacher of “ the Gospel of Christianity? ” No doubt this opinion referred to those living at the ports, but in time the evil will g'radually find its way into the interior, unless effective measures are taken tO' prevent alcoholic liquors being carried inland. Mr. H. E. S. Cordeaux, the Commissioner of Somaliland for igo8-g, reports to the British Colonial Office as follows : — “ There arc two great considerations which materially “ affect the general public health. These are — ist, that the “ population is practically entirely Mohammedan, and therefore “ total abstainers from all alcohol. The 2nd is the indifferent “ precaution taken either against excessive heat by day or chill “ at night by the Somalis. As regards the first of these con- “ ditions, we have at present, a country free from any case of “ malignant disease during the last ten years or so, yet one in “ which the water is usually so polluted with mica or other “ irritating impurities as to produce many cases of a condition “ allied to dysentery. This tends to bear out an influence of “ alcohol, per se, tO' be a predisposing or exciting cause of mal- “ ignant disease, otherwise than by its action as an irritant only. “ In connection with alcohol ma}' also be mentioned the very “ marked difference shown under anaesthetics by the Somalis, as against both the European and other races addicted to the “ use of this stimulant. Serious respiratory trouble is practically “ never met with, and struggling while going under is quite “ unusual, yet the people are of a both nervous and excitable “ temperament.” The Commissioner also notes another characteristic of these people, for regarding the second condition of health referred t j above he says : — ‘‘ The application of another Somali trait of character goes ‘‘somewhat to explain their freedom from sun trouble, for in ‘‘contradistinction to the imported Indian, he drinks an in- ‘‘ credibly small amount of fluid when exposed to the sun on the ‘‘ march, being fully convinced that both staying power is af- ‘‘ fected as well as that heat-stroke is more liable to occur, both ‘'^in man and beast.” Basutoland. — The native territory of Basutoland is situated in South-East Africa, and is under British control. The popula- tion in igii was 403,111 natives and i,3g6 whites. The liquor problem is causing much concern to those in authority, who 21S desire to suppress the traffic among the natives. But European traders of almost every nationality seem determined to introduce alcoholic liquors, either in a legal way or by smuggling over the border. To prevent this, additional police have been ap- pointed ; Mr. S. Barrett, an Assistant Commissioner, hopes that they will “be useful in detecting a larger proportion of the smuggling fraterniay. ’’ Mr. Samuel Barrett also states : — “ A new form of intoxicant has been introduced into this “ territory from Bechuanaland during the past few years. The “ local name for it is ‘ ladi it is said to be made from ants’ “ eggs. It has been found necessar}- to prohibit its use on the “ Government reserves here, owing to its demoralising effects. “It produces violent intoxication, and is said to seriously impair “ the intellect of those who habitually use it.’’ Sir H. C. Sloley, Resident Commissioner at Maseru, sa3's in one of his reports : — ‘ ‘ The unfortunate propensity of many of the chiefs to in- “ dulge to excess in smuggled brandy has formed the subject of “ se\’eral special reports. The district officers and police con- “ tinue to be active in their efforts to suppress this demoralising “ traffic, and during the year (igoS-g) eighty-six prosecutions “ under the Liquor Regulations have taken place.’’ Mr. C. E. Boyes, Government Secretary, also reports upon the evils of alcohol being sold to the natives, and states that : — “ lire smuggling of brandy into this district from the “Orange River Colony continues unabated. With a view to “ stopping this, additional police have been appointed.’’ Bechu.vn.\lj\xu. — T he territory of Bechuanaland in Central South Africa is a British possession. The population in igii was estimated to be 125,350, of which only i,6g2 were whites. The native chiefs have done their utmost to keep all kinds of alcoholic liquors from their people. When Chief Khama became King of the Bechuanas, he issued an order prohibiting the manu- facture, importation and sale of all intoxicants. His laws, how- ever, were broken by white traders, and he came to England in i8g5, accompanied by the chiefs of neighbouring tribes, to plead with the British Government for their assistance in pro- tecting his people from these liquor traders. In his interview with Queen Victoria, King Khama pleaded with Her Majesty “ to stand by us and help us that the drink may not enter our towns.’’ Queen Victoria’s reph' is well known, but is worth repeating here. Her Majesty said : — “ 1 approve the provision excluding strong drink from ^-our “ country. I feel strongly on the matter and am glad to see the 219 “ Chiefs have determined to keep so great a curse from their “ people. ” Intoxicating liquors still being smuggled into the country, Khama has continued his war against the evil, but it is difficult for him to combat the wiles and schemes of the liquor traders. In i8g8 he wrote to Sir Sidney Shepherd, saying — “ To fight against drink is to fight against demons, and not “ against men. I dread the white man’s drink more than the “ Assegais of the Matebele, which kill men’s bodies and it is “ quickly over, but drink puts devils into men and destroys “ both their souls and bodies for ever. Its wounds never heal.” In igio H.R.H. The Duke of Connaught visited South Africa, for the purpose of opening the Union Parliament, and afterwards paid a visit tO' other parts of Africa. The native Chiefs, headed by Khama, interviewed His Royal Highness in reference to the continual violation of their prohibition liquor laws. Khama, with the full approval of the other Chiefs, ap- pealed to the Duke to assist them in not only carrying out their own laws against the liquor traffic, but the promise made by Queen \hctoria that no intoxicating liquors should be permitted to enter their country. In an earnest and touching address, Khama urged the Duke ‘‘ not to permit their people to be driven mad by brandy.” Unfortunately, these liquor traders care neither for the promises of Queens, nor the laws of Chiefs. Only the strong arm of a power like the British Government, fully determined on a strict enforcement of Prohibition, will ever keep these traders from selling their liquor. When will the British Government exercise their duty, and carry out their promises to these people? Rhodesia. — The territory Rhodesia, named after Cecil Rhodes, is under the British Government, and is divided into three Administrative Divisions, viz., Southern, North-Eastern, and North-Western. The estimated population in igii was 1,750,000, the total white population being under 20,000. The great missionary-explorer. Dr. Livingstone, first opened this part of Africa to British influence. From 1840 until 1873, Dr. Livingstone travelled through the heart of Africa, and more than once protested against the introduction of any kind of intoxi- cating liquor to the natives. Unfortunately, Livingstone’s good advice has not been acted upon, so that a considerable amount of spirits finds a way among these people, much to their hurt. SvvAZiiAND. — This is another territory under British pro- tection. Swaziland has a population of about 100,000, of which, in igii, only 1,083 were whites. The inhabitants are of the Ama-Swazi Bantus tribe. The country is largely ruled by native 220 Chiefs, who are strongly opposed to the introduction of the liquor traffic. Yet it is stated that from Cape Colony and Natal “ a flood of spirits is poured into the territories of these native Chiefs. At times whole villages are found in a state of intoxica- tion. Kings, chiefs, people, men, women, and children, all in a state of hideous frenzy, born of the fire-water of the white man.” The extension of the Springs-Ermelo Railway, with coach and other communications with the interior, has greatly facilitated the distribution of liquor. Fren'ch East Africa. — The Somali Coast Protectorate, which is under the Government of France, is a very small territory, having a population of only about 210,000. The principal port is Jibuti, from which a railway runs to Adis .\baba, the present capital of Abyssinia. By means of this port and railway a quantity of intoxicating liquors has been carried, not only into French East Africa itself, but through into .\byssinia, much to the annoyance of the Emperor and the detriment of the people. German East Africa. — The German territory in East Africa (Dar-es-Salaam) has an estimated population of about 10,000,000. The majority of the inhabitants are of the Unyanwesi, Swahali, and other Bantu races, and the Masai and Wakuafi tribes, which are of Hamito-Negroid origin. Missionaries are at work repre- senting both the Christian and Mahommedan religions. The evils of alcoholism are at present confined to the coast, but the opening up of the railway from Dar-es-Salaam to Tabora, and its extension to Ujiji, gives an opportunity of the introduction of alcoholic liquors to the natives of the interior, unless the pro- visions of the Brussels General Act, 1890, are rigidly enforced. Italian East Africa. — The territory under Italian influence consists of the colony of Eritrea and Italian Somaliland. The combined population numbers about 750,000. Ihe inhabitants are chiefly Arabs and Swalili, with some Indian settlers in the latter, and Abyssinians and Negroes in the former. Practically the whole of these people are Mahommedans, so that a very small quantity of any kind of intoxicating liquor is imported, except for a few Europeans and the Italian military garrison. Portuguese East .Africa. — The Government of Portugal has authority over the two provinces of Lorenco Marques and Mozambique, which together form Portuguese East Africa. The population was estimated in 1911 to be about 3,000,000, of which only about 10,000 were Europeans. Whether from the unsettled state of affairs in the home country, or from an in- difference to the welfare of the native population, the Portuguese management of th» liquor traffic in East .Africa is the worst on record. A'isitors describe the condition of the natives of the 221 Port of Lorenco Marques as both beastly and disgusting, due to excessive drunkenness. Many men, not Temperance reformers, are protesting against the inaction of Portugal, and in the inter- est of common humanity call for international interference. Mr. John .\bbey, who spent several years in .\frica, writes : — ■ “ As regards drunkenness in Portuguese territory, I am “ assured by those who have resided there for many years that “ drunkenness and all the moral evils arising out of it abound “ there, but the convictions are kept down by the police. These “ poor creatures are left to lie about the ground sleeping off “ their drunkenness. It is well known that vast numbers of the “natives of Portuguese East .A^frica are, from a moral stand- “ point, in a most deplorable condition, mainly through the “ effects of alcohol.’’ Christian and Mohammedan missionaries are striving to convert the people to the faiths each represent, but unfortunately the missionary is greatly handicapped owing to the enormous amount of intoxicating liquors imported into these territories, especially from Delagoa Ray, from which place it is carried, by means of the ever-extending railway, into the interior. i\I.\DAGASCAR. — The actioti of European and .American Gov- ernments toward Madagascar, has been of the most shameful character. In the early part of the nineteenth century, British planters in Mauritius began to grow sugar and manufacture rum. A quantity of this spirit was shipped to Madagascar. The result is declared to have been appalling. Large numbers of the inhabitants became so addicted to drinking and drunkenness that King Radama I. ordered the destruction of all the liquor on the island. For that destroyed, a part of the cost was paid out of his private income. He also tried to stop any further importa- tion of liquor. The British Government, however, interfered, and compelled the king to admit the liquor and arrange for its sale. On ascending the throne, King Radama If. became so addicted to drinking rum that he became a complete maniac. The next stage in the deplorable degradation of Madagascar was undertaken by the United States of America. With a view to restricting' the traffic as far as possible. King Radama I. im- posed a duty of 33 per cent, on the importation of alcoholic liquors. In 1867, Mr. Finkelmeier, LTnited States Consul, in Madagascar, urged that the duty should be reduced to 10 per cent. The United States Government supported this supposed disinterested action of their consul, and eventually Madagascar had to submit. Later it was discovered that the consul’s son was engaged in the liquor traffic at Tamatave, and opening up an extensive traffic with merchants in Madagascar, 222 In 1868 Queen Ranavolona II. ascended the throne, and knowing the terrible results of the liquor traffic among her peo- ple, determined to take a bold stand against the importation of any kind of alcoholic liquor. At first the duties were again largely increased, but with little practical good, whilst attempts at limiting the sale had similar results. Seeing the havoc still going on among the people she determined to prohibit the im- portation and sale of all intoxicating liquors. To secure this she issued a special proclamation in 1876, ordering all liquor places to be closed, and the liquor to be deported or destroyed. The officers at the ports were also instructed not to admit any further consignment under any circumstances whatever. The Queen was deaf to all the pleadings of the traders and the threats of the various Governments. She declared her first duty was to look after the moral, physical and religious welfare of her people. The success of Prohibition was acknowledged by all the authorities and missionaries on the Island. A complete change was soon observed in the habits of the people. .Although some liquor was smuggled into the countr}-, drunkenness and crime practically disappeared, and great was the rejoicing among the missionaries and others having the wel- fare of the island at heart. Upon the Queen learning that some of the religious people used fermented wine at the sacrament, she caused the Malagasy law to be put into force, viz., that only the pure juice of the grape should be used for such a purpose. The next monarch. Queen Ranovolona III., came to the throne. She issued a proclamation, in which she intimated that the pro- hibition of the liquor traffic would be continued, because of its beneficial results to the nation. So for twenty years Madagascar had a rigid enforcement of law against alcohol, and the records show that never in its history was the country more prosperous or contented. In 1896 difficulties arose with France, and when new treaties were being executed between the two countries, the liquor sellers protested that Prohibition was in restraint of trade. The French Government upheld this contention, and the dispute continued until France succeeded in securing a complete sovereignty over the Island. The Queen was deposed and sent into exile. Pro- hibition repealed, and the liquor traffic once more established with all the horrors it brings in its train. Thus three of the greatest nations of history — Great Britain, France, and the United States of .\merica — have violated the highest and best interests of this people, to secure a market for ^lauritius rum, French wines, and Tamatave spirits, CHAPTER IV West Africa “ Looked at superficially, there seems to be no possibility of doubting' that to raise a paying trade rapidly there is absolutely nothing like spirits. But let us ask, ‘ Is it a trade which will continue to grow? Will it pay in the long run ? Will commerce thrive and branch out? Will the country flourish under such a system ? ’ To these questions I answer emphatically No ! a thousand times No ! A trade which commences with gin will continue with gin and will end with gin. Industry and thrift cannot be found in such compan_v, and witli the absence of these there can be found no development of the mineral and vegetable riches ot the country. In these facts lies the secret of the astoundingly small progress our West Coast Settlements have made through all the long period they have been in our hands.” J. IJwmson, F. R.G.S. , i\ fa7icJtesfei- (1SS7). While Temperance reformers rejoice greatly over the Prohi- bition Zone adopted by the Brussels Conference of the Powers in i8go, they greatly regret the continually increasing amount of European spirits which is being Imported into all the West African Coastal Colonies. The Zone of International Agreement for the control and Prohibition of the spirit traffic, as defined by the Brussels General .Act, extends from 20° north latitude down to 22° south latitude, and from the .Atlantic Ocean on the West to the Indian Ocean on the East, including the adjacent islands as far as 100 sea-miles from the coast. Some idea of the vastness of the territory which by International agreement it was decided to protect from any further inroads from the liquor traffic, may be gathered from the fact that its length in round figures is 3,000 miles, and its breadth, at its widest point, about 4,600 miles. A territory which occupies nearly one-fifth of the land surface of the globe. West Africa extends from Cape Colony in the South to Senegal in the North. In this vast area large tracts of territory are under the control of the Governments of Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Portugal, and the Republic of Liberia. All the people who have accepted the principles of Mohammedan- ism, Bishop Ingram stated in 1897, are always ready to side with the missionaries against the liquor traffic. It Is unfortunate that this cannot be said of the Europeans who are regarded as the Christian portion of the population. Comparing the two religions in her “ Travels In West Africa,” Miss Mary H. Kingsley says : ‘‘ They (Mohammedans) are undoubtedly the gentlemen of ” tlie .Sierra Leone native population, and they are becoming an 224 “ increasing faction in the town, by no means to the pleasure of “ the Christians. ” Quite a host of travellers speak of the sobriety of “ those regions which are inhabited mainly by Mohammedans,” or the vast mass of the natives, before the European liquor trader intro- duces intoxicating liquors. Sir H. H. Johnston, G.C.M.G. , the famous African traveller, says : — ‘‘ The restrictive measures of the Brussels General Act ‘‘ should be extended to all parts of Africa inhabited by the ” negroes. I should like to see a prohibition policy similar to that “ in force over such a large proportion of the United States ” applied to the whole of Africa. In taking this step we should ‘‘ seek the co-operation of Liberia, because it is little use exclud- ” ing spirits from Sierra Leone or the French Ivory Coast if they ” are to be introduced on to Liberian territory and thence circu- ” late throughout the regions of Inner West Africa. No matter ‘‘ what excuses and palliations may be advanced, I think distilled ” spirits are extremely harmful to all races of mankind, but most ” of all to those who dwell in tropical climates.” Belgi.vn Congo. — The Congo Free State, which sprung into existence in 1882 through the discoveries of Sir H. M. Stanley, under the authority of the late King of the Belgians, Leopold 11 . In 1908 it was annexed to Belgium, and is now a Colony of that country. Its administration is conducted by a Colonial Council, presided over by the Minister of the Colonies. .Almost from the commencement of the Congo Free State, the people passed through troublous times. Frightful attrocities were committed in many parts of the country, which aroused indignation through- out the civilised world. The action of alcohol in connection with these outrages was little noticed except in Temperance and mis- sionary circles and will now never be fully known or appreciated by the general public. The effects of intoxicating liquors upon the natives is illus- trated in many of the missionary reports sent from the Congo. The Rev. C. B. .Antisdel said : — ” The greatest hindrance to our work is rum. There are ‘‘ five trading stations wdthin two miles of my station. Their ‘ ‘ chief article of barter is rum. The houses sell each week a ” hogshead of this death-dealing drink. In going toward Sumba, ‘‘ w'here the trading-houses are located, it always makes my heart ” ache as I meet people returning from there, nine out of ten ” having but rum, for which they have exchanged their produce, ‘‘ palm-kernels, palm-oil, rubber, peanuts, and beans. Unless ” something is done to stay this iniquitous traffic, this people 225 “ will soon be extinct. This section is being depopulated “ rapidly. ” The Government of the Congo Free .State, seeing the mis- chief created by alcoholic liquors, prohibited their importation beyond the Kpozo River. By this action, and the Brussels General Act, a territory of nearly 1,500,000 square miles was freed from the legal sale of alcoholic liquors. A narrow slip of country bordering on the Portuguese territory was unfortunately exempt from this Prohibition law, and has been the centre of much trouble ever since. King Leopold and his officials of the CongO' — whatever atrocities they may have permitted — appear to have administered, during the last few years of their authority, the Prohibition law with a strict and firm hand. This may have been from a selfish motive arising from their desire to secure more effective native labour in the production of rubber, but whatever the motive, the effect was most beneficial to the people. In igi2 the Belgian Government and Parliament passed a new law prohibiting the sale of spirits to natives throughout the whole of the Belgian Congo, commencing from the ist of Janu- ary, 1913. The new law extends the Prohibition over the terri- tory bordering on the Portuguese Colony on the south and the French Congo on the north. Mr. W. J. Lamont, the British Consul at Boma, commenting on the new law, in his report to the British Government, says : — “ This action has been rendered necessary by the ravages caused by the consumption of trade- rum and gin among the natives.” British West Africa. — The four Colonies under British authority are Gambia, Gold Coast, Nigeria (Northern and South- ern) and Sierra Leone. The total population in 1912 was esti- mated to be about 21,000,000, of which only a very small number are Europeans. The climate is such that Europeans are unable permanently to reside in any of the colonies. Gambia. — The Crown Colony and protectorate of Gambia, founded in 1843, was created a separate Government in 1888. It consists of a group of islands — St. Mary, British Kombo, Al- breda. Ceded Mile, MacCarthy, various other smaller islands, and some territory on the banks of the river Gambia. The Gov- ernment is vested in a Governor with Executive and Legislative Councils. The population is about 165,000, mostly Moham- medans, yet among the chief imports are spirits, wine and tobacco. Mr. H. M. B. Griffith, acting Governor in 1906, stated in an official report : — ‘‘ No powers of Local Option in regard to the issue or re- ‘‘ newal of licences for the sale of intoxicating liquors are con- p 226 “ ferred upon the inhabitants of this Colony. The Licensing- “ Authority in the Colony is the Colonial Treasurer, and in the “ Protectorate the Travelling Commissioners.” The whole system of licensing the liquor traffic is bad, every- thing being done in the interest of the revenue. The inhabitants have no voice in the matter whatever, so that if a licence is granted against the wishes of the people, they have no oppor- tunity of appealing against the decision, but if the licence is refused, the applicant has the right, in each case, to appeal to the Governor, Gold Coast. — The Jurisdiction of the British Government was decided upon in 1S44 but the present constitution was fixed by royal charter in 1876. A Governor and Executive and Legis- lative Councils administer the governmental authority. 'Llie population in 1912 was about 1,560,000, distributed as follows : — Gold Coast Colony, 900,000; Ashantee, 290,000; Northern Ter- ritories, 370,000; of which total population only about 1,000 are whites. Mohammedanism and Christianity are steadily growing, but the great majority of the natives are stated to be pagans. A large portion of Ashantee and the whole of the Northern Territories are under Prohibition by means of the Brussels General Act, but the importation of spirits into the Gold Coast Colony, is repeatedly causing trouble, not only in the Gold Coast but in Ashantee and the Northern Territories. The Colonial Legislative Council is continually having to consider the liquor question, and a number of Ordinances have been passed prohi- biting the importation of spirituous liquors and wine, but always with this proviso, ‘‘ except under certain restrictions.” Thus the evils they seek to remove are extended and perpetuated. By the ‘‘ Customs Amendment Ordinance, 1912,” the importation of all distilling apparatus and machinery is prohibited ‘‘ unless the sanction of the Governor-in-Council shall have been first ob- tained.” By another Ordinance the natives are prohibited the use of spirits ‘‘ except in the case of sickness,” but beer is now excluded from these restrictions. Tlius the Legislative Council pass all kinds of pious Ordinances in favour of Prohibition, with provisos and loopholes which render them ineffective. The amount of spirits imported during the six years ending 1911 showed an increase of over 34 per cent, to the said period and a consump- tion of one gallon per head of the population. This is a terrible drain upon the poverty of the people ” as well as a tremendous obstacle in the way of those who are struggling to lead these people out of barbarism into civilisation.” The Good Templars, W.W.C.T. U., and the various Missionaries, are doing their 227 utmost to counteract the evils of the liquor traffic and to secure its entire Prohibition. Nigeria. — The enormous territory of Nigeria, which for many years had been under the administrative control of the Royal Niger Company, in igoo, was changed into the Colony and Protectorate of Southern Nigeria, and the Protectorate of Northern Nigeria. In 1913 the whole territory was amalgamated into one administrative Colony, under one Governor, with an Executive and Legislative Councils. The population is roughly estimated to number about 18,000,000, very few of whom are Europeans. The natives are mostly Mohammedans, and in the Northern territories are protected from the liquor traffic by means of the Brussels General Act. Unhappily, the import of spirits into Southern Nigeria steadily grows, injuriously affecting those areas under the beneficent prohibition law. Experience shows that the only security for the natives is tO' extend the prohibition law nearer and nearer to the coast, until the importation of intoxi- cating liquors is prohibited entirely on the sea-board. Sir George Goldie, under whose administration of Northern Nigeria, the smuggling of spirits was largely suppressed, in speaking to the annual meeting of the Native Races and the Liquor Traffic Committee in 1895 said : — • “ I must admit that I should despair of that country alto- “ gether, for I should have no hopes of its industry being “ developed, if the liquor traffic were allow’ed to gain possession “ of it, because, in the first place, that traffic tends to encourage “ and develop a spirit of idleness — no one will deny that; in the “ second place, it kills all other trade, and leads to no further “ wants, to no desire for civilisation; and, in the third place, the “ drink traffic itself must find a limit. It would therefore be a “ calamity if the liquor traffic, now increasing by leaps and “ bounds, is not at once put a stop to.” Yet, five years after this important statement by one of Britain’s most able administrators in .Africa, the Board of Trade Returns show that the importation of spirits has largely in- creased, and is increasing year by year. Beginning with igoo, which is the first calendar year given in the Returns, the follow- ing table shows the steady increase, taking the average of three years in each case : — 1900-1902 2,614,680 gallons. 1903-1905 2,902,895 ,, 1906-1908 3,462,9.55 1909-19” 4,203,588 ,, Tills is an increase of 1,588,908 gallons between the first and the last triennial periods, being at the rate of over 61 per cent. 228 Mr. Thomas Welsh, a member of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, in 1903, in an article entitled “ Contrasts in African Legislation,” published by the African Society, said : — “ A few years ago such liquor was quite unknown in Lagos. ” Now, what puzzles one is, why the ‘ coloured person ’ on the ‘‘ West Coast of Africa should get as much absolute alcohol as ‘‘ he likes, even with the injurious proportion of 2.68 per cent, of ‘‘ fusel oil, while the one in the Transvaal gets clapped into gaol ‘‘ if he procures a glass of beer or spirits, and why should the ” illicit retailers in the Transvaal be stigmatised by Lord Milner ” as ‘ undesirables ’ and be liable to such extreme penalties for ‘‘ selling liquor, while on the West Coast no restriction whatever ‘‘ exists, no limit is placed upon the number of licences granted, ‘‘ and no inquiry is made as to the character of the licensee. For ” this violation of fixed principle we shall sooner or later have to ‘‘ pay a heavy price; all experience shows that national blunders ‘‘ entail retribution just as much as individual blunders.” Bishop Tugwell, who has done so much for the natives of West Africa, writing to the Times, September, 1907, gives a shocking account of the ravages caused by cheap gin among the natives of Southern Nigeria. He declares that there is a grave physical deterioration of the race, as shown by the fact that in some areas the death-rate exceeds the birth-rate, with a fearfully high infantile mortality. The Ven. .Archdeacon Crowther also declared that steamers were arriving every fortnight at the ports of Southern Nigeria laden with gin, and a trader in Abeokuta states : — ‘‘ Gin has become the currency of the country. It is the ‘‘ means by which we get cash with which to purchase produce, ‘‘ and in order to get cash spirits are even sold at a loss. If the ” British Government were to open banks, and supply cash at ‘‘ reasonable rates, the liquor traffic would receive a serious ‘ ‘ blow. ’ ’ In 1912 the question of the liquor traffic and the native races of .Africa was again before the Brussels Conference of the great Powers, but unfortunately the representatives failed to reach an agreement as to further International action for enlarging the Prohibition Zone, or restricting the ever-increasing importation of spirits into the country. Mr. L. Ah Harcourt, M.P., Secretary of State for the British Colonies, however, gave instruction to the officials in Nigeria, to adopt the following reforms : — 1. That three thousand square miles of the hinterland of Southern Nigeria should be placed under absolute Prohibition. 2. That powers are conferred upon the Governor-in-Council to declare further areas to come under the Prohibition law. 3. That the Distilleries Ordinance of 1910 is repealed and in 229 its place the “ Distillation of Spirits Prohibition Ordinance, igi2, be adopted. This latter prohibits distillation. There has also (1913) been established a silver currency in place of the gin currency. The duty on spirits has been increased from 5s. to 6s. 3d. per gallon at an alcoholic strength of 50 per cent, centigrade, and Government vessels have been prohibited from carrying spirits up the river Ewayong, so that as Mr. HarcO'urt, the Colonial Secretary, states: — “If they (spirits) go up they can only go in native canoes and craft of that kind. If the limits are to be altered, I think it is possible we might come down to Rensara, where the river divides, and make that a stopping place for the conveyance of liquor by stream.” Efforts are also being made to prevent the carriage of spirits on the various railroads. Sierra Leone. — The territory of Sierra Leone was ceded to the British by the native chiefs in 1787. It was first used as a kind of asylum for destitute negroes and liberated slaves from England, the West Indies and the United States. A number of Africans taken in the capture of slave ships on the AA^est Coast of Africa were conveyed there and placed in suitable employment. The present Protectorate was established in i8g6, the administra- tion of which is in the hands of a Governor with an Executive and Legislative Councils. The population was estimated in 1912 tO' be about 1,400,000, of which less than 1,000 are whites. Sir Leslie Probyn, C.M.G. Governor of Sierra Leone (1904- 1910) proved to be one of the most enlightened of British admin- istrators. Sir Leslie kept twO' things in mind during his governor- ship. Facing the obvious facts — which defenders of the liquor traffic like Mr. E. D. Morel either deny or endeavour to explain away — that the spirit importation is steadily increasing and threatens to become a tremendous curse, he suggested the forma- tion of a native Temperance propaganda in order to educate the inhabitants on the evils and dangers of spirit drinking. He also established, with the approval of Lord Crewe, who was then Colonial Secretary, the principle of Local Option by Chiefdom, by which chiefs and people can meet in public assembly, and if they so desire, they can by popular vote there and then shut out the spirit traffic from their respective districts. Sierra Leone has perhaps suffered less than the other African Colonies and the effect of Local Option by Chiefdom remains to be seen. Two difficulties are reported to stand in the way of any great success. One is that a number of the Chiefs are financially interested in the sale of spirits, by holding licences — as is also the case on the Gold Coast — and the other is that Government officials give little or no encouragement to Prohibition or the 230 exercise of the Local Option powers conferred upon the chiefs and their people. The importation of spirits into Sierra Leone has risen from 319,183 gallons in 1906 to 458,881 gallons in 1911 — an increase of 139,698 gallons in six years, or over 43 per cent. The danger of this spirit traffic to the moral, physical and material progress of these people is depicted over and over again in the writings of missionaries, travellers and others. The Bishop of Sierra Leone states : — “ In Bonthe the greatest stumbling-block of all is the liquor “ traffic; one feels, of course, the baleful influence of it in Free- “ town. But in the Sherbro district, somehow, things are worse. “ There are about 20 grog-shops in the small town of Bonthe; “ and in trading with the natives who bring down the palm “ kernels, it seems as though there is no article of civilisation, of “ which they as yet appreciate the value, except spirits. It is “ terribly sad to see that often the first sign of advancing “ civilisation — up a railway line, for instance — is the establish- “ ment of a grog-shop. How we are to make the natives learn “ the value of other articles of trade, or to have more wants, is “ one of the great problems we have to solve. The native Chiefs “ have local option, but few of them avail themselves of it to stop “ the traffic; they are, too often, involved in the trade themselves.” One step in the right direction has been made in the issue of an Ordinance prohibiting the distillation of spirits in the Pro- tectorate similar in terms to that adopted in Southern Nigeria. French West Akkica. — The French territory in ^^'est Africa, consisting of Dahomey, French Congo, French Guinea, Gabun, Ivory Coast, Niger, Senegal, etc. The population, which numbers over 16,000,000, almost wholly consists of the aboriginal natives, who are mainly Mohammedans. The administration is under a number of Governors and Lieut-Governors appointed by the French Government. The ever-increasing evils of the liquor traffic, consequent upon continued growth in the importation of spirits into the various colonies, have compelled the French Gov- ernment to increase the duties and to adopt more restrictive legislation. The want of uniformity in the laws of the various West African Colonies greatly conduces to smuggling from the areas where the duty is light, into those where it is heavier. Both the French and German Governments, whose Colonies border Southern Nigeria on the West and East respectively, have shown themselves willing to co-operate with the British Government in a restrictive policy, which will no doubt to a great extent sup- press this smuggling. Captain Cromie, the British Consul-General at Dakar, in 1911, reported that : — 231 “ In the Ivory Coast Colony there has not only been a “ diminution in wines and spirits, owing to the increase in cus- “ toms duty, but also it is hoped owing to a smaller consumption “ of spirits on the part of the natives.” German West Africa.- — ^The German territory is repre- sented in West Africa by the two Colonies of Cameroon and Togoland. The administration is in the hands of Governors appointed by the German Government. The population in 1912 was estimated at about 4,500,000. In the Cameroons, the inhabi- tants are composed of Fula, Hausa, and Bantu natives. The Fula tribe is Mohammedan, the others are pagans. In Togoland the population is chiefly of the Hausa tribe, many of whom are Mohammedans. The number of Christians is stated to be very small. Missionaries representing the various sects of Christians and the Mohammedans are very active throughout the colonies. A large portion of the German territory is under Prohibition, both as regards the importation and manufacture of spirits as fixed by the Brussels General Act, and in the other portion the duty on imported spirits has repeatedly been increased. The growth in the consumption of spirits, especially on the sea- board, is very great, and Germany, like all the other European nations, will be compelled to adopt a much more restrictive policy if the evil is ever to be eradicated. Liberia. — The Independent Republic of Liberia was founded in 1822 by several American philanthropists for the pur- pose of settling freed slaves who desired to return tO' Africa. For twenty-five years its administration was conducted by white men but in 1849 it was made into a negro Republic, and the Govern- ment placed in the hands of the Liberians. The Government is modelled on the lines of the United States of America, having a President, Senate, and House of Representatives. The inhabi- tants number 2,100,000, of which about 12,000 are descendants of the freed slaves, the remainder are connected with various negro tribes of Central and West Africa. The Americo-Liberian population and about 50,000 of the negroes are Christian. The main body of the negro- population are Mohammedans, but there are also- a number who still practice cannibal rites. All through its histo-ry the Liberian Government has dis- couraged the selling of alcoholic liquors. Although it has always had a licensing system, very few licences have ever been issued for the sale of intoxicating liquors. Mr. George D. Ellis, Charge d’Affaires, at the American Legation Monrovia, Liberia, in 1910, stated — “ The liquor question in this Republic is surrounded by many ” difficulties. The importation of spirituous liquors to the East ” and West of Liberia, by Europeans, is an evil which seriously 232 “ affects the Republic. Only about 59,000 of the people are civil- “ ised and they constitute the voting class. The Government revenues are almost exclusively derived from import custom “ duties, and the abolition of liquor from revenue would yet more “cut down this income which is already inadequate to meet “ Government’s expenses. The moral sentiment of Liberia is, “ however, so strongly against the liquor traffic that there is “ not a single saloon in the whole Republic, and many of the “ merchants refuse to sell spirits at all. The prohibition senti- “ ment may also be seen by the infrequency of the cases of “ drunkenness which appear in the Courts or in the streets. Tliere “ are less intoxicating liquors used in Liberia than in any other section of the ^Vest .African Coast, and the country is strongly “ influenced by missionary zeal which is dominant among the “ religious denominations. Temperance societies are active with “ demonstrations, celebrations and various other means of “ agitation. ” PoKTUGUESE West ,-Verica. — T here are several colonies and islands on the A\"est Coast of .\frica under Portuguese authority. These are Angola, Guinea, Kubinda, d'he Islands of Cape \'erdi, vSan Thome, Principe, etc. I'he administration is in the hands of Governors appointed by the Government of Portugal. The population totals about 6,000,000, a very small portion of whom are Europeans. The inhabitants of .Angola are largely of the negro tribes, but there are several settlements of Boers, with a small number of whites, principall}' Portuguese. Christianity extensively predominates among both the native and the other inhabitants. In Portuguese Guinea, the inhabitants are mostly heathen, neither Christianity nor Mohammedanism having made much progress. The population of Cape Verdi Islands is largely negro and mulatto and is Christian. The liquor traffic has been a constant source of trouble throughout the whole of the Portu- guese territory, and all authorities admit that if rum w'as kept from the natives they would rapidly develop a moral tone, dress themselves decently, and aspire to higher things. Drink really destroys both civilisation and commerce among these people. The Colon}' of .Angola is the most ancient of Portuguese possessions in .Africa — dating back to i486. It has an estimated population of about 4,000,000, composed very largely of uncivil- ised tribes. During recent years there has been much unrest in the trade of the Colony. Mr. J. Mackie, British Consul, states : — “ The crisis in the coffee trade has conduced to a transition “ from the culture of coffee to that of sugar-cane, and has “gradually led to the distillation of rum, now, seemingly, the “ only remunerative industry in .Angola on account of its steadily “ increasing consumption among the native population and the 2 SS “ prominence it has attained in the up-country barter trade.” In 1911 of the seven sugar refineries which had been fitted with costly plant only two were producing sugar, one has sus- pended work on aecount of the dearth of labour, and all the others were producing rum. The annual increase in the consump- tion of rum has risen from 6,000 pipes in 1888 to 12,000 pipes in 1908. Mr. Mackie further states : — ‘‘ .At one time little or no rum was made in the colony and “ what was used was imported from .America, Glasgow, and “ Hamburg; now the distilling of spirits is an industry that has ‘‘spread throughout the colony, having been taken up by the “ numerous smaller planters, and rum is sold at every store in ‘‘ the country. The natives have become great spirit drinkers, “ and the craving for intoxicants is so great that it is hardly ‘‘ possible to trade exeept by bartering spirits for native produce, ‘‘or to secure the services of a carrier without plying him with “ liquor at every store on the road.” Thus the evil was permitted to grow until the authorities in 1912 were compelled to interfere. Prohibiting the sale of spirits to natives in the territory contiguous to the Belgian Congo, they also prohibited the manufacture and sale of spirits intended for the use of natives in the Congo district of the Portuguese Colony of Angola from December 30th, 1912. .A delay of two months was permitted by the Ordinance, for the using up of the existing stocks already in the district. The latest information published in the London Daily News and Leader, July 17th, 1913, states : — ‘‘ The rum factories in Angola, the Portuguese West African ” province, have been entirely closed. ‘‘ .As an indemnity, says Mr. .Acting Consul Fussell, in his ‘‘ trade report for 1912, planters received Government securities ‘‘ to the value of about ;£, 6 o ($300) per acre. Twenty-five per ” cent, of this has already been paid by the Treasury, and a ‘‘ further percentage is to be paid during the year 1913 to all ‘‘ planters who have not abandoned their plantations, but have ‘‘ taken up other branches of agriculture. The Government ” has promised to pay off the whole amount of this indemnity ‘‘ within 20 years. ” In former years there was not a single agricultural estab- ‘‘ lishment In Angola pioducing anything but rum for local con- ” sumption; even the plantations under European management ” in the coffee districts produced rum, it being more remunera- ” tive than coffee. ” This proved disastrous in many districts, and it is gener- ‘‘ ally acknowledged that had this state of things been allowed to ‘‘ continue the population would have been even smaller than ‘‘it Is now. CHAPTER V Union of South Africa “The Union of South Africa having- taken place, the liquor laws of the various States will have to be modified When this Measure comes before Parliament we shall need every assistance in forcing forward our views. We are in the midst of a great movement for procuring the Direct Popular \'eto for South Africa as they have in New Zealand. This Measure will place a weapon in the hands of the people for the promotion of sobriety such as they had never had before. There is also a movement by the coloured people and natives in favour of asking Parliament for the Prohibition of alcoholic liquors to their people. We must show that we really mean what we say, by making, if need be, sacrifices in order to secure victory for both move- ments." — Thomas Searle, G.C.T., Great Brak River {1913). There is every prospect that the Union of the South African Colonies will open a brighter chapter for Temperance legislation. The unfortunate war between the British and the Boers gave a set-back to the rapidly-growing public opinion in favour of drastic legislation in connection with the liquor traffic. The natives and coloured races, who numbered over 4,700,000, out of a total population of about 6,000,000, had secured almost entire Prohibition, while many restrictive laws had been adopted in each of the Colonies in reference to the licensing of the liquor traffic among the whites. The war-cloud burst and the brewers, dis- tillers, wine and brandy farmers, seized upon the confused con- dition of society, greatly to strengthen their position in every direction. Their political power so increased, that when the war was over, and the inevitable financial and industrial depression set in, they assumed the aggressive and attempted to repeal the laws prohibiting the sale of alcoholic liquors to the natives, and even attempted to flood the country with wine shops for the sale of Cape wine. The Good Templars and Temperance organisations generally opposed this arrogance on the part of the liquor party, and to some extent succeeded in preventing the passing of the most retrograde legislation. Some mischief however was done which may take years to undo. Although practically the whole of South .Africa was opposed to the sale of alcoholic liquors to natives, the last .Act of the Cape Parliament has many loopholes, which make it very difficult to protect a number of these people from being served with liquor. The Cape to Cairo Railway is open- 235 ing up huge tracts of country which are mostly under the prohi- bition regulation of the Brussels General Act, but the liquor traders are doing their utmost to break through that barrier. The Union of South Africa opens to the Temperance reformer much greater opportunities for obtaining advanced legislation, while the wine and brandy farmers will have much less political influence, being mostly located in the Cape only. Already a strong movement is on foot for the Direct Popular Veto, and in May, 1913, a three-days’ debate took place in the Senate on a resolution proposed by Senator W. P. Schreiner, as follows ; — “ That in the opinion of this House it is desirable that the “ issue of licences for the sale of intoxicating liquor should be “ directly controlled by the people of the Union, and with that “ object in view this House is of opinion that legislation should “ be introduced providing for the establishment of a system of “ direct popular veto-, whereby the people of each town and dis- “ trict shall be enabled through the ballot-box to decide at stated “ intervals, either (a) that the number of licences for the sale “ of intoxicating liquor shall continue as it exists at the time of “voting; or (b) that the number of such licences shall be re- “ duced ; or (c) that no such licences shall be issued.’’ The resolution was ably supported but very strongly op- posed. On a vote being taken it was defeated by a majority of two. The vote was 13 for and 15 against. An amendment in favour of a local liquor monopoly, or company (as in Norway) with “ The right to prohibit the traffic to be placed within the power of every locality,’’ was also defeated. The motion of Senator Schreiner, in accordance with the procedure of the Senate, being given precedent over the amendment. Senator Stuart was prevented from voting for the resolution as he de- clared he would do if his amendment was defeated. Had he been able to vote the numbers would have been equal. The speeches were well reported in the Colonial press and several valuable articles written. The Tribune says : — “ Whether we consider the scathing charges laid against “ ‘ the trade ’ by Senator Stuart — an ex-Judge of the Orange “ Free State, and, therefore, one who speaks with full know- “ ledge — when he referred tO' its exercise of undue influence, its “ fourfold curse evidenced in drunkenness, immorality, crime “and poverty, and his appeal on behalf of the poorer classes; “ whether we consider the dignified and eloquent testimony of “ General Delarey with regard to the evils of this traffic, the dis- “ graceful affair at Oudtshoorn quoted by Senator Searle, or the “ statement of the mover and others, the fact remains that ‘ the “ trade ’ in this country has, in the Legislature, been dealt the “ most staggering blow it has ever received.’’ 256 In reference to the amendment moved by Senator Stuart, The Tribune states : — “ There must be no side-tracking of this question; no glori- “ fied Gothenburg system such as w’as suggested by the amend- “ ment to Senator Schreiner’s motion. All such schemes are “ welcomed by the brewer and the distiller because when all else “ has gone the system still keeps open a market for their pro- “ ducts. They do not mind the publican going to the wall if “only they are safe; and the publican, poor fellow, is often in “ a bad way owing to the tied house system. Xo worker in the “ Temperance cause can afford to be tempted even by so alluring “ a bait as profits devoted to the provision of means of recrea- “ tion. We have simply to go straight forward — we can do that “ with fresh courage — and to remember that this is not a pic- “ nic ; it is war. ’’ Cape Colony. — The Temperance reformers of the Cape have had a strenuous fight for many years. From the earliest days of the Colony, laws restricting the sale of spirits to the natives and coloured people, have been in force. In 1883 a system of local option over new licences was adopted by the Cape Parlia- ment, and in i8gi this power was extended to the renewal of licences. The law does not apply to wholesale or club licences, and has therefore been ineffective. The procedure consists in procuring the signatures of Parliamentary voters to a memorial for presentation to the Licensing .Authority. No new licence can be granted unless a majority of the registered voters in whose area the premises are situated, sign the memorial in its favour, and no renewal of a licence can be granted if two-thirds of the voters sign a memorial against its issue. In the case of a renewal, one-month’s notice must be given to the licensee and the owner of the premises. The development of the wine and brandy farming has raised a number of serious difficulties never anticipated by the earlier legislation, especially that dealing with the natives. Repeated efforts have been made during recent years, to repeal or break down all restrictions regarding the sale of intoxicating liquors, so that the wine and brandy farmers might have freer access to the native and coloured population. During the South African War, while every nerve was being strained to secure a British victory, the liquor party secured several concessions and greatly increased their political power in the Colony. At the General Election of 1905, Dr. Jameson promised if returned to power he would carry through a measure for the total prohibition of the sale of liquor to the natives. He was success- ful, but with so small a majority that it was impossible for him 237 to carry out his promise. In his appeal to the country again in igo8 he said : — “ ITie prohibition of the liquor traffic among the natives will still be one of the planks in my platform and I expect to bring it into law, if it takes twenty years to do it.” Dr. Jameson, however, was defeated, and Mr. John Y. Merri- man, a supporter of a State Liquor Monopoly, came into power. During Dr. Jameson’s premiership only one Bill succeeded in getting through Parliament. It is known as the ” Cloete Wine Bill.” It unfortunately lowers the minimum quantity of wine which a farmer may sell. The wine farmers also succeeded in obtaining from the Government a loan of 00,000 ($500,000) on brandy which existed or was supposed to exist in the Farmers Store rooms. This money was advanced in view of the great depression which followed at the close of the war. No mention of interest or even the repayment of the loan was made in the agreement between the Farmers and the Governmnt, and great difficulties have therefore arisen in reference to a settlement. After a very severe contest at the last General Election (igo8) Mr. Merriman secured a majority of 30, and of this number 25 were representatives of the brandy farmers. Mr. Merriman therefore became Prime Minister. The new Government intro- duced a Bill giving increased facilities for the sale of wine. The Bill was not brought forward until the closing days of the Session and an attempt was then made to rush It through with- out proper discussion. It was introduced into Parliament on a Friday night at 11.30, printed on the following Monday, and proposed for second reading on the Wednesday. The Bill was In fact almost adopted before the people knew what it contained. An alarm was raised and protest after protest was sent to the Assembly. Mr. Merriman treated these protests with gross insolence, but so great did the opposition become that the Gov- ernment was compelled tO' promise to introduce a system of Local Option in^he Bill and even then it was only carried through Committee by the casting vote of the Chairman. Finally it passed the Assembly by a majority of seven. In the L'^pper House, the oposition was continued with renewed force and vigour. The Bill would have been defeated had the Govern- ment not conceded a fuller measure of Local Option. By this, the applicant for one of these wine licences is compelled to secure a majority of the voters before the licence can be issued, and even then the Licensing Courts have the right to refuse a licence. The following year a Bill was again introduced and the Local Option provision taken out, the Licensing Authority 238 being transferred from the Licensing Courts to the Town Coun- cils, and the wine licences only being permitted to be issued in municipalities. In several localities application has been made under this Act for permission to open wine shops, but in only two cases have these licences been granted. Natal. — The present licensing system of Natal was enacted in 1896, but several amendments were adopted by the Natal Parliament prior to the Union of South Africa. These laws will remain in force until a general licensing measure is passed for the whole of South .Africa. There are several good points in the liquor laws of Natal. In boroughs and townships having muni- cipal Government, the people can, by a majority vote, prevent the issue of new licences. In all other places if a memorial is presented to the licensing authority signed by a majority of the electors the application for a new licence cannot be granted for two years. If the application is renewed at the end of two years similar action can again be taken by those opposed to the licence being granted. The sale of alcoholic liquor to the natives is prohibited, but a deplorable system of municipal liquor canteens for the sale of Kaffir beer to the natives has been established in Durban, Dun- dee, Greytown, Newcastle and Maritzburg. Indians can also obtain liquor under certain conditions. These exemptions from the general prohibition of the sate of intoxicants to natives and coloured people have been the cause of much drunkenness and crime, and protests have been made by mine owners, business men and others, against these exemptions being continued. The establishment of municipal liquor canteens for natives is considered to be the thin edge of the wedge of the double evil, viz., the municipalisation of the liquor traffic, and the adoption of the system advocated by the wine and brandy farmers who hold that the natives — .Asiatics and coloured people generally — should be as free to purchase their liquor as white people. “ Thus,” as Mr. John .Abbey says, ‘‘ The lives of these dependent people are to be sacrificed for the benefit of those who traffic in liquor.” The deplorable condition of a number of Europeans, and the need for drastic legislation, is shown by the following extract, taken from the annual report of the Durban .Alliance, upon which the Good Templar Order, AA’. AA’.C.T. U. , and other Temperance organisations are represented. The committee states ; — ‘‘ AVe deplore the steady degradation that is taking place ” among the native people by reason of (i) the example of white ‘‘ people who, having become slaves to intemperate habits, ‘‘ employ riksha boys to convey them to their homes in various 239 “stages of intoxication; (2) the increase of illegal facilities “ through which natives and Indians are able to gain possession “ of intoxicating liquors ; (3) the increase of immorality, especially “among native women, through these facilities; and (4) the “ quality of the liquor that is sold to the Indians and natives. A “ moment’s consideration will convince anyone of the terrible “temptation, and the awful character of the example placed “ before these people, and no one can be surprised if they lose “ their respect for the white man under these circumstances. We “ would urge all who have taken a keen interest in this matter “ not to lose heart nor to slacken their efforts to remedy the de- “ fects of the present law, especially such as relates to the penal- “ ties for illegal sale of liquor to natives and Indians, etc.’’ In the Union Parliamentary elections the Temperance policy adopted in the other parts of South Africa was thoroughly car- ried out, with the result that a number of candidates pledged to Temperance reform were elected. The Temperance and social reformers of Natal are demanding (i) The codification of the licensing laws for the whole of South Africa, (2) The total prohi- bition of the sale of intoxicants to natives and coloured people, and (3) the direct popular veto over the issue and renewal of all licensing for the sale of intoxicating liquors. Orange Free State. — There is no provision in the laws of the Orange Free State enabling the people to vote on the question of licence or no-licence. Even on new licences they have no voice in the matter. The licensing courts are appointed by the Govern- ment, they have full discretion to grant or refuse licences, but these licences can only be issued in towns and villages — they are prohibited altogether in the country areas. Prior to amalgamation with the other South African Colonies, both political parties in Natal had agreed upon some new Temperance legislation, of which the following were the main items : — (a) Temperance education in all Government Schools ; (b) the total prohibition of the sale of alcoholic liquors to natives ; (c) reverting to the liquor laws that were in force in the time of the old Orange Free State; and (d) the adoption of a system of local option, by which the people in any given area shall have power to prohibit the issue of any licences for the sale of intoxicating liquors. The Union of South Africa prevented the consumption of these re- forms, but the Temperance and social reformers of Natal have united with those of the other Colonies in the effort to secure similar legislation for the whole country. The Transvaal. — -One of the first Ordinances issued by Lord Milner, after the war, was a liquor Ordinance (1902) by which it was enacted that the Licensing Courts (appointed by the Gov- 240 eminent) should have increased powers over the liquor traffic. Municipalities were given power to oppose on behalf of the inhabitants, the grant or renewal of licences, while the majority of the voters, or if no voters, the white male population above 21 years of age, can by petition or vote, prevent the licence from being issued. Section 78 of the Ordinance was as follows : — “ The sale of liquor (intoxicating) in any village, town, or “ ward of a municipality may be totally prohibited therein by a “ vote to that effect of the majority of the voters or if there be “ no voters of the white male persons above the age of twenty- “ one years residing or occupying premises in such village, town, “ or ward. ” The Licensing Courts in 1902 were given power to establish, or revoke a local liquor monopoly in any municipality. The profits of such monopoly may, under the authority of the Governor, by a popular vote, be devoted to some public purpose. In igii the Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce adopted an official statement, in which they urged : ist, that all licensed premises should be closed on election days. 2nd, that the exist- ing system of Local Option should be maintained. 3rd, that the liquor traffic should not be made into a Government monopoly, or placed under the control of a local authority. 4th, that the prin- ciple of total prohibition of the supply of intoxicating liquors to coloured persons, whether under the supervision of the Govern- ment or not, should be strictly maintained. The Temperance organisations of the Transvaal are united with the other Colonies in support of their Temperance pro- gramme, and a thorough-going agitation is on foot in its support. At a great meeting held in Johannesburg, in April, 1913, in sup- port of the Direct Popular \'eto, Mr. R. \V. Schumacher, the great mine owner, presided, and said : — “ If the people here come forward and state that the Direct “ Popular \Tto has been tried in other countries with success, if “ they can come forward and prove how Local Option, which “ did exist in some parts of South Africa, had answered, and if “ they came forward and said that the Licensing Courts that “ existed to-day were not entirely representative of the wishes “ of the people, and that licences, once granted, were very diffi- “ cult to upset, he thought their case would be a very strong “ one. ” Resolutions in support of the motion of Senator Schreiner in the South African Senate, were adopted unanimously. 241 The illicit liquor traffic among the natives, and the neglect on the part of the police to enforce the prohibition law, is dealt with by the Cape Argus of May 24th, 1913, as follows “ Pictures in Parliament.^ — The deplorable state of the police “ force in the Transvaal seems to have undergone little improve- “ ment since the date when Mr. Japie de Vhlliers forced his “ tyrranical Bill through the Transvaal Legislature, with the “ result that 300 of the best men left the country. There appears “ also to have been subsequent leakage, and the replacemenis, “ according to the tale unfolded to-day by Messrs. Nathan and “ Rockey, seem to have been for the most part very poor stuff. “ One result of their incompetence is that the illicit liquor traffic “ has got hopelessly beyond control. Agents are not infre- “ quently trapped, but, said Mr. Rockey, one rarely observes the “ conviction of a principal. The accursed business appears to be “ carried on wholesale. Mr. Rockey startled the House by men- “ tioning one case in which it was discovered that 37,000 dozen “ of bottles had been sold by one man (of course, through his “ agents) in the course of a single year. Indeed, the so-called “ repression of the traffic by means of police and detectives has “little other appreciable result than to create a new class of “ criminal, and to double, or more than double, the white popu- “ lation of our prisons.’’ Mr. D. Donovan, Chief Constable of Durban, in an inter- view with the Natal Mercury, states : — “ As far as I can see there are only two things to be done “ where the supply of liquor to the natives is concerned — either “ total prohibition or to regulate the supply of the article you “ wish him to consume. As regards total prohibition, I have had “considerable experience in the administration of such a law, “ and find it is absolutely a practical impossibility to enforce “ Prohibition amongst the native community, where the white “ community, living practically side by side, has free access to “ all kinds of intoxicants. Such a law exists to-day in parts of “ South Africa, and has only resulted in introducing a horde of “ European illicit liquor-sellers, who spend half their time in gaol “ and the other half in supplying liquor to the natives. If it “ were possible to Introduce Prohibition for the whole commim- “ ity, then perhaps we might be all the better off, and there “ would be some certainty of protecting the patjve against him? “ self so far as liquor is concerned.’’ o CHAPTER VI The Coloured Population and Alcohol. “ The statement that to take away the right to purchase liquor would be followed by the attempt to take aw'ay the franchise is a pure bogey, and should scare no one. None of the peoples in the world who have adopted Prohibition have lost their political rights, and it is the drunkenness of the coloured people of the Cape which is far more likely to militate against their retention of the franchise than sobriety and its accompanying virtues. The more sober, steady, industrious, educated, moral, well-behaved and useful the coloured citizens become, the less likely it is that even the attempt will ever be made to deprive them of the political rights which they now possess. A prohibitory law means the taking away of that which is a curse to the coloured people — the right to purchase liquor — but the strength- ening of their rights in every direction that is really beneficial to them." Theo. L. Schreiner, M.P., Cape Town {1913), While no doubt the conduct of white men toward black women has been in numberless cases of a scandalous character, which ought to have been met with the punishment it so really deserved, “ the Black Peril ” has become a public danger that must be met in the interest both of the Black and White popula- tion of South Africa. The Johannesburg Star, of May nth, 1912, says : — “ The first step in this direction is the consideration and “ public discussion of any possible remedies. It really matters “ little in the first instance whether any proposals that may be “ submitted are or are not within the sphere of practical politics, “ so long as they serve to concentrate public attention on the “ fundamental issues.” With the industrial development of South Africa, especially in the Rand Gold Fields, where over 250,000 native Blacks have been employed. Tire evil of serving these people with alcoholic liquors was soon made evident, and in the Transvaal a very strict Prohibition law- applicable to the Blacks was adopted. The efficient working of this beneficent measure has been largely nullified by the existence of the ordinary licensing laws permitting the sale of intoxicating liquors for the supposed public needs of the Whites. The illicit sale of these liquors to the Blacks is thus so easily ac- complished that the most earnest attempts to enforce Prohibi- tion have met wdth only moderate success. The result has been most disastrous alike to White and Black. The Star declares ‘‘ On one point most thoughtful men are substantially in ‘‘ complete agreement. M'hether it be right or wrong, the view’ ‘‘ is almost universal that at least 90 per cent, of serious native ‘‘ crime in industrial and urban areas is traceable to the illicit ‘‘ liquor traffic, and that if the laws prohibiting the sale of liquor 243 “ to aboriginees could be enforced effectively, attacks on the “ honour of white women, as well as the more serious forms of “ crime as a whole, would assume relatively insignificant dimen- “ sions.” Before the late unfortunate war between the British and the Boers, public opinion was growing very rapidly in favour of advanced Temperance reform. Practically the whole of South Africa was opposed to the sale of alcoholic liquors to natives, and there was every prospect of securing some drastic legisla- tion at an early date. The war, however, gave a set-back, not only to all these aspirations, but to much which had already been achieved. The power of the liquor traffic was strengthened in many directions. In the Cape Colony a law was passed permit- ting wine shops to be opened at which natives could be supplied. In Natal a deplorable system of so-called “ disinterested ” muni- cipal canteens for the supply of Kaffir beer to the natives has been established at Durban and Maritzburg. In the Transvaal and Orange River Colony it has been proposed to- (a) set up special liquor canteens for natives, (b) to permit employers to give na- tive servants liquor in part payment for labour, and (c) to permit the sale and gift of liquor to coloured persons and Asiatics. Another so-called “ disinterested ” Government liquor monopoly is advocated for the Transvaal, with the proposal to keep Tem- perance men off the Licensing Boards by having a declaration from each member that he is not opposed in principle to the sale of liquor, while Mr. De Villiers, Mr. Miinnik, and others have gone so far as to advocate the right of the natives to drink wine and European beers, the same as is done by the Whites. The financial and industrial depression which set in at the close of the war gave the liquor traffic a power they had never had before, and they used it for all they were worth in the interest of “ the Trade. ” The coming in of better times and the growing audacity of the demands of the liquor traffic, together with the fearful evils resulting therefrom, have roused public opinion to the dangers arising from the present system. Such bodies as the Johannes- burg Chamber of Commerce some time since unanimously de- clared as follows ; (i) That all licensed premises should be closed on election days ; (2) that the existing system of Local Option should be maintained ; (3) that the liquor traffic should not be made into a Government monopoly ; (4) that the principle of the total prohibition of the supply of intoxicating liquors to coloured persons, whether under the supervision of the Government or not, should be strictly maintained. The WItwatersrand Church Council, in a manifesto, also declared : 244 “ Tlie force of public opinion throug^hout the world is to- “ wards the prohibition or greater restriction of the liquor traffic, “ and we should do all in our power to prevent South Africa taking a backward step which is simply an attempt to open the “ door to the Cape wine farmers to flood the Transvaal with fortified wines as well as light wines.” There is an accumulating amount of evidence that ‘‘ the native is steadily tending to produce stronger and stronger drinks of his own ” from the encouragement given him to drink through the many avenues opened up for the sale of alcoholic liquors and the enormous illicit traffic in these liquors. The demand for drastic legislation, even for total Prohibition, is growing, but the difficulties in front of the Temperance Reform- ers are very great, and it will require tact and perseverance to secure victory. Public opinion, however, is rising, for, as the Star says : — ‘‘If it is found to be a fact that men in progressive com- ‘‘ munities in other parts of the world have thought it right to ‘‘ forego drink partly, if not entirely, for the honour of their ‘‘ women, it will be for the men of Johannesburg, to decide ‘‘ whether they who are similarly situated, will do likewise — or ‘‘ whether they will keep their drink.” So important has the question become that numbers of the industrial magnates have been compelled to consider the matter. Mr. Raymond W. Schumacher in 1912 made a long statement clearly indicating the lines upon which the business men of the Transvaal are likely to advance. Mr. Schumacher is among those who have had the conviction forced upon them that until more drastic measures are introduced we shall never rid ourselves of ‘‘ the Black Peril ” and of other undesirable features in the re- lationships of Black and White. In a most welcome pronounce- ment, Mr. Schumacher states : — ‘‘If the communities of the M”itwatersrand wish to deal ‘‘ effectively with the question of ‘ the Black Peril,’ they must ‘‘go to the root of the matter and strike there. The point is “ that as long as there is a general traffic in liquor, as long as ‘‘ traders can take liquor about, can have access to all places, ‘‘ and can, for instance, go and visit the miners in their very ‘‘ rooms, so long will it be comparatively easy to sell liquor to ‘‘ natives. In other words it will be most difficult to carry out ‘‘ the existing prohibition laws relating to natives, and to sup- ‘‘ press ‘ the Black Peril,’ unless one of the two following courses ‘‘ is adopted ; — ‘‘ (n) Compound the natives here as in Kimberlej' and also ‘‘abolish the houseboy, as suggested by the Minister of Justice ‘‘ in the Cape Town Senate on the agth .\prn, 1912. ‘‘ (h) Institute total prohibition of the sale of ah liquor in 245 “ the whole Witwatersrand area. Total prohibition would mean “ that no liquor of any kind could be sold to anybody after a “ given date. In other words, the supply would be cut off for all, “ rich and poor alike, and no more drink would be obtainable for “clubs, hotels, private houses, etc. “ Either of these courses would be effective, and the com- “ munity, if it is in earnest, would eventually probably have to “ choose one of them. I put the case bluntly. It is best to face “ the position squarely. “ 1 propose to discuss only the second course; that is, the “ total prohibition of drink, as it is in some respects the less “ drastic of the two. The loss to a number of individuals — that “ is, to those connected with the liquor trade, and especially the “ illicit liquor trade — would be considerable. On the other hand, the gain to the whole community, both black and white, might “ be enormous. The evil that drink has wrought throughout “ South Africa from one end to the other among the whites, let “ alone the blacks, is immeasurable. “ The question that this community should consider at once “ carefully and then settle — not in a hurry, but after due delibera- “ tion- — is whether or not it should boldly tackle the big question “ of total prohibition of the sale of liquor in the Witwatersrand “ area. “ If it is found to be a fact that men in progressive communi- “ ties in other parts of the world have thought it right to forego “ drink partly, if not entirely, for the honour of their women, it “ will be for the men of Johannesburg to decide whether they, “ who are similarly situated, will do likewise — or whether they “ will keep their drink. There is a great deal at stake. It is “ really not only the Witwatersrand area. If Johannesburg and “ the Reef towns finally adopt total prohibition their example “ will have a far-reaching effect on the whole of South Africa.’’ In the South African House of Assembly, on Thursday, May gth, igi 2 , the Government promised that a Commission should be immediately appointed to consider and report upon this impor- tant question, and the Star, commenting upon Mr. Schumacher’s letters, says : — “ Mr. Schumacher makes out a strong, even an unanswer- “ able, case in favour of the forthcoming Commission extending “ its inquiry to the conditions and the laws obtaining in the “ Southern States of the North American Republic. For there “ more than in any other part of the world can we find anything “ approaching a parallel for several of the problems with which “ South Africa has to grapple, but which she has so far shirked “ with the weakness sO' characteristic of her statesmen. Mr. “ Schumacher appends to his letter a series of extracts from the “ report of Mr. Guy Hayler, the Superintendent of the Inter- “ national Order of Good Templars, In which it is claimed that 246 “ the most gratifying moral and economic results have attended “ the enforcement of total prohibition in many of the Negro “ States. He does not, of course, vouch for the accuracy of these “ statements, and even if he did many of our readers would refuse “ to accept what they may be disposed to regard as tainted, or “ at least, questionable, testimony. But the opinions quoted are “ at any rate sufficiently definite to justify an investigation as to “ the causes which led the people of the Southern States volun- “ tarily to prohibit the sale of liquor wdthin a vast number of “ electoral divisions and as to the results which have attended “ these self-denying ordinances. There must be much in the “ experience of this portion of the United States that bears very “ closely on the present phase of South African problems, that “ will be helpful in educating public opinion throughout the “ Union, and that may assist our statesmen in determining the “ lines on which our native policy should be remodelled.” In reference to the question raised by Mr. Schumacher re- garding the growth of Prohibition sentiment in the Southern States, Mr. E. Page Gaston, F.R.G.S., who has travelled most extensively in these States, writes, June loth, igia : — ” My own travels through many of the Southern States of ‘‘ America have proved conclusively to me that the reason Pro- ‘‘ hibition is so greatly advanced in that section is that the whites ‘‘ and the negro leaders realise the great incentive which the sale ‘‘ of drink to the blacks exercises in the way of crimes of vio- ‘‘ lence, etc. Both white and coloured leaders of the South have ‘‘ repeatedly said to me that Prohibition of the liquor traffic is ” absolutely necessary to protect the white population from the “ criminal element amongst negroes. While Prohibition is, of ‘‘ course, not claimed to be a cure-all, it is increasingly recognised ‘‘ that this is one of the most powerful determents which has as ‘‘yet been brought forward.” The American Anti-Saloon Year Book for 1911, which deals with the general subject of Prohibition in the Southern States, and incidentally with its beneficent effect upon the coloured popu- lations, clearly shows that drunkenness and crime have been reduced at least 60 per cent, where the liquor traffic has been removed from tempting the negroes and whites to drink. There is no question of doubt that Prohibition has greatly helped to solve the question of ‘‘ the Black Peril ” in the Southern States. In June, 1912, the Government appointed a Commission to inquire into and report upon the assaults upon women, their cause, the means of preventing them, the influence of and bear- ing of other social or economic factors upon such assaults, and the remedies calculated to cope with the evil. The Commission commenced its proceedings at Cape Town on July 15th, 1912, and held a number of sittings in various parts of South Africa. 247 2Si witnesses were examined, and many weeks w^ere g^iven to considering the report, which was presented to the Government in June, 1913. The Commissioners made a number of proposals dealing with many aspects of the question. Those referring to the liquor traffic were as follows : — A.— In the Transvaal. “ That provision be made for the more efficient policing of “ the mine compounds. (Par. 66a.) “That the magistrates be empowered to inflict lashes in “ certain cases upon persons convicted of illicit liquor dealing, “ and to impose indeterminate sentences. (Par. 66b.) “ That provision be made for requiring a permit to convey “ liquor where any quantity is purchased above a reputed quart. “ (Par. 66c.) “That bottle-store keepers be required to state on the per- “ mits the time when liquor is despatched from their stores. “ (Par. 66d.) “That a bottle-store licence shall not be renewed if it is “ proved that the licensee has served a convicted illicit seller “ with more than one quart of liquor, after the latter has been “ pointed out to him by the police. (Par. 66e.) “ That provision be made enabling the police to deal more “ efficiently with the brewing of, and the traffic in, adulterated “ liquor, liquor mixing rooms, and places where an excessive “ quantity of liquor is stored, other than licensed premises, and “ further declaring adulterated liquor found on unlicensed pre- “ mises and the presence of corking machinery, capsules, col- “ curing matter, and other necessaries for an illicit trade to be “ prima facie evidence of illicit liquor dealing. (Par. 66f.) “ That provision be made for heavy penalties on persons “ conveying or being in possession of any quantity of adulterated “ liquor. (Par. 66g.) “ That provision be made rendering aliens convicted of illicit “ liquor selling liable to deportation ; and that the law be enlarged “so as to permit of that step being taken in the case of natural- “ ised foreigners, and that powers be given to the Government “ to withdraw letters of naturalisation after conviction of crime “ of a serious nature. (Par. 66h.) “ That a heavy penalty be provided for the conveyance of “ liquor without a permit, or to an address or on a date other than “ that stated on the permit, or of a class of liquor other than “ that described therein, and that the penalty be heavier if any of “ these offences are committed upon a mine property or at night. “ (Par. 66i.) “ That methylated spirit be not allowed to be sold without “ the addition of some substance that would render it non- “ potable. (Par. 70.) 248 B. — In the Prohibition Areas of The Cape Province. “ That the possession of liquor by natives, not being regis« “ tered voters, shall be a punishable offence, and such liquor be “ liable to confiscation. (Par. 72.) “That natives, being registered voters, shall be liable to “ disfranchisement when convicted of illicit dealing in liquor or “ of selling their certificates to other natives. (Par. 71.) “ That in the Transkeian Territories magistrates be given “ discretionary power to refuse permits to European residents to “ import liquor. (Par. 73.) C. — Elsewhere Within the Union. “ That it be made a punishable offence in Natal for a native “ (not actually in the employ of the proprietor) to be found on “licensed premises. (Par. 74.) “ That the definition of the word “ Native ” in section 5 “ of Act No. 28 of 1898, in force in the Cape Province, be ex- “ tended to include all aboriginal natives. (Par. 76.) Kafir-Beer. “ That provision be made in urban areas for the supply to “ natives of Kafir beer of a certain strength under proper super- “ vision and control (Par. 83), and that, in connection with “ places for the sale of Kafir beer, there be established eating- “ houses for natives. (Par. 84.) “ That the sale of Kafir beer outside urban areas be prohi- “ bited. (Par. 80.) “ That the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors ob- “ tained through the fermentation of certain saccharine ancj “other matters be prohibited. (Par. 82.) “ Tliat it be made compulsory for employers on the mines td “ issue to labourers a certain quantity of Kafir beer daily. (Par. “83.) D.\gga Smoking. “ That dagga be included in the schedule of poison “ throughout the Union; that it be declared a noxious weed re' “ quiring eradication; and that dagga smoking be made a pun “ ishable offence. (Par. 86.) Police. “ That an enquiry be institued by Government as to th “ adequacy of police in certain localities. (Pars. 66a, 72, 14c ‘‘ I55-) “ That steps be taken to introduce a material number cf “ educated natives into the police establishment on the Wij “ watersrand at least, and that the native police there should P “composed of various nationalities. (Par. 143.).’’ The Commissioners appear to have failed in recognising thj in the entire Prohibition of the liquor traffic, its manufacturt importation and sale, is to be found the only true remedy for tf evils, they were appointed to investigate and report upon. PART V AMERICA Labrddofc •ACIFIC OCEAN. ATLAfT ^a^iow. itutional'^- fet&tutory* OCEAN. y6CAt»- OPTION. Maiplw Prohibitoi iiQuoB. LrcEpapJ f Tlitliout / local Option’. ' ]^rtb: amrbica CHAPTER I British North America “ The object of law is the well-being" of the community, the protection of the rights and interests of the individuals that constitute society. A drunkard is a dang'er to society. If law cannot protect us against the drunkard then government is a failure. At present law does make men sober when it finds them drunk. We would change the plan of doing it, because the protection to society, thus secured, is only temporary. We w'ant it permanent. We complain of the present system because it is ineffectual, and plead for better and cheaper protection by the simple method of locking up the drink instead of locking up the drunkard. Freedom for the rig'ht means suppression of the wrong.” — F. S. Spence, Toronto, Ontario ( 1912). British North America includes the Dominion of Canada and Colony of Newfoundland, and covers no less than 3,892,415 square miles. It had a population in 1912 of 7,447,457. The Dominion of Canada is divided into eleven provinces and terri- tories. Its Executive Government consists of a Governor- General, appointed by the British Government, and a Privy Council. The legislative power is in the hands of a Dominion Parliament, consisting of an appointed Senate and House of Commons, elected by the people. The Dominion Parliament is Federal in character, and has supreme control over all Dominion legislation covering inter- provincial commerce — including alcoholic liquors — postage, defence, railways, canals, rivers, land, mines, emigration, etc. The Provincial Legislatures have full control over all purely provincial or local questions such as those covering the licen- sing the sale of intoxicating liquors. They have no power to pre- vent the importation of such liquors from foreign countries or from any Canadian province. In the early history of Canada the Municipal Councils had full power to prohibit the retail sale of intoxicating liquors, subject to a ratification by the vote of the electors. Many diffi- culties were experienced in the administration of this law, and it was practically a dead letter. I n 1864 the Hon, C. Dunkiij secured the passing of a new law through the Parliament of Canada which gave municipalities and counties power to prohibit the sale of liquor in quantities of not less than five gallons. 252 When the Dominion was created in 1867, both the old muni- cipal law and the Dunkin Act remained in force. In 1878 the Dominion Parliament, in response to a general demand for pro- hibitory legislation, passed a compromise measure, entitled the Canadian Temperance Act, commonly called the “ Scott Act,” — after the name of the Hon. Sir Richard W. Scott, the member who introduced the measure. This Act superseded the Dunkin Act, and has been revised and improved by subsequent legis- lation. The last amendment was made in 1910, when the Act was made applicable to certain districts in British Columbia. The Scott Act is a most comprehensive Local Option Law, giving power to any city or county, by a vote of the electors, to suppress the ordinary sale of intoxicating liquors. The Act is divided into two parts : the first provides the machinery by which, on a petition signed by twenty-five per cent, of the elec- tors, a vote must be taken in the city or county to determine whether the second part of the Act shall be brought into opera- tion or not. Should a majority of the voters be in favour of bringing part two of the Act into force, an Order-in-Council is issued, declaring that on and after the existing licences expire no licences shall be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquor in that city or county. When the second part of the Act is put into operation the sale of alcoholic liquors in any form or by any device is abso- lutely prohibited, with the exception of the sale of wine for use at the Sacrament, and the sale of alcohol for medicinal purposes or its bona fide use in art, trade, or manufacture. For dispens ing liquor for these purposes the Lieutenant-Governor of the province has power to issue a strictly limited number of permit; to druggists and others who can only legally sell such liquors 01 the certificates of clergymen and physicians or two Justices o the Peace. An annual return of these sales must be made to th( Collector of Inland Revenue. Any person convicted of selling liquor contrary to the law, where the second part of the Act i in force, is punishable by a fine of not less than S50 (;^io), o imprisonment for not less than one month, with or without han labour. For a second offence the penalty is a fine of not less thai $100 (;£'2 o), or imprisonment for two months, with or withou hard labour. For a third or subsequent offence, the penalty i imprisonment for a term not exceeding four months, with c without hard labour, without the option of a fine. Shortly after the Scott Act was passed difficulties aros between the Dominion Government and the Provincial Legish tures in reference to the power of each province to prohibit tH sale of intoxicating liquors within their own jurisdictions. 253 was not until the year 1901 that this matter was finally settled, I when the Privy Council of Great Britain determined on an appeal ' concerning the Manitoba Prohibition Law that it was both consti- tutional and valid, thus establishing the right of each province to prohibit the sale of intoxicating liquors within its own area. A demand was made for Dominion Prohibition, and in i8gi a resolution was introduced in the House of Commons proposing a Dominion Prohibitory Law. The Government opposed the I resolution, and it was defeated, but a motion was adopted favour- !' ing a royal commission of enquiry. In the following year (1892) ' a Royal Commission was appointed to enquire into and report I upon ; — ' “ (i) The effects of the liquor traffic upon all interests “ affected by it in Canada; (2) the measures which have been ■ “ adopted in this and other countries with a view to lessen, “regulate, or prohibit the traffic; (3) the results of these “ measures in each case; (4) the effect that the enactment of a pro- “ hibitory liquor law in Canada would have in respect of social “ conditions, agricultural business, industrial and commercial “ interests, of the revenue requirements of municipalities, pro- “ vinces, and the Dominion, and also as to its capability of “efficient enforcement; (5) all other information bearing on “ Prohibition. ” The Commission consisted of five gentlemen, and the en- quiry lasted for three years. From the first it was clear that the Commissioners were divided on the question of Prohibition. The majority, in their report, stated : — “ With the power possessed by the various provinces to “ legislate in respect to the traffic, the certainty that in some “of the provinces Prohibition would meet with determined “opposition; with an open frontier such as the Dominion “ possesses, largely bordering on States in which sale would be “carried on; the undersigned consider that it is illusory to “ anticipate that a general prohibitory law could be enforced “with any reasonable degree of efficiency.’’ The Rev. Joseph McLeod presented a Minority Report, in which it was stated : — “ That all the information which your Commission has been “ able to obtain has made clear to the undersigned that the “ effect of the liquor traffic has been, and is, seriously detri- “ mental to all the moral, social and material interests of the “nation; that the measures employed to ‘lessen, regulate, or “ prohibit ’ the traffic have been of value and effective only in “proportion as they have approximated, in their operation, to “ the absolute prohibition of the traffic in intoxicating beverages ; “ qnd that the revenue requirements of the country should pQj; 254 “ be considered a reason for the continuance of an admitted evil, “ and, moreover, could be met without the continuance of that “ evil. “ That the endorsement which the electorate of different “ sections of the Dominion of Canada have given, at the ballot “box, to the principle of Prohibition, whenever submitted, as “ well as many petitions, memorials, and declarations of Church “ courts. Temperance organisations, municipal councils, and “ other representative bodies, make it sufficiently clear that a “ majority of the people of Canada are in favour of the total “ prohibition of the liquor traffic.” While the Commission was taking evidence plebiscites were taken in four cf the provinces on the question of the Prohibition of the liquor traffic. The vote was as follows : — Province. Date. For. Against. Majority for. Manitoba... . 1892 19.637 7.”5 12,522 PrinceEdward Island 1893 10,616 3.390 7,226 Nova Scotia . 1894 43.756 12,355 31.401 Ontario 1894 192,489 1 10,720 81,769 Totals ... 266,498 133.580 132,918 No legislation followed either the reports of the Com- missioners or the plebiscites, but the question of Prohibition was several times raised in the Dominion Parliament. In 1898 a measure was passed providing for a general plebiscite through- out the whole Dominion upon the question as to whether or not it was advisable to enact a total Prohibition law for the whole country. The vote took place on September 28th, 1898, and the result was as follows : — Province. Prohibition. For. Against. Majority. For. Against, Ontario 154.498 115.284 39.214 — Quebec 28,436 122,760 — 94.324 Nova Scotia 34.678 5.370 29.308 • — New Brunswick 26,919 9.575 17.344 ■ — Prince Edward Island 9.461 1,146 8.315 — Manitoba 12,419 2,978 9.441 — British Columbia 5.731 4.756 975 — N. W. Territories ... 6,238 2,824 3.414 — Totals 278,380 264,693 108,011 94.324 Tire plebiscite showed a clear majority of 13,687 for total Prohibition, but unfortunately the Government and the Dominion Parliament, after considerable discussion, took the view that the 255 majority was not large enough to warrant them in passing a general prohibitory law. Following the plebiscite of i8g8, when the voters of Ontario declared in favour of Prohibition by a majority of 39,214, the Temperance party demanded that the Government should take action in accordance with the views of the people. In 1902, the Hon. G. W. Ross, on behalf of the Government, proposed a Measure to the Provincial Legislature, providing for the prohi- bition of the liquor traffic in Ontario, but making its going into operation upon a ratifying vote of the provincial voters, pro- viding that the number in favour was equal to a majority voting at the last General Election. The Temperance party protested, in vain, against the con- ditions imposed, but did their best to secure the necessary 212,723 votes necessary to achieve victory. The result showed the con- ditions had not been reached by 12,974. The voting was as follows : — For the new law to prohibit the liquor traffic ... 199,749 Against ,, ,, ,, ,, 103,548 Majority in favour of Prohibition ... ... 96,201 The Temperance party, and in fact the general public, con- sidered that the result of the contest warranted that the law should gO' into force but the Government determined otherwise. A deputation waited upon the Prime Minister (Hon. G. W. Ross) on January 15th, 1903, and in reply to the position taken up by the speakers, said : “ My duty in connection with this question is to consult my “ supporters, and that I shall do at the earliest opportunity. I “hope we will agree, and when we have agreed I hope we will “ secure such legislation as will meet with the approval of the “ country.’’ The Provincial Legislature met two months later, and the speech from the Throne contained these words : “The large vote polled was an expression of the electors “ favouring further legislation with respect to the liquor traffic,’’ and a Measure was promised to deal with the subject. Fifteen years have passed away since the great Dominion plebiscite was taken, and eleven years have passed since the vote was taken in Ontario, and still the Temperance and social re- formers are knocking at the doors of the Dominion Parliament and the Provincial Legislature for the prohibition of the liquor traffic, which the people have so unmistakeably demanded. 256 Among the existing laws dealing with the liquor traffic throughout the Dominion are those prohibiting the sale of in- toxicating liquors throughout the whole of the North-West Territories to Indians; to young people under i8 years of age, and up to 2 1 years of age if the father, mother, guardian or master serve a notice to that effect upon the saloon keeper. All sales of intoxicating liquors are prohibited on Sunday, and in some provinces this prohibition extends from 7 o’clock on Satur- day night until 8 o’clock on Monday morning. The liquor saloons are also closed on all election days. Liquor selling is prohibited among railwaymen, miners, woodcutters, and raftmen. Liquor saloons are aLso prohibited from being opened in the neighbourhood of public works, near to a railway in course of construction, or within a certain dis- tance of a gold, silver, coal or other mines. A saloon keeper is also made responsible for any act committed by drunkards, if they die from suicide or drowning, or perish from cold or other accident while under the influence of alcoholic liquors. The Canadian Royal Templar ably sums up the situation in the following editorial remarks : — “ Enormous strides are being made in Ontario and Mani- “ toba. The cause is at least holding its own, and here and “ there gaining ground in Quebec and the Maritime Prov- “ inces. There is every indication of the early fruition of “ earnest efforts in Sasketchewan, Alberta, and British Col- “ umbia. In a word, Canada is rapidly turning white.” CHAPTER II The Maritime Provinces “ The watchword before us is advance. The prospects of our cause were never more promising" or the outlook brig"hter. VVe have a Provincial Gov- ernment which is friendly to our cause, and unity of purpose binding" the Temperance forces which is unsurpassed anywhere. A measure of real unity between Roman Catholics and Protestants, French and English, that must gladden the heart of God ; and the enemy is divided and discredited. We have to close up the ranks, take our right places, use the right weapons, and the complete victory over the evil of liquordom will be secured.” J. H. Roberts, Montreal ( 1913 ). Since 1902, when the Privy Council of Great Britain decided that the Dominion Parliament had full power to adopt National Prohibition, and each province had power to adopt the Prohibi- tion of the sale of intoxicating liquors within its own territory, much progress has been made in the Maritime Provinces. In 1907 Prince Edward Island adopted provincial Prohibition. In 1909 Nova Scotia passed a similar law for that province with the exception of the city of Halifax, where the question has to be submitted to a popular vote. In each of the other provinces enormous strides towards National Prohibition are being made, and there is every prospect, as Dr. J. A. Macdonald, the popular editor of the Toronto Globe — Canada’s great daily newspaper — says, that “The Temperance party will work on till every bar- room is closed,” — he might have added “ and every brewery and distillery also. ” New Brunswick. — -When the Scott Act was passed by the Dominion Parliament the people of New Brunswick immediately put it into operation in several of their counties, and in 1913, out of the 15 counties into which the province is divided, no less than 9 were under Prohibition. A notable contest took place at Monckton on December 21st, 1908, where the supporters of the liquor traffic tried to repeal the No-Licence policy of that city. The voting was as follows: — For Prohibition, 3,923; Against, 3,241 ; Majority for, 682. A similar contest took place at Fredricton, but no-licence was retained by a large majority. Although Local Option has been the law of the province for many years every difficulty has been put in the way in many places to prevent no-licence contests. This is illustrated by the R 253 experience of the Temperance friends at Harcourt, and other places in Kent County. Led by the Rev. R. W. Stavert, a petition in favour of a Local Option Poll was presented to the Kent County Council in 1907, but was refused, and an appeal to the High Court against the action of the County Council was rejected. The same result followed the presentation of a similar petition by the Rev. A. A. Graham to the St. John’s City Council. The Temperance reformers therefore joined forces, and appealed to the Provincial Legislature for improved legislation, and a new law was passed which made it less difficult to secure a contest, and gave a simple majority of electors power to secure no-licence. Several contests immediately followed the passing of the new law, and in the three years (1909-11) the liquor traffic was voted out of several wards in the city of St. John, and from the whole of the Kent County, except the Parish of Dundas, which has four licences. At Wellington (Kent County) instead of bringing on a Local Option contest a petition was sent direct to the Lieut. -Governor in Council, signed by 82 per cent, of the voters asking that no licences should be granted in their dis- trict. The petition was successful, and eight liquor saloons were closed. Several strong Temperance deputations have waited upon members of the Government during the past few years, demand- ing provincial Prohibition, and it is expected that at no distant date this will be adopted. Nova Scotia. — There were two Acts in force in this province — the Scott Act and the Nova Scotia Temperance Act. By popular vote the liquor traffic was cleared out from nearly every county by the first Act, and by the second, passed in 1910, Pro- hibition was adopted for the whole of the province with the ex- ception of the city of Halifax, where a vote of the people can bring about no-licence. The Rev. H. R. Grant, Secretary of the Nova Scotia Tem- perance Alliance, states : — “The liquor traffic throughout the province is utterly dis- “ credited. The Canadian Temperance (Scott) .^ct and the Nova “ Scotia Temperance Act are generally well enforced excepting “ in a few towns. In order that conditions may be satisfactory “it is essential that the Temperance Act be improved in several “ respects, and thoroughly enforced under Government super- “ vision, and that Halifax come under its operation. To accom- “ plish this the Nova Scotia Temperance Alliance is carrying on “ a campaign. The liquor traffic in the province is doomed, and “ at no distant date will be destroyed.’’ 259 In Halifax the liquor saloons are closed from 9 p.m. on Saturday to 7.30 a.m, on Monday, and the number of licences must not exceed one for every thousand of the population. Ontario. — The Local Option Law of the Province of Ontario is not what may be called an ideal law in behalf of Tem- perance. It can only be put into force when twenty-five per cent, of the electors of any given municipality demand a poll, and a majority of three-fifths is secured. Yet under these most disadvantageous circumstances, wonderful progress continues to be made. The fact that in a large number of the municipalities, year after year, a clear majority is cast against the liquor traffic and yet it is continued because a three-fifths majority has not been obtained, causes great indignation among a large section of the public. The Liberal Party of Ontario have made the question of Bar-room Closing a test one for the next election, also proposing if they are successful, to repeal the three-fifths majority, and allow the liquor question to be settled by a bare majority. The Ontario Branch of the Dominion Alliance is a real live organisation. Its weekly organ, The Pioneer, has a circulation of over 24,000 copies, whilst its work of holding provincial and district conferences and public meetings has placed the question of Prohibition in the very front of all other questions in the province, and while the population has nearly doubled itself, the number of licences has been re- duced from 6,185 ^^75 f® 1,620 in 1913. Year after year, on the first Monday in January, the Tem- perance party attack a large number of places in which there still remains an open liquor bar to tempt the people to their des- truction. There is no ambiguity in any of these contests. The Temperance people are known to be Prohibitionists. Their battle-cry is “ Banish the Bar-room.” The Pioneer, in an article on the 1913 contests, places the issue clearly before the people : — ‘‘ The Temperance warfare is one for men rather than one ” against men. It is the liquor ‘ traffic ’ we are fighting, not ‘‘ liquor ‘ traders.’ It is intemperance we are fighting, not the ‘‘ intemperate. It is intoxicants we denounce, not the dispenser ‘‘ of them. It is the bar-room we oppose, not the proprietor of ‘‘ it. The intemperate man, the liquor trader, the bar-keeper, ” will find no better friends anywhere than those who are seeking ‘‘ to suppress the evils which they are aiding. The whole ” traffic in intoxicating liquors is ignoble and demeaning, and ‘‘ those connected in any way with it would be better and more ‘‘ respected in some other cMling. The business of drunkard- ” making or drunk-getting is too ignoble a one for anv man to ” be engaged in, ” 260 While the number of municipalities grows with the ever- increasing population of the province, there is no abatement in the number adopting Prohibition. In 1913 there were 828 municipalities, and of this number no less than 488 are without liquor-shops. During the last five years there have been 440 con- tests, and of these the Temperance party have been successful in securing a three-fifths majority for Prohibition in 169, while in 164 other contests they secured a majority, but not the three- fifths required by law, the liquor traffic maintaining their exist- ence by a majority of voters in 107 contests. The following list of these contests will give some idea of the persistence of the Temperance workers of Ontario : — ■ No. of No. securing three-fifths No. securing Liquor Traffic Year. Contests. Majority, Majority. \"ictories. 1909 55 22 20 13 1910 .. 158 77 55 26 191 1 81 26 30 25 1912 69 18 21 30 1913 77 26 38 13 — — — — Totals 440 169 164 107 After Prohibition has been in force for three years, the Liquor Party can demand another contest, but one remarkable thing about the struggle in Ontario is the fact, and this is true of the whole of Canada, that when once the liquor traffic has been driven out of a municipality and the benefits of Prohibition demonstrated, it is seldom another contest is brought on to re- introduce the liquor bar, and in the comparatively few contests which have taken place, the liquor traffic has been utterly routed. During the past five years there were many municipalities in which the liquor party could have brought on a contest, but they only at- tempted to reintroduce the traffic in 80 places, and were success- ful in five only. Surely a great testimony to the success of Prohibition. Here is the yearly list of contests, with the results : Year. No. of Possible ? Contests. '•o of Actual Contests. Liquor Traffic \’ictories. 1909 97 27 0 1910 III 12 2 191 1 134 3 0 1912 178 15 0 1913 241 23 I Totals . 761 80 5 261 The ever-attacking, never-tiring Temperance workers of Ontario are no sooner out of one series of contests than they are preparing for another. In an editorial The Pioneer says : — “The Local Option votes on January 6th, 1913, must be “ immediately followed up by a further advance. In the great ‘ ‘ conflict in which we are engaged there is no time for rest, and “ there must be none till our land is delivered from the curse of “ intemperance. Patient, persistent, persevering following up “ of the fight must be our policy. The victories we win must “ but inspire us to more heroic efforts, and the defeats we sus- “ tain but make us the more determined and energetic in our “ activity. We must follow up our victories and retrieve our “ defeats, and ever press on and on till final and complete “ triumph is ours. ’’ Prince Edward Island. — Immediately the Scott Act was passed the people of Prince Edward Island put it into force in nearly every place, and no province gave this Act a more faith- ful trial. The Act was the forerunner of provincial Prohibition, adopted in 1907, which has effectively closed the liquor saloons in every part of the province. The greatest drawback at present to the complete success of Prohibition is the power to import intoxicating liquors for personal use, and the legislature is ap- pealing to the Dominion Parliament to prohibit such importation. The great benefit of the existing law is, however, universally admitted. The Prime Minister, replying to- questions from Com- missioners appointed by the New Brunswick Government (1911), said : — “ So far as Prohibition is concerned there is no doubt as to “ its being far away ahead of any other law that I have known. “ The genteral impression is that it has been a great success, and “ has done a great deal of good. It has been proved here that “ the sale of liquor, in a town of this size — Charlottetown — can, “ and has been, prevented. Although not a teetotaler myself, I “ think the law is a great step in advance in preventing the sale “ of liquor. We have practically no crime, our jails are almost “ empty, and we have very few prosecutions in the Supreme “ Court. In Queen ^s County Jail we have only three prisoners, “ in Prince County Jail only four, and in King’s County Jail there “ are none at all. ’’ Thus, with a population of over 103,000 there were only seven prisoners in the jails of the whole province, as compared to 451 in 1907, when liquor saloons were permitted. Quebec. — In spite of having what is called a Model Licence Law, wherever liquor is sold throughout Quebec drunkenness 262 and all its by-products prevail. In many cases these evils overflow into the large number of places where the people have been wise enough to prohibit the liquor traffic. Among the many advantages derived from the Quebec licence law are the prohibition of the sale of intoxicating liquors from 7 p.m. on Saturday to 7 a.m. on Monday; on all provincial election days; and to all young people under 18 years of age. All females other than the wife of the licence-holder, and all males under eighteen years of age, are prohibited from serving as barmaids or barmen. A liquor sellor serving an habitual drunkard, after notice, is liable to pay $500 (;^ioo) to the wife or other interested person. The Quebec Licence Laws have been extensively used to vote out the liquor traffic from parish, town, city, and county. Under these laws, on a demand of 30 electors, a meeting to consider the liquor question must be held, and a vote taken on a bye-law to prohibit the issue of liquor licences. At this meeting none but electors can attend, and the Mayor, who may preside, has to ask each elector, “ Are you in favour of the bye-law or against? .\nswer Yea or Nay.” The response of the elector is duly recorded. A bare majority will carry Pro- hibition, which will remain in force until repealed. This cannot be done in less than two years. One of the curiosities of this Act is that one local municipality may adopt a prohibitory bye- law' previously adopted by a neighbouring municipality, in which case neither can repeal it without the consent of the other. In 1911 Mr. J. Mackenzie, Provincial Treasurer, of Quebec, in delivering his Budget Speech, stated ; — ” The past fiscal year has been the most satisfactory' and ” successful in the history of the province. The Temperance ‘‘ movement has made considerable progress, while the number ” of places licensed for the sale of alcoholic liquors is decreasing. ” In twelve counties no liquor licences have been issued, and in “ others there are several places w'here there are prohibitory ” bye-laws. In all, prohibitory bye-laws have been enforced in ‘‘307 towns and villages; w'hile in 341 other places, although ‘‘ there were no such bye-laws, no liquor licences have been ” issued. ” In 1912 there were 1,038 municipalities, and the number pro- hibiting the liquor traffic had increased to 767 (74.89 per cent.), while In only 271 (25.11 per cent.) were licences issued for the sale of intoxicating liquors. CHAPTER III The N.W. Provinces and Newfoundland “Why do 1 not want alcohol as a beverag'e in a country where cold is extreme exposure is constant, and physical conditions are full of hardships? Simply because I have seen men go down in the struggle lor want of that natural strength, which alcohol alone had robbed them of. I do not think I am unnecessarily prejudiced or bigoted when I say that alcohol is inadvisable, after one has seen it robbing his best friends of strength, honor, reason, kindliness, love, money and even life. During all my experience on the sea and on the snow in winter — an experience coming after an upbringing in soft places — I have found that alcohol is entirely unnecessary It is not necessary for either health or happiness, for I have known no set of men healthier, happier, or enjoying their lives more than the crews of my own vessel, and the many, many fishermen, and others, who like oursehes, neither touch, taste or handle it ” — Dr. Wilfred T. Grenfell^ Labrador ( 1913 )■ In Manitoba and throughout the whole of the North-West Provinces there are enormous tracts of country, covering thou- sands of square miles, with thousands of inhabitants, ever en- larging by immigration from Europe and the United States, where there has never yet been a legalised liquor saloon, or brewery, or where they have been banished by means of the Direct Popular Veto. Alberta. — The liquor laws, while conferring the power of Local Option, by which the electors can and do prohibit the retail sale of intoxicating liquors, also make it imperative for any per- sons desirous of obtaining a licence to secure the written consent of a large proportion of the electors. As this is practically im- possible in rural Alberta, there are very few licences issued. In a number of the more populous places polls under the Local Option Law have been held, and the requisite majority of three- fifths has been secured, thus prohibiting the liquor saloons being continued or set up in their midst. British Columbia. — This is the most backward of all the Canadian provinces. The Scott Act has been put into operation in a few places, but there is no provincial Local Option Law. The struggle has of late years developed into an effort to secure from the Provincial Legislature a Local Veto Law, which would give the people complete power to suppress the liquor traffic in each town and district. In 1909 a poll was ordered by the Pro- vincial Legislature to be taken on this question, the result of which was : For a Local Veto measure 22,779, Against 19,084, a majority of 3,695 for the proposal. The Government, how- 264 ever, declared the majority to be too small to warrant them at- tempting- to pass such a measure into law. The Government in 1910 introduced and passed a new licensing measure. This Act closes all liquor saloons from 7 p.m. on Saturday to 7 a.m. on Monday; not more than three licensed houses are permitted to exist within a radius of three miles until the population in that area exceeds 1,000 w-hite males ; and then one additional licence may be granted for each additional 1,000 of such persons; no liquor saloon is permitted to be open within three hundred feet of any church or educational institution. Manitoba. — From the formation of the territory into a pro- vince there has been a most determined fight against the liquor traffic. In 1900 the Provincial Government introduced and passed through the legislature a bill prohibiting the sale of in- toxicating liquors, but the right of a Provincial Legislature being questioned, the Act was suspended. In 1901 the Privy Council decided that the Act was both constitutional and valid, but the suspension has not yet been removed, so that it is only by the Local Option Law that the people can suppress the liquor traffic. Tlie province of Manitoba consisted, in 1912, of 143 muni- cipalities, and in 43 of these the liquor traffic had been prohibited by popular vote. In 28 other municipalities no licences have been issued, so that there are 71 under Prohibition, and 72 under licence. By Local Veto contests the people have succeeded in driving the liquor traffic from nearly one-fifth of the organised territory of the province. Appeals to the high court on mere technicalities, and the three-fifths majority necessary for secur- ing no-licence, have been great obstacles in the way of progress. By new legislation, adopted in 1911, the three-fifths majority has been abolished, and a bare majority substituted. Mr. W. \V. Buchanan, the Prohibition leader of Manitoba, writing in January, 1913, says : — “ There was no effort made at the last annual municipal “ elections to use the Local Option law in any general way. “ The organised provincial forces regard the processes for “ bringing Local Option into operation as fatally defective and “ decline to approve or promote a general campaign for the “ extension of the law until it is amended. V'here it is in force “ it works very well and is fairly administered. It is a stronger “ Local Option law that similar enactments of other provinces, “ in that it prohibits the importation, and penalises railway’ com- “ panies, or other common carriers, for carrying it into Local “ Option municipalities. “ The policy of the organised Temperance forces is along “ the line of a demand for a provincial law, closing up all 265 “ drinking- places and forbidding the sale of intoxicants through- ‘ ‘ out the whole province, for consumption on the premises. The “ slogan of this movement is ‘ Banish the Bar.’ More than “ twenty-five per cent, of the electors signed a petition in 1911 “ demanding a referendum on the abolition of the bar-room. “ The Administration was pressed by a big delegation from all “ the churches and Temperance societies, the grain growers’ “ associations and the labour unions, to permit the electors to “ vote upon the issue, but declined. At the last session of the “ House, 1912, two members moved that the prayer of the “ petition be granted, and there was a very lively debate over “ this issue. The Administration opposed it and called upon “ the dominant party to vote it down, but two followers voted “with the Opposition. The Temperance people regard this “ movement as the best policy, and it will be pressed strongly “ upon the Legislative Assembly during the 1913 session. “The Grain Growers’ Parliament of the Province, which “ met in January, 1913, in the city of Brandon, by a unanimous “ vote, endorsed this policy, and the last Trades and Labour “Congress endorsed it by a majority vote.’’ To meet the farmers at the only time when they are able to attend meetings, the Royal Templars have arranged an auto- mobile tour of late years. Three or four meetings are held and some sixty or seventy miles covered in this effort every day. Literature is distributed, and special addresses are given. By this means the principle of Prohibition is being spread, not only in the large centres, but in the many newly-occupied districts. The Moral and Social Reform Council, led by Mr. W. W. Buchanan, is carrying on a great agitation for the bringing into operation of Provincial Prohibition. Saskatchewan. — The new Province of Saskatchewan has, since its incorporation, adopted a Liquor Licence Act, by which the whole of the licensing is placed in the hands of a central board of Commissioners, consisting of three men, whose action in granting or refusing licences is supreme. The Scott Act gives the electors power to secure the abolition of liquor saloons, but at present the brewers have the advantage of being able to secure a licence from the Commission if they can get ten of the nearest tvventy householders to sign a petition in favour, although seven of the twenty householders can prevent the issue of the licence, if they are prepared to make charges and substantiate them. No licences can be granted outside an incorporated village (which must consist of fifty persons), town or city. Ordinary liquor saloons are not permitted in any part of the province, only hotels and stores can be licensed. The continually increasing body of emigration is one of the great difficulties in the way of Pro- 266 hibition. While in the populous places there are comparatively tew licences issued, the rural districts are mainly free from any legal sale of intoxicating liquors. Newfoundland. — The Crown Colony of Newfoundland is independent of the Canadian Parliament. By wise laws and Local Veto the whole Dominion has been nearly freed from the liquor traffic. Mr. Edward Smith, a visitor from England, who spent some considerable time in the country during 1910, writes ; — “ I was very pleased to find the Temperance sentiment so “ strong in Newfoundland. It will not be long before the capital “ of St. John’s will be won for no-licence. At present, all the “ outposts, which represent a population of 190,000 out of “ 250,000 for the whole island, have no-licence. These out- “ posts are all fishing stations, and though some drink is “ smuggled in from the French islands, and from St. John’s, the “ advantage of no-licence is unmistakeable. At St. John’s I “ went over the only prison in the Island, in which there were “ forty persons, thirty-seven being from St. John’s, with 60,000 “ people, where drink is sold, and only three from the 190,000, “ where there are no liquor saloons.” Tlie Governor has also stated that ‘‘if you close the saloons in St. John’s you will close the prison.” In .\pril, 1911, an Early Closing Temperance Act was passed by the legislature, by which the public-houses are closed from 6 p.m. to 9 a.m., and from 6 p.m. on Saturday to 9 a. m. on Mon- day. At Christmas-time they are closed from Dec. 23rd at 6 p.m. to Dec. 26th at 9 a.m. The St. John’s Evening Telegram for Dec. 31st, 1911, stated, ‘‘ The chief legislation of value was the Early Closing Act, which is already justifying its existence.” It is remarkable, and a noteworthy fact, that no constituency or district in the Colony which has once adopted no-licence has ever voted to have the liquor traffic again established in their midst. The district of Twillingate, having a population of 20,000 has had no-licence in operation since 1883, and during the whole of the thirty years there have been only 25 convictions, and for several years there has not been a single arrest for any crime whatever. The town of Carbonear, with over 5,000 in- habitants— a shipping and railway centre — has had no-licence since 1883. For the five years preceding the adoption of no- licence there were 157 arrests for drunkenness, but for the five years ending 1909 there were only 15, showing a reduction of 90 per cent. For the five years preceding no-licence there were ten convictions for shebeening, but for the five years ending 1909 there were only four convictions for this offence. CHAPTER IV The United States of America “American constitutions provide that when any great question afFec ing the social happiness or prosperity of the people is to be deterrsined, the legislature shall by constitutional amendment, submit it to the people. The alcoholic liquor traffic is an old institution, and the charges urged against it are that its vvhole result debauch and degrade society Therefore the verdict, for and against the traffic must be made by the people They, desiring to act intelligently, will investigate the v\hole matter The time necessary for this wilt prevent rash or injudicious action and when the verdict is made, it will be an intelligent verdict, and will be enforced, because it will be the verdict of the people ; and woe to the politican or party who disregard the vox popuii.''— yoAn B. Finch, Boston (1883). The United States of America has a population of over 91,000,000. There are 48 States and Territories, and the Dis- trict of Columbia or Washington, the Capital. In 1912 there were eight States, having a population of 13,464,842, with State- wide Prohibition. West Virginia has adopted State-wide Pro- hibition, but it does not go into effect until 1914, when there will be an additional population of 1,221,119 under State-wide Pro- hibition. In the Local Option States there is a population of 32,564,908 living in Prohibition areas, where the liquor traffic has been A'oted down by popular veto, thus making a total popu- lation of no less than 46,029,750 in Prohibition areas, as against 45,932,566 in Licence areas. The people of the United States can by an amendment to the constitution bring about the entire prohibition of the manu- facture, importation and sale of intoxicants, but until this has been accomplished the Federal Government has no authority over the liquor traffic in the various States, beyond the collection of a tax from each liquor-seller. It cannot forbid the opening of saloons, nor can it authorise their existence, except that no per- son can legally sell intoxicating liquors without paying the Federal Government liquor tax. The Federal Government has full power, however, over all inter-state commerce, Indian Reser- vations and Territories, the Army and Navy, Immigration Sta- tions, and all purely national matters, together with the Govern- ment of the District of Columbia, the seat of the Federal .^uthority. 268 Among the pioneers of the modern Temperance movement in the United States must be named Benjamin Rush, a celebrated Philadelphia doctor, who, in the latter days of the eighteenth cen- tury, published some of his investigations in reference to the alcoholic habit, entitled “ Medical Inquiries into the Effects of Ardent Spirits upon the Human Mind”; Dr. Lyman Beecher, the celebrated divine, of New York, who, in the early days of the nineteenth century, preached six sermons on intemperance; L. M. Sargent, a celebrated novelist of Massachusetts, who wrote a number of very successful Temperance stories ; and E. C. Delavan, a wealthy merchant of New York, who published tens of thousands of pages of matter from the pens of Dr. Rush, Dr. Beecher, Mr. Sargent, and others. This literature was widely distributed on both sides of the .Atlantic. Organisations soon sprang into existence to combat the evils of intemperance. One of the first was established at Moreau, Saratoga, N.Y. , by Dr. G. B. Clark, a young medical man, who found the evils of drinking' so bad that he declared, ‘‘ Unless something is done to stop drinking we shall certainly become a community of drunkards. ” Several of the religious denominations took the matter into their consideration, some making strong declarations in favour of total abstinence. In 1814 the United Brethren in Christ adopted a rule that ‘‘ Every member shall abstain from strong drink, and use it only when necessity re- quires it as a medicine.” In 1818 the Presbyterians of Geneva County, N.Y. , resolved to recommend all their members “Wholly to abstain from the use of ardent spirits, except for medicinal purposes.” The Baptist, Congregational, Metho- dists, Friends, and practically every other religious denomina- tion took similar action. In 1826 the .American Temperance Society was formed, when a vigorous agitation was commenced, which has continued to the present day. The International Order of Good Templars was formed in 1851 ; the National Prohibition Party in 1869; The AVomen’s Christian Temperance Union in 1874; Tire Anti-Saloon League in 1888; and the International Reform Bureau in 1S96. Each of these organisations have done much to spread the cause. It soon became apparent to the .American Temperance re- formers that moral suasion alone was practically useless in at- tempting- to cure the drink evil. Drunkards reclaimed after in- finite trouble and expense, repeatedly fell away again, owing to the many licensed liquor shops to be found in every village, ham- let, town and cit}' in every State. AA'orse still, there was an ever-increasing number of young people, educated at great expense, who became addicted to the alcoholic habit from the 269 same cause, thus making it absolutely necessary that the law should be invoked against this evil. Under these circumstances appeals for drastic legislation against the liquor traffic were poured into every State Legislature, in reply to which a number of laws were passed attempting to remedy the evil. The regulation of the liquor traffic having failed, the entire prohibition of the traffic was proposed, and after a most strenu- ous fight, was adopted in 1851 by the State of Maine. The law was repealed in 1856, but re-enacted in 1858, and has remained in force to the present time. A number of other State legislatures also adopted prohibitory laws, some, however, only aimed at spirit-drinking, and others applied to unincorporated districts. Then came the great upheaval in reference to Negro Slavery and State Rights. Temperance reformers became absorbed in the anti-slavery agitation, which ended in the terrible civil war, which was closed in 1864 by the abolition of slavery. In the meantime the liquor traffic had been active, securing the repeal of pro- hibitory laws in several of the States, while the organised Tem- perance movement was almost destroyed. At the close of the civil war a re-organisation or the forces in favour of sobriety had to take place, and in many States this took years of most anxious labour and most determined agita- tion. Renewed attempts were made to place Prohibition on the statute book. Massachusetts adopted Prohibition in i86g, but changed to a local option law in 1875. Rhode Island passed a similar law in 1875, but repealed it in the same year, re-enacted it in 1886, and changed it to a local option law in 1889. South Dakota adopted Prohibition in i88g, but changed it to a local option law in 1898. Iowa adopted Prohibition in 1884, but neutralised it by what is known as the “ Mulct ” law, adopted in 1894, by which, under certain arrangements, the Prohibition law can be set aside. Kansas adopted Prohibition in 1881, and North Dakota in 1889. Then came what has been called the “ Wave of Prohibition ” in the Southern States. Constitutional Prohibition was adopted by huge majorities in Oklahoma in 1908, and again in 1910, North Carolina in 1909, and West Vir- ginia in 1912. Statutory Prohibition was adopted by the State Legislatures of Georgia in 1907, Mississippi in 1909, and Alabama in 1909, in the latter State, however, owing to* political complications, the law was almost immediately set aside in favour of a drastic local option law. In only two instances, where Pro- hibition has been adopted by a State popular vote, has the law been repealed in a like manner, viz., Rhode Island and South Dakota, and in each case a drastic local option law was carried. 270 by means of which a large portion of each State is now under no- licence. Dealing, in 1913, with the results of Prohibition among the negro race in the Southern States, Dr. Booker T. Washington, the great negro educationalist, says : — “ Long years of observation have convinced me that strong “ drink is one of the worst evils that beset the negro. If the “ money they spend annually for strong drink was invested in “ property their wealth would be increased each year by millions “ of dollars. “ Ever since Prohibition has been advocated in the South “ I have been greatly interested in it. My own observations “ and the best information that I can obtain convince me that “ Prohibition is a good thing for the negro. I am reliably in- “ formed that since the restriction of the sale of liquor in South “ Carolina drinking has visibly decreased among the negroes. “ In Alabama, the amount of liquor consumed by the coloured “ people has been greatly reduced. This I have observed to be “ especially true in my owm county. “ Another thing that Prohibition does is to enable the “ negroes to save more of their money. In a single Court in “ Atlanta, since Prohibition has gone into effect, the fines im- “ posed upon negroes have decreased fifty per cent, annually. “ This means that these same negroes will have that much more “ money to spend for food, for clothing, and to invest in pro- “ perty. Another thing that Prohibition has done has been to “ reduce crime. I find that it is true that wherever there is “ Prohibition crime among the coloured people has decreased. “ Chief Justice Clarke, of the Supreme Court of North Caro- “ lina, says that since the State-wide Prohibition law has gone “ into effect in that State crime has been reduced 50 per cent. “ Murder in the first degree has decreased 32 per cent. ; bur- “ glary, 20 per cent. ; attacks with deadly weapons, 30 per cent. ; “ larceny, 30 per cent. ; manslaughter, 25 per cent. ; murder in “ the second degree, 35 per cent., and in some instances crimes “ have decreased more than 60 per cent, since Prohibition went “ into effect. “ I recently made an investigation of the effect of Prohibi- “ tion on crime in Alabama. I sent out inquiries to sheriffs, “ chiefs of police, and recorders of police courts, asking their “ opinion as to the chief causes of negro crime, and the effects “ of Prohibition. The majority of these replies show that strong “ drink is the chief cause of crime among the negroes of the “ State. These statements were corroborated by the report of “ the State .A.ttorney-General, which shows that 53 per cent, of “ all murders in the State were due to strong drink. 271 “ The effect of Prohibition upon crime among- the people “ of my race has in many cases been remarkable. In my own “ county in Alabama crime has been reduced 6o per cent., since “ Prohibition went into effect in the county four years ago. In " many other counties in the State there has been a like reduc- “ tion in the amount of crime under Prohibition. When every- “ thing, therefore, is considered, it appears to me that Prohibi- “ tion is an excellent thing for the negro.” In September, 1909, the Financial World (the leading Bankers’ Journal of New York), in an editorial under the heading ” Growth of the Prohibition Wave,” stated : — ” The liquor trade has not yet seen its worst days, . . . ” that the investors in stocks and bonds of the breweries and ” distilleries are looking to the future with the greatest mis- ” giving is not surprising. The opponents of the liquor industry ” have a powerful press, the Churches, and the women’s organ- ‘‘ isations on their side, and the outcome of their war on the ‘‘ saloon seems hardly in doubt.” The liquor question has constantly been brought before Con- gress, and many very useful Acts have been passed into law. The difficult position of inter-state commerce has repeatedly been under discussion. Bill after Bill has been introduced to prevent the sending of intoxicating liquors from licensed States into Pro- hibition States, but without success, till during the Congres- sional Session of 1912 Bills were introduced, both in the Senate and the House, and by an amalgamation of forces a very satis- factory Bill was adopted, and which was eventually passed over the veto of President Taft. This important law is as follows : — ‘‘ Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives ‘‘ of the United States of America in Congress assembled, ” That the shipment or transportation of any manner or ‘‘ by any means whatever of any spirituous, vinous, malted, fer- ‘‘ mented, or other Intoxicating liquor of any kind, including ” beer, ale, or wine, from one State, territory, or district of the ” United States, or place noncontiguous to but subject to the ‘‘ jurisdiction thereof, or from any foreign country into any ‘‘ State, territory, or district of the United States, or place non- ‘‘ contiguous to but subject to the jurisdiction thereof, which ‘‘ said spirituous, vinous, malted, fermented, or other intoxi- ” eating liquor is intended to be received, possessed, sold, or in ” any manner used, either in the original package or otherwise, ” in violation of any law of such State, territory or district of the United States, or place noncontiguous to but subject to the ‘‘ jurisdiction thereof enacted in the exercise of the police powers “of such State, territory or district of the United States, or ‘‘ place noncontiguous to but subject to the jurisdiction thereof, ” is hereby prohibited. ” 272 For many years Congress has prohibited the sale or gift of intoxicating liquors to Indians, and the introduction of such liquors, for any purpose whatever, is made a penal offence. For the six years ending 1912, nearly $500,000 (;£’ioo,ooo) has been voted by Congress for protecting the Indians from the illicit liquor traffic, which is conducted by a set of desperadoes invest- ing every Indian Reservation. The returns for igii show that 1,657 persons were arrested for attempting to sell intoxicants to Indians, and that 1,055 were convicted, .^n aggregate of over 200 years imprisonment was imposed, and $6g,6io (;^i3,922) was paid in fines. With a view to the better protection of these people from the ravages of intoxicating liquors it is proposed to extend the Prohibition zone to 25 miles around every Indian Reservation in the United States. For very many years intoxicating liquors have been pro- hibited in the United States Navy, but the sale of such liquors was permitted in connection with the Army canteens. In igoi the Anti-Canteen Law was passed by Congress, by which all liquor canteens in the Army barracks were abolished. At first the liquor advocates declared that drunkenness and crime had greatly increased, but this was clearly disproved by an official statement issued in 1911 by Judge-.^dvocate G. E. Davis, in which it was stated : — • “ The year prior to the closing of the canteen (1900) the “ number of General Court Martials held was 6,680, of which “ 1,645 were for drunkenness. After six years of the Anti- “ Canteen law these had been reduced to 4,596, of which only “ 304 were for drunkenness.” Since 1902 Congress has voted no less a sum than $5,000,000 (^1,000,000) for the erection, equipment and maintenance of suitable recreation buildings for the comfort and sociability of the soldiers. The sale of intoxicants is also prohibited in all Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Homes, Emigrant Stations and all the United States .^rmy Reservations. In 1910 a Bill was passed by Congress granting money to the National Homes for Disabled Volunteers, in which it was enacted; — ‘‘That no part of the appropriation shall be expended for any purpose at any branch that maintains a bar, canteen, or other place where beer, wine, or other intoxicating liquors are sold.” In connection with the public education of the young it is gratifying to know that in every State in the Union Temperance is taught in all the public schools. Several most determined attempts on the part of the liquor party have been made to dis- continue this method of spreading Temperance knowledge, but in every case these attempts have been frustrated. 273 While until 1913 there was no enactment dealing with the use of intoxicating liquors by railway employees, nor pro- hibiting their sale at railway stations, or on board trains, the great Railway Corporations of the United States have, for many years, prohibited their servants from drinking while on duty. During the last few years this prohibition has been greatly extended, many Railway Corporations compelling their employees to be total abstainers, and prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors at any of their stations or on any of their trains. The attitude of the general public to the liquor traffic may be somewhat gauged from the fact that in connection with the great Fraternal Organisations, Masonic, Trade and Thrift Societies, having a membership of over ten millions, liquor- sellers are excluded from membership. At the two great Con- ventions held to nominate candidates for the Presidency, both the Democratic and Republican Parties excluded the sale of intoxi- cants from the Convention Buildings. The Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exhibition, held at Seattle, Washington, in igii, was conducted upon Temperance principles, no liquor bars being permitted. Last, but not least. Congress in 1911 prohibited the sale of intoxi- cating liquors at any of the refreshment bars in the Capital Building at Washington, D.C., and in 1913 passed a very drastic law for the District of Columbia, declared to be the forerunner of entire Prohibition. A movement was commenced in 1913 to secure from Con- gress the submission of an amendment to the Federal Constitu- tion in favour of the prohibition of the liquor traffic throughout the United States. Congress must first adopt a constitutional amendment, and this must be supported by three-fourths — 36 States — before it becomes effective. A State once having ratified the amendment cannot rescind its action until another amend- ment has been adopted by Congress, but a State failing in its first effort to ratify may do so at any future time. Already the movement has received the powerful support of a large number of the annual gatherings of the organised Christian forces of the United States. The Presbyterian General Assembly, meeting at Atlanta, Georgia, unanimously adopted the following resolution : — “ Resolved : That we favour the amendment of the Consti- “ tution of the United States prohibiting the manufacture, im- “ portation, sale and transportation of alcoholic beverages.” The General Convention of the Baptist Churches of North America, meeting at Detroit, Michigan, unanimously declared : — ‘‘ We would respectively and earnestly request the Congress ‘‘ of the United States to submit for ratification by the States an s 274 amendment to the National Constitution, prohibiting the manufacture and sale of alcoholic liquors to be used for beverage purposes. ’ ’ Prohibition Cities in the United States of America, with over 20,000 inhabitants. State and City. Population. California, Berkeley 40.344 ) ) Passedena 30,291 Georgia, -Atlanta 154.S39 f y Augusta 41 ,040 y y Columbus 20,554 y y Macon 40,664 y y Savannah 65,064 Illinois, Evanston 24 . 97 « y y Rockford 45.401 Iowa, Ottumwa 22,012 y y Waterloo 26,693 Kansas, Kansas City 82,331 y y Topeka 43.684 y y Wichita 52,450 Louisana, Shreveport 28,015 Maine, Bangor 24.803 y y Lewiston 26,247 y y Portland 58,57^ Massachusetts, Brockton 58,878 ) y Brookline 27,792 y y Cambridge 104,839 ,, Everet 33,484 y » Lynn 89.33^’ Malden 44,404 y 1 Medford 23,150 , , Newton 39,806 y y Quincy 32,642 ,, Salem 43,697 y y Somerville 77,236 y y Waltham 27,834 Mississippi, Jackson 2 1 ,262 Meridian 23,285 y y Vicksburg 20,814 North Carolina, Charlotte 34,014 ) y Wilmington 25,748 Oklahoma, Muskogee 25,278 ) y Oklahoma City 64,205 Pennsylvania, Butler 20,728 N ewcastle 36,280 Tennessee, Chattanooga 44,604 Knoxville 36,346 , , Memphis 131,105 y y Nashville 110,364 CHAPTER V The New England States “ When the orig-inal Maine law was first enacted, I wrote to the then editor of the National Temperance Advocate that ‘ more than any other measure this law will bless the people which will adopt it.’ I am no less firmly convinced to-day than at any time in the past that no greater good to greater numbers can otherwise be obtained than when under wise and con- scientious teachers, and fearless, earnest leaders, the people shall understand how their interests are subordinated to the liquor traffic, and shall insist upon putting that gigantic crime under the ban of honestly-enforced pro- hibitory leg-islation. ” — Hon. General Neal Doiv, Portland, Maine (1897). ITie people of the six New England States have for years made strenuous efforts to deal effectively with the liquor traffic. While Prohibition is only in force in Maine as a State enactment, it is largely the law of each of the other five States by means of Local Option laws. It is estimated that about two-thirds of the entire population are living under the blessings of Prohibition. Connecticut. — This State is divided into i68 Townships, and in 89 of these the people by popular vote have forbidden the sale of intoxicating liquors. Among the many laws regulating the liquor traffic are : The prohibition of music and games in liquor saloons ; the prohibition of women and minors loitering about saloons ; the prohibition of saloons being opened within 200 yards of any church, school, or library ; the prohibition of the soliciting of orders in any no-licence township. A Bill tO' limit liquor saloons to one for every 1,000 of the population, instead of 500 as at present, is before the State Legislature. The total population in igii was 1,114,756, of which 200,000 are living in Prohibition areas. Maine. — Statutory Prohibition was first adopted in Maine in 1851, repealed in 1856, but re-enacted in 1858. In 1884 it was made part of the Constitution by popular vote, as follows: — ^For Prohibition, 70,784; against, 23,811; giving a majority of 46,972 in favour of Constitutional Prohibition. For more than half a century Maine has had to contend with the liquor forces, but at every attack the people have determined to continue their Prohibition law. In 1911 the Democratic Party succeeded in electing the Governor and a majority of members in the Legislature. Although Pro- hibition was only a side issue in the contest, the main question being the high cost of living which existed under the Republican 276 Government, the Legislature decided by more than the required two-thirds vote to re-submit the question of Prohibition to a popular vote. The contest took place on September nth, 1911, and created great interest in every part of the world. The result was as follows : — For maintaining Prohibition in the Constitu- tion, 60,853 ; against, 60,095 ! majority for Prohibition, 758. The liquor party did their utmost to have another contest on Prohibition v. Local Option, but failed to secure a majority in the Legislature. At the next General Election, which took place in September, 1912, the Governor and members of the Legislature who had so nearly brought about the defeat of Prohibition, were swept from office by overwhelming majorities, and a Prohibition Governor and Legislature elected. In April, 1913, the newly- elected Governor preferred charges before the Legislature against five sheriffs for failing to enforce the prohibitory law. After a thorough Investigation the Legislature called upon the Governor to remove these sheriffs from office, and they were removed and men appointed pledged to enforce the law. In spite of the Inter- State Commerce Law, by which a large amount of liquor has been brought into the State under the protection of the Federal Government ; in spite of the sheriffs in some of the counties occasionally refusing to enforce the law ; and in spite of endless misrepresentations on the part of the liquor interest, Prohibition in Maine has more than vindicated itself as a source of prosperity and civic well-being. It has imprisoned the few would-be liquor sellers instead of thousands of drunkards. It has diverted the earnings of the people into buying homes and farms, together with other forms of real estate, instead of wasting it on alcoholic liquor, which so often brings disaster, both to the individual and nation. The total population of Maine was 742,371, all living in Prohibition areas. Massachusetts. — The State of Massachusetts is divided into 33 cities and 320 townships. Lender a high licence Local Option law, a vote is taken in the cities every autumn, and in the townships every spring. At the last contest 14 cities and 247 townships voted no-licence, and ig cities and 73 townships voted licence. The total vote cast for no-licence was 199,323, an in- crease over the last vote of 4,581, while the total vote for licence was 199,132, showing a majority of 191 for no-licence. Outside the city of Boston fully two-thirds of the State is under no- licence. In what is called greater Boston there are 12 cities and 17 townships ; these are all within ten miles of the State House. Of this number, on the last vote, eight cities and 17 townships 277 voted no-licence, having nearly one-third of the total population. The official returns showing the number of arrests for drunken- ness in this area are as follows ; — For the no-licence cities and townships in Greater Boston, 13 per 1,000; and for licence cities and townships, 52 per 1,000. The arrests for crime work out at about the same ratio, that is, for every person convicted of crime in no-licence areas, four are convicted in licence areas. The late Hon. Henry H. Faxon, a leading Prohibitionist of Boston, stated: — “This is what Prohibition can do and does, administered frequently by hostile officers in cities surrounded by liquor territory, and practically under siege all the time by the whole liquor power of the United States.’’ At the annual convention of the Massachusetts State Liquor League, held at Springfield in July, 1913, Mr. Thomas Burke, in his Presidential address, said “ It is absolutely necessary, and more so now than at any “ other time, that we do something to protect ourselves against “ the ever increasing aggressiveness of the self-seeking dema- “ goges and the misguided zeal of the so-called Temperance “ reformer. This is the real purpose of our organisation, to “ create and maintain a high standard for the licensed liquor business. By so doing we help all parties, and no parties “ more than they who favour us with their patronage. Let us “ elevate the saloon to a high standard, and we shall overcome “ the prohibitionist and the temporary set-back at the last “ elections. ’’ The liquor party have been defeated in their effort to estab- lish a State Licensing Board, which if appointed would have had power to grant hotel licences in no-licence areas. The attempt to pass a Bill through the State Legislature in favour of a State liquor monopoly, an enlarged Gothenburg System, met with such determined opposition that the Bill was withdrawn by the proposer. The total population was 3,366,416, of whom 1,061,589 were living in Prohibition areas. New Hampshire. — The State Legislature in 1903 passed a Local Option law by means of which a majority of the voters in any city or township can suppress the sale of intoxicating liquors in their district. In the cities the voting takes place every four years, and in the towns every two years. Of the ii cities and 224 townships, four cities and 203 townships have voted out the saloons. In 1913 about 65 per cent., of the population were living in no-licence areas. For a number of years New Hampshire was known as a Prohibition State, but it should never be forgotten that under the Prohibition law it was always legal to manufacture any kind of intoxicating liquors, and the breweries and distil- 278 leries working at Portsmouth and other places created a most complicated state of affairs ; anomaly was a great factor in the repeal of Prohibition. The total population was 430,572, of whom 2,38,536 were living in Prohibition areas. Rhode Island. — A Local Option Law with high licence was adopted by the State Legislature in 1875. This law is stated to have been the worst one in the New England States. The diffi- culties in the way of securing a poll were so great that in only a few instances was the effort made. In 1913, out of six cities and 38 townships, only seven townships had been able to adopt no- licence. Legislation has now been passed by which a vote will be taken every year, at the same time as the State and Federal elections are held. Good results are expected to follow the new law. The total population was 542,654, of whom only 16,850 were living in Prohibition area. Vermont. — The State Legislature, in 1902, passed a Local Option law, and a vote has to be taken every year. At the last contest in the autumn of 1912, out of 246 townships into which the State is divided, no less than 225 vetoed the liquor traffic and only 21 voted in its favour. Every county in the State gave a majority in favour of no-licence. The total number of liquor saloons in the State has been reduced from 84 to 67. Mr. C. H. Haydon, G.C.T. of the Good Templar Grand Lodge, states : — “ A very great change in public opinion has taken place in “ recent years. A call has gone forth in favour of State-wide “ Prohibition. In this call is voiced the opinions of many thou- “ sands of our best citizens. We are glad that so few towns “ vote in favour of the liquor traffic, but we deplore the fact that ‘ ‘ under the present system these few towns can supply the whole “ State with drink. We believe that a Prohibition law is the “ only cure for the evils of the liquor traffic. ” The total population was 430,372, of whom 238,536 were living in Prohibition areas. CHAPTER VI The Eastern States “ All men and women who want results more than they want to have th^ir own way will seek intellig’ent co-operation with every individual and organ- isation to finish in the next twenty years the job begun a hundred years ago (viz., to destroy the liquor traffic). Every church that is worth attending and every preacher that is worth hearing will from this time fling themselves with a holy abandon into this crusade. Our religion demands that every child should have a fair chance for citizenship in the coming kingdom. Our patriotism demands a saloonless country and a ‘ stainless flag.’ ” Rev. P. A, Baker, D.D., General Supt. National Anti-iialoon League (1913). In some of the Eastern States great difficulties have had to be met in the spread of Temperance principles and in securing any prohibitory legislation. New York, New Jersey and Penn- sylvania have been notoriously under the heel of the liquor influ- ence. Politicians of all parties seldom mention the Temperance issues or the terrible evils of alcoholism. In the District of Columbia, Delaware and Maryland, considerable progress has been made. District of Columbia. — This District, which includes the City of Washington, the Capital of the United States, is under the direct control of the Federal Government. The people of this district have no direct control or vote over any matter whatever. Congress decides the law and appoints three Commissioners to carry it out. Many laws dealing with the liquor traffic have been passed, the latest being the District of Columbia Liquor Law, adopted in June, 1913. By this new law all liquor saloons are to be closed during the whole of Sunday ; no saloons are to be any longer permitted to exist except in the business portion of the city ; over 200 saloons in the residential portion of the city are stated to be compelled to close under this section. The measure also forbids any liquor saloon being opened or continued within 1,000 feet of the Marine Barracks, the War College, the Engineer Barracks, or the Navy Yard. Liquor saloons are now prohibited within 400 feet of any church or educational institu- tion, or on any block of buildings of which less than 50 per cent, of the frontage is devoted to business purposes. The licence fee has also been increased by nearly 50 per cent. A provision in 280 the measure that no licence shall be granted to sell any intoxi- cating liquors in the waiting-rooms of a railway station has been construed to mean that the liquor bar at the great Union Railway Station will have to close. This is the first time Congress has prohibited the selling of liquors in connection with the American Railways. The total population was 331,069, of whom 59,079 were living in Prohibition areas. The New York Evening Post special correspondent at Wash- ington, dealing with this measure, writes : — “ The Courts that pass upon the constitutionality of the “ liquor law, which now operates in Washington, probably will “ decide incidentally a much more important and radical ques- “ tion, namely, whether the national capital shall become Pro- “ hibition territory, for a general impression prevails here that " the next time Congress acts upon the liquor question as effect- “ ing the District of Columbia, in all probability it will be to “ make the district dry.” Delaware. — The State Legislature in 1907 resolved that a plebiscite for or against the liquor traffic should be taken through- out the State. The voting took place on November 5th, 1907, and resulted in two counties out of the three counties into which the State is divided declaring by a majority of 2,556 in favour of Prohibition, and the whole of the liquor saloons in these portions of the State were closed. Newcastle County, contain- ing the city of Wilmington, gave a majority in favour of retain- ing the saloons. Efforts are being put forth to have another vote in this county, but to secure this another Act will have to be secured from the Legislature. The total population of the State on the last census was 202,322, of whom 79,134 were living in the Prohibition areas. During 1912 additional legislation was passed against the traffic and efforts are being put forth to pre- vent the shipping of liquor from licence to no-licence territory. ^^ARYLA^’D.— While there is a general law dealing with the liquor traffic, the State Legislature has repeatedly passed special legislation in reference to the conduct of the liquor traffic in the various counties, so that there are a number of laws dealing with the sale of liquor in this State. Some of the counties have entire Prohibition by State law, while others by special option laws have been able to veto the traffic. As a result of these special contests ten out of the 24 counties have secured Prohibition, three other counties have driven the traffic out, except at one place. The liquor laws of the State being so diversified, a great agitation has been carried on for several years in favour of a uniform Local Option Law for the whole State. In 190S the measure was defeated in the House of Representatives by 13 votes; in 1910 281 it was again defeated by only two votes. In 1912 the Local Optionists won a great victory at the State Elections, and the measure passed the House by large majorities, only, however, to be defeated in the Senate by one vote. The total population of the State was 1,295,346, of whom over 450,000 were living in Prohibition areas. New Jersey. — This State has no Local Option law and is reported to have twice as many liquor saloons as are in the whole of the fourteen Southern States. About one hundred munici- palities are without liquor saloons, some by local ordinances, others by charters or deeds which prohibit the sale of intoxi- cating liquors. The commission government adopted by the Legislature permits a certain amount of home rule in communities putting this law into force. The State law prohibits all minors under 21 years of age from being served with liquor either for themselves or for others, and no person under 21 years of age is permitted to frequent liquor saloons. Sunday Closing was adopted in 1907. A Local Option measure was defeated in the Legislature of 1913. The total population was 2,537,167, of whom only 137,749 were living in Prohibition areas. New York. — This State has for many years been considered one of the chief preserves of the liquor traffic, yet during the last two or three years some headway has been made by the Temper- ance reformers. Of the 933 townships in the State, 412 are under no-licence, and 521 are under licence. An effort was made in the 1911 Legislature to kill all the Temperance measures on the statute book, no less than 68 pro-liquor Bills being intro- duced only five however were passed, making very little change in the laws. The Temperance party are endeavouring to secure local option laws for the forty cities of the third class, and for the counties that have no cities, there being twenty-five of these. A measure prohibiting the shipment of liquors into prohibition territory is being largely supported. The following question is now submitted to all candidates for offices which have to do with the enforcement of the liquor laws : “Are you willing to announce yourself as in accord with the crystallised public sentiment which seeks the destruction of the liquor traffic? ” Since 1897 there has been a total decreasb of 4,957 liquor licences issued in the State. For the first time in fifty years the question of the Prohibition of the liquor traffic was brought before the State Legislature, and although Senator Gates was defeated the prospects for some advance are reported to be much brighter than for many years. The total population of the State was 9,185,494, of whom 646,710 were living in Prohibition areas. 282 Pennsylvania.- — For many years Pennsylvania has been noted for its high licence and so-called model licence laws. Those however familiar with the working of these laws know that they are about the worst that could have been adopted from the stand- point of Temperance reform. In 1911 for the first time in the history of the State, every member of the legislature answered the questions submitted to them by the Temperance party, a large majority answering favourably. Legislation proposed by the liquor party was defeated although no Tem- perance measure was adopted. The granting of licences is in the hands of Quarter Session, which appears to have almost unlimited power so far as the liquor traffic is concerned. By securing the election of Judges no less than 310 of the 922 muni- cipalities have secured Prohibition. Of the 1,565 townships 864 have no saloons. The total population of the State was 7,665,1 1 1 of whom 1,379,720 are living in Prohibition areas. Public opin- ion in favour of the direct popular veto is reported to be growing. Bills for the submission of a prohibitory constitutional amend- ment and for local option were before the 1912 Legislature and although defeated received a large amount of support. The Rev. Homer W. Tope, D.D., writing from Phila- delphia, August 14th, 1913, states: — “ Temperance sentiment is steadily growing in this State, “ and we will be in a position to make a great fight for our “ cause at the primaries in the spring of 1914 and at the ensuing “ election. The removal of the headquarters of the Pennsylvania “ .\nti-Saloon League from Harrisburg to Philadelphia means “ big things for the cause of Local Option. It will give a better “ opportunity to win legislative votes in Eastern Pennsylvania, “ where we most need them. West of the Suscuehanna River “ we have 59 votes for us and 39 against, but east of the river ‘ ‘ we have 82 opposed to Local Option and 2 5 who favour it. “ If Pennsylvania had a county option law, 30 out of the 43 “counties west of the Sescuehanna would go ‘dr}',’ and we “ would have a fighting chance in eight others. It is absurd to “ refuse to give the people an opportunity to decide whether they “ shall have saloons or not. I believe that the next legislature “ will give Pennsylvania local Prohibition by counties.’’ CHAPTER VII The Middle States “ It is a singular coincidence that the cry ‘ Prohibition does not prohibit ' comes.mainly and loudly from the liquor men themselves. Here I join issue and make positive denial. This has not been the history of Prohibition. True, individuals and newspapers have repeatedly so stated ; but tacts and figures disprove the bald assertion. Prohibitory laws, in their effective administration, will compare favourably with any criminal statutes of the country. Violations, of course, occur ; but the criminal records reveal the same sad fact as to other laws. The Maine and Kansas laws have been ridiculed and decried as shams and failures ; but these statements have come from the enemy. Statistics show that not one-tenth as much liquor, propor- tionally, is consumed in Maine as there was sixty years ag'O. Then over two gallons of rum were manufactured in the State to each individual, to-day there is not a brewery or distillery w'ithin her borders. The open dram shop is the door through which thousands enter prison life. To arrest this organised foe of human life, property and character, we must suppress the liquor traffic by the strong arm of the law.’ Bishop C. B. Galloway, D.D., Kansas ( 1912 ). In the Middle States public sentiment has expressed itself in unmistakable tones against the liquor traffic. In the whole of these States much territory is being won every year for Pro- hibition. Kansas and North Dakota maintain State-wide Prohibition in face of the most determined opposition on the part of liquordom. Local Option in each of the other States is rapidly exterminating the liquor saloon, and preparing the territory for State and National Prohibition. Illinois. — Under the provisions of the Illinois Local Option Law, by which townships, villages and cities can veto the traffic, about two-thirds of the State territory is under no-licence. A County Option Bill is before the Legislature, by which it is hoped to drive the liquor traffic from larger areas of the State. In the great city of Chicago over 500,000 of the population are living in Prohibition areas, and in igio over 78,000 voters of the city demanded a poll on the liquor question, but on a technical point the brewers succeeded in getting the High Court to set the petition aside. In igii the State Legislature adopted three prohibitory laws, viz., ist, prohibiting drinking on railroad trains or inter-urban cars ; 2nd, prohibiting liquor saloons within a zone of two-thirds of a mile in radius around the Sailors’ and Soldiers’ Home at Quincy ; and 3rd, prohibits the sale, use, or giving 284 away of any intoxicating liquors in any State park. In addition to this the liquor party were beaten in their attempt to repeal the township Local Option law. The total population of the State was 5,638,591, of whom over 1,900,000 are living in Prohibition areas. Indiana. — By means of the Local Option law the State of Indiana is fast clearing the liquor traffic from its whole terri- tory. There are 94 counties in the State and 27 have voted no-licence. Of 360 incorporated towns, 300 have voted no- licence, and of 1,015 townships no less than 825 have voted no- licence. The total population of the State was 2,700,876, of whom 1,755,569 were living in Prohibition areas. Iowa. — Statutory Prohibition has been the law of this State since 1884, but was nullified by what is called the “ Mulct ” law, passed in 1894. This law permits localities to have saloons when a majority of the voters so determine. A new law w’as adopted in 1911 prohibiting any place having more than one saloon for each 1,000 inhabitants. By this law over 150 saloons were closed. There are 99 counties in the State and 76 are reported to be free from the liquor traffic, and this is also true of 703 of the cities and towms. The total population w'as 2,224,771, of whom 1,718,752 were living in Prohibition areas. Kansas. — After one of the most memorable liquor fights on record, Kansas, in 1880, voted in favour of Constitutional Pro- hibition. The vote was: For Prohibition, 92,302; against, 84,304; a majority for Prohibition of 7,998. Since that date Prohibition has been the law of the State and has proved a great success. Under the original law intoxicating liquors could be sold for medical, scientific and mechanical purposes, but owing to the abuse of this section, the Legislature in 1909 passed a law eliminating these exceptions. The law w-as contested in the Higher Courts, but held to be constitutional. The celebrated wealthy, aristocratic Topeka Club from the first adopted what they termed the locker system of distributing intoxicating liquors. No sales were made; liquor was put into a locker and the members met and drank what they called their own liquor. After long process of law, the Supreme Court held this action on the part of the members to be illegal, and the club to be a nuisance, thus stopping the liquor traffic in every club in the State. It is declared by the Governor and other officials that there is not an open saloon in the State, that the law is well enforced, and that public sentiment in favour of the law is stronger than ever before. In July, 1911, 53 county gaols were empty, and some of the counties have not called a jury for over ten 3’ears, there not having been a criminal case to trv. 285 Out of 105 counties there was not an inebriate In g6. Thirty- eight of the poor-farms have no inmates, and there is only one pauper to every three thousand of the population. There was a population of 1,690,949, all living in Prohibition areas. Michigan. — In 1908 there was only one county in the State which had voted in favour of no-licence, but between that date and 1913 the number had increased to thirty-five. During these five years no less than 1,200 liquor saloons and twelve breweries have been closed by the popular vote. A great effort is now being made to have a vote on State-wide Prohibition, which it is expected will be taken by the Legislature in 1914. The total population was 2,810,173, whom 750,000 are living in Pro- hibition areas. Minnesota. — By means of the Local Option law of this State about two-thirds of the townships are without liquor saloons, and the number is increasing with every contest. Nearly half the villages and cities that are permitted to vote have declared for Prohibition. Five whole counties have but one saloon town in each, and eight other counties have but two saloon towns in each. At the last State elections a change of only 218 votes out of more than 300,000 would have elected a County Option Senate. The total population was 2,075.708, of whom 1,060,000 were living in Prohibition areas. Missouri. — Under the Local Option law a vote is permitted once in every four years in each county, and every city with a population of more than 2,500. There are 1 14 counties and the city of St. Louis. Of these, 64 have vetoed the liquor saloons, and in about 20 of the other counties saloons are only permitted in the chief city. Nearly every city having denominational colleges and normal schools, together with Columbia, the seat of the State University, have prohibited the opening of liquor saloons. The total population was 3,293,335, of whom 1,210,860 were living in Prohibition areas. Nebraska. — In addition to a Local Option law, by means of which 31 counties out of go have voted no-llcence, the Legisla- ture passed in 1909 a Daylight Sale Act, by which all places for the sale of alcoholic liquors must close at 8 p.m. and not open before 7 a.m. The total population was 1,192,214, of whom 595,000 were living in Prohibition areas. North Dakota. — When North Dakota was admitted to the Union, a popular vote was taken on the liquor question, when there voted for Prohibition 18,551, and against 17,392; majority for, 1,159. The first Legislature passed a strong law for the enforcement of Prohibition, which has been strengthened 286 as occasions have arisen. The law is well enforced, and public opinion is declared to be strongly in its favour. The total popu- lation was 577,056, all living in Prohibition areas. Ohio. — A number of laws, including county and town Local Option, have been passed by the State Legislature. Out of 88 counties 45 have vetoed the liquor traffic, and seven-eighths of the State territory is stated to be without saloons. Of 80 cities with a population of 5,000 and upward, 26 have voted no-licence. The tied house system, that is the system of brewery-owned saloons, is prohibited by State law. The total population was 4,767,121, of whom over 2,300,000 were living in Prohibition areas. South Dakota. — By far the larger part of the State and population are under Prohibition by means of the Local Option law. All unorganised counties and the Indian Reser\'ations are under Prohibition. The State Legislature have also passed an Anti-Treating Law, a Daylight Saloon Law, ,and a measure forbidding drinking on railroad trains. The total population was 583,888, of whom over 400,000 are stated to be living in Prohibition areas. Wisconsin.- — The law of Wisconsin provides for a yearly vote on the liquor question, and in 800 towns the liquor traffic has been suppressed by the popular vote. Many of these places are only small, but are continually growing, and to be free from the liquor saloons is a great gain tO' their prosperity. The liquor interest of Milwaukee has been largely used to influence the State in favour of liquor. The Temperance party are, however, continually gaining ground. In 1912 the State Legislature passed Bills forbidding the sale of intoxicating liquors at public auctions; also the drinking of liquors in any smoking car, parlour, or day coach of any railroad train. Another law adopted prohibits intoxicated passengers being admitted on steamers, railroad or inter-urban cars. There is a Prohibition zone around the State University at Madison of 3,200 feet, which it is pro- posed to extend to five miles. The total population was 2,333,860, of whom 586,184 were living in Prohibition areas. CHAPTER VTII The Southern States “ The Army War Colleg-e at Washing-ton recently made an investigation of the destructiveness of -war. Taking all the -wars of the -world, from the Russo-Japanese War back to 500 B.C., the War College found that the total number of killed and -wounded in battle amounted to about 2,800,000, of which it is estimated that about 800,000 were killed and 2,000,000 wounded. The comparative figures show the appalling fact that alcohol is killing off as man}- Americans every two years as all the wars of the world have killed in battle in 2,300 years. It is not a day too soon to grapple with this foe. We must assemble all the Prohibition and Temperance forces of America, develop a strong organisation, and be able to strike with our whole combined power to drive the curse of the liquor traffic from our shores.” Hon. Richynond P. Hobson, Member of Congress for Alabama (1913). The liquor traffickers of the Southern States of America are fighting for their very existence. Dr. F. C. Inglehart, in the American Review of Reviews for May, igio, said : — “ About eighteen of the twenty million of the people in the “ Southern States have already outlawed the liquor saloon, . . . “ and it looks as though, within the coming five years, every “ State in that section will vote the saloons out of existence.” Alabama. — The State Legislature in igii passed a Local Option law with the county as the unit, and out of the 6g counties in the State 5g have vetoed the liquor saloons by popular vote. Where the liquor traffic is permitted there is to be only one saloon for each 3,000 inhabitants. At the present time there is a great demand for State-wide Prohibition, and it is fully expected that within two years a vote will be taken on this question. The total population was 2,i38,og3, of whom i,g24,284 were living in Prohibition areas. Arkansas. — In the State elections in igio the aggregate vote, under the Local Option law, showed a net majority of 23,262 against the liquor traffic, and out of the yg counties in the State 67 have suppressed the liquor saloons. There are only 28 towns in the State in which liquor is sold. In igi2 an effort was made to carry State-wide Prohibition. The negroes of this State have a vote, which it is stated they seldom exer- cise. A proposal to disenfranchise them brought them to- the poll in thousands. The liquor party are reported to have made a compact with their leaders by which the liquor men promised to 2SS vote against disenfranchisement on condition that the negroes voted against Prohibition. There is little wonder that both proposals were defeated. The vote on the liquor question was as follows: — For Prohibition, 69,390; against, 85,358; majority against, 15,968. The total population of the State was ^> 574 > 449 > of whom no less than 1,435,000 were living in Pro- hibition areas. Florida. — ^The Local Option law of this State has enabled the people to clear the liquor saloons out of every county except eight, there being 38 counties for no-licence and eight for licence. Here again it is stated that a compact between the liquor party and the negroes brought about the defeat of a Prohibition con- test in 1910 by a majority of 4,674. There are only 355 saloons left in the whole State, and only 14 towns in which they are permitted. The population of the State was 752,619, of whom 658,271 were living in Prohibition areas. Georgia. — This was the first Southern State to adopt State- wide Prohibition. Previous to this, by means of the Local Option Law, the people had voted the liquor saloons from 125 counties out of a total of 146. Prohibition went into effect on January ist, 1908, and has remained in force ever since. A number of “ near beer ” saloons have been established, which have been the means of enabling the liquor party to gravely vio- late the law. Even under these conditions the arrests for crime and drunkenness show a great decrease. The returns for the city of Atlanta, with a population of 154,839, are as follows : — Total number of arrests in 1907, the last year of licence, 24,884. After three years of Prohibition these arrests had fallen in 1911 to 16,707. For drunkenness the arrests in 1907 were 6,508, and in 1911 they were 2,636. The total population of the State was 2,609,121, all living under the Prohibition law. Kentucky. — By Local Option the State has been largely cleared of the liquor traffic. Out of 120 counties no less than 96 are without liquor saloons. Tlie other counties have only one, two, or at the most three towns where licences are issued. In only four counties have the distillers held their own. Liquor citadels which a few years since appeared to be impregnable have been stormed and captured for Prohibition. In 1912 the State Legislature passed a uniform County Option law, and several good enforcement laws were also adopted. The total population of the State was 2,289,905, of whom 1,721,000 were living in Prohibition areas. Louisi.ANA. — About half of the State is under Prohibition by Local Option. In the northern part of the State the law is 289 reported to be well enforced, but in the city of New Orleans and the south the liquor traffic is able at present to defeat every effort to dislodge them. Sunday Closing, and other laws passed to regulate the traffic, are reported to be openly violated. The State is divided into 59 parishes, and in 30 of these no-licence has been adopted. The total population was 1,656,388, of whom 850,000 are living in Prohibition areas. Mississippi. — Statutory Prohibition went into effect in this State on January ist, 1909, and is still in force.. A Bill to submit the question to a popular vote to place Prohibition in the Constitution, was defeated in the Legislature by one vote. It is a penal offence to solicit orders for liquor; to order liquor for another ; or to permit liquor to be stored in any buildings. The law is reported to be well enforced and a great success. The total population was 1,797,114, all living under Prohibition. North Carolin.a. — On May 26th, 1908, the people of North Carolina declared in favour of Prohibition, the vote being as follows: — For Prohibition, 113,612; against, 69,416; majority for, 44,196; and the State Legislature forthwith passed a Pro- hibition law which went into effect on January ist, 1909. A large number of “near beer’’ saloons were soon opened to vio- late the law, but to defeat the operations of the liquor party the State Legislature passed a new law defining intoxicating liquors to mean “all liquors or mixtures thereof, by whatever name called, that will produce intoxication,” and effectively killed the “near beer” saloons. The law of this State prohibits the manu- facture and sale of intoxicating liquors. There was a total population of 2,206,287, ^11 living under Prohibition. Oklahoma. — In the fight for Statehood, Congress decided that the Indian Territory should remain Prohibition for 21 years, and that the people of the State should decide for them- selves if the State should be Prohibition or not. On October 19th, 1907, the voting was as follows : — For Prohibition, 130,524; against, 112,244; majority in favour, 18,280. An attempt to repeal the law in 1910 was defeated by a majority of over 30,000. The total population of the State was 1,657,155, all living under Prohibition. South Carolina. — The notorious Dispensary System, framed upon the Gothenburg liquor monopoly, was in igo6 abolished as a State institution. Its wmrking was declared to be “ checkered with fraud and scandal, and marked by agitation so violent that it more than once threatened to break out into civil war.” Its crimes were almost countless, and drunkenness and debauchery of the vilest character followed the setting up T 290 of every Dispensary. Out of 42 counties 21 are now free from saloons. The total population was 1,515,400, of w’hom 1,100,000 are living in Prohibition areas. Tennessee. — Statutory Prohibition was adopted in 1909, and the prohibition of the manufacture of intoxicating liquors in 1910. The law is well enforced. The Democratic party in 1912 advocated the repeal of the law, but were so utterly defeated that it is predicted that no political party will for many years attempt this again. The total population of the State was 2,184,789, all living under Prohibition. Texas. — The Local Option of the State gives power to prohibit either in the city or county. Of the 249 counties, 173 have voted no-licence. More than 80 per cent, of the territory of the State is under Prohibition. A prohibition proposal was submitted to the people in 1911, and only defeated by a majority of 7,000 in a poll of 466,000. It is stated that the result in the Prohibition counties is a complete demonstration that Prohibition does prohibit, and the result in the saloon counties that regula- tion does not regulate. The total population of the State w'as 3,896,542, of whom no less than 3,409,476 were living in Pro- hibition areas. VIRGINIA. — There are 100 counties in Virginia, and 85 have no-licence through the State Local Option law. In 1912 a Bill passed the House in favour of taking a vote on State-wide Pro- hibition, but was defeated in the Senate by eight votes. The total population of the State was 2,061,612, of w'hom 1,500,000 are living in Prohibition areas. West Virginia. — Under Local Option, 38 out of 55 counties vetoed the liquor traffic, and in 1912 a popular vote was taken which resulted as follows: — For Prohibition, 163,092; against, 71,750; majority in favour, 91,342. State-w'ide Prohibition goes into force on January ist, 1914. The total population of the State was 1,221,119, and under Local Option 889,196 were living in Prohibition areas. CHAPTER IX The Western States “ Restriction and regulation by licence will neither restrict nor regulate. Let it be printed large and sounded out far and wide. The whole license system, in the very nature of the case, is in the interest of the liquor business, with all its brutalities and immoralities. That is why the brewers and saloonists are for it. Why else should they be? It is incurably bad. On the face of it, there is no way to help morality by licensing immoral institu- tions. So-called restriction and regulation have been tried in America for many years, t Through these weary, bloody years, a demonstration has been • wrought as broad as our national life. There is no cause for any intelligent man or woman being deceived. With sensible people ail arguments cease when demonstrations are complete. The sane, safe and statesman-like policy in government, as in all things else, is to stand on principles of righteousness. A liquor saloon is bad, immoral, dangerous. Government, to stand, must be founded on morals, and therefore the liquor traffic and all other vice is to be prohibited.” Rev J. B. Gambrell, D.D Dallas (1912). With the solitary exception of Nevada, each of the Western States have been active in the prohibitory movement, and much territory has been won from the liquor traffic. Several attempts have been made to secure State-wide Prohibition, but without success. Local Option has, however, been seeured, except in Nevada. Arizona. — Temperance is not one of the leading character- istics of those who have gone to Arizona in search of gold, silver, copper, and other minerals, yet some headway has been made under the most difficult circumstances. Two counties and three municipalities have secured no-licence by means of the Local Option law. Prohibition is also in force on all the Indian Reservations in the State. The total population of the State was 204,354, of whom 45,000 were living" in Prohibition areas. California. — The State Legislature in 1911 adopted a general Local Option law which has enabled the people to close nearly 1,000 liquor saloons and to place many parts of the State under Prohibition. Eight supervisoral districts, 14 incorporated cities, and 682 towns have adopted no-licence. All saloons are now prohibited within one and a half miles of Stanford Uni- versity, and within three miles of the State Farm and Agricul- tural College at Davis. The total population of the State was 2,377,549, of whom fully 600,000 were living in Prohibition areas. 292 Colorado. — The Local Option law of the State applies to municipalities and wards of cities. Great efforts have been made of late to repeal this law, but without success. An effort to secure State-wide Prohibition was defeated in igii, but during; the last three years many places have adopted no-licence, and over 300 liquor saloons have therefore had to close. Out of 61 counties, 13 have no saloons, and 80 cities and towns have vetoed the liquor traffic. Tlie total population of the State was 799,024, of whom 433,602 were living- in Prohibition areas. IrjAHO. — Lhider the County Option law, passed by the State Legislature in 1909, 20 of the 27 counties have voted in favour of Prohibition, and over 200 saloons have been closed by these votes. Tlie total vote at these contests was as follows : — For Prohibition, 41,703; against, 29,604; majority in favour, 12,099. The 1912 Legislature passed a strong search and seizure law, and a number of other anti-liquor laws, all of which, however, were vetoed by the Governor. At the next election great efforts will be put forth to change the Governor. The total population of the State was 323,394, of whom 217,139 were living in Pro- hibition areas. Montana. — M'hile there is a County Option law in this .State, its provisions are so defective that the people have with difficulty been able to use it. Tliere is a growing demand for more efficient legislation. There are several large Indian and military reservations where by Federal laws the liquor traffic is prohibited. The few anti-liquor laws, including Sunday Closing, are reported to be well enforced. The total population was 376,033, of whom about 13,000 are living in Prohibition areas. Nevada. — This State has no Local Option law, and has more liquor saloons in proportion to the population, less pro- portionate territory under no-licence, and more people living in licence territory, than any other .State in the Union. The State is thoroughly in the grip of the liquor traffic. The Indian reservation is the only Prohibition territon,’ in the State. Tlie total population of the State was 81,873, whom only about 8,000 were living in Prohibition areas. New Mexico. — Although when New Mexico was admitted into the Union in 1910 the Temperance people failed to make it a Prohibition State, they have succeeded in the adoption of an amendment to the constitution, and that by a majority of over 12,000, by which the way has been opened for constitutional Prohibition. By the new Statehood .Act the Indian Reservations will remain Prohibition territory for 25 years. Beside the four Indian Reservations, and the four Military Reservations, there 293 are 14 cities and tuvvns under no-licence, Mouiilainair has a Prohibition clause in every deed. In 1912 a measure in favour of submitting Prohibition to a vote of the people passed the House but was defeated in the Senate. The total population was 327,301, of whom about 40,000 were living in Prohibition areas. Oregon. — There are 33 counties in the State and in nine the liquor traffic has been voted out by the State Local Option law. There are also a number of towns where the liquor saloons have been suppressed. A great effort is being made for State-wide Prohibition, and clubs are being formed to secure a better en- forcement of anti-liquor laws and the election of officials com- mitted politically and morally to Temperance legislation. The total population of the State was 672,765, of whom 230,000 were living in Prohibition areas. Utah. — The State of Utah is said to be as near State-wide Prohibition as any Local Option State in the Union. There are now only 235 saloons in the whole State, and of this number 141 are in Salt Lake City and 32 in Ogden City. At the Local Option contests in 1911 no less than 87 cities and towns voted no-licence, while only 14 voted to continue the liquor traffic. In Salt Lake City the vote was as follows : — ^For no-licence, 9,328; against, 14,008; majority against, 4,680. P'or the first time in the history of the Mormon Church the officials and members in annual meeting assembled have decided to take action against the liquor traffic. The Mormon Church being the governing factor of the State, some drastic legislation may be expected at no distant date. The total population of the State was 373,934, of whom about 125,000 were living in Prohibition areas. Washington. — The Local Option law of Washington was adopted by the State Legislature in 1909, since which date 220 contests have been held ; 140 have been carried in favour of no-licence, and 80 in favour of the saloons. The prohibitory territory of the State consists of the unincorporated portions of 34 counties, six entire counties, and a large number of cities, towns and villages. By the success of no-licence in these places 572 licensed saloons have had to close. It is reported that most of the railroads of the State have discontinued the sale of intoxi- cating liquors, and that the steamboat companies are doing like- wise. The saloons of Seattle are confined by a city ordinance to a very small portion of the business area. The total population of the State was 1,141,990, of whom 480,500 were living in Prohibition areas. 294 Wyoming. — This State has been noted for its drunkenness, gambling-, and prize fighting, but of late years the new inhabi- tants coming from other parts of the States have brought with them a higher ideal of citizenship, and as a result the liquor traffic is rapidly disappearing, and with it the desperado, the gambler, the roulette wheel operate, the prize fight promoter, and the advocate of licensed vice and the saloon. Every unin- corporated place in the State is now without liquor saloons. Five of the incorporated cities have excluded the liquor traffic by the vote of the City Councils. The Yellowstone National Park, which is the largest national park in the world, is under the authority of the United States Government, and by an Act of Congress intoxicating liquors are not permitted to pass within its portals. The large Indian Reservation is also Prohibition territory. The saloons are closed on Sunday, and by a recent decision of the Supreme Court, the club saloon, which for years has been a great curse, has ceased to exist by legal right. The total population of the State was 145,965, of whom over 50,000 were living in Prohibition areas. CHAPTER X Mexico, Central America and the West Indies “ I do not believe that the Temperance question will be settled, or can be settled, without the active, sympathetic, systematic, persistent co-operation of the Church, and I do believe that the Christian minister who, both by precept and example, does not take an open stand against the continuance of the liquor traffic is accountable for the evil which he might have prevented, but did not. It is too late in the world's history to attempt to defend or excuse the use and the traffic in strong drink or to delay its extermination .” — Professor Charles Scanlon, Pittsburg (1913). During the last few years an educational campaign in the interest of Temperance and Prohibition has been carried on in these countries by a number of medical men and others, in the medical journals and the daily press, which has brought the question before the public as it has never been before. The power of the Government liquor monopolies, with few organi- sations to battle for sobriety, gives the liquor traffic a great advantage. The W.W.C.T. U. is doing a brave work in Mexico and some of the Central American Republics, while the Good Templars and others are doing good work in the West Indies. Mexico. — A specially active and intelligent Temperance and prohibitory campaign is being carried on in various parts of this North American Republic, especially in the State of Yucatan, The Yucatan Temperance Society has as its motto ; “Abstinence for the Individual; Prohibition for the .State.” Its press organ, Regeneracion Social, as well as its many other activities, are ably conducted by Dr. Maximilano Medina Samada, of Merida. In Mexico, as in so many other countries, the Doctors of Medicine are leading in the fight against alcoholism. One of the pronouncements of the Medical Union of Temperance of Yucatan is a statement which has been signed by more than sixty of the medical practitioners of that ancient and historic State, com- mending total abstinence and warning the people against alcohol as a poison. The Governor of the State has congratulated the Medical Union for its work in improving the condition of the people; and various of the other State Governments of the Republic have expressed themselves in very favourable terms 296 towards the proposals for Temperance and Prohibition in their country. The disturbed condition of the nation, and the assassination of the President, have been against any great advance in Tem- perance reform, but the movement is being advocated by so many able men and women, that with a renewal of settled government much progress may be expected. Even during the various revolutions which have taken place, the question of Tem- perance teaching in the public schools has been strongly advo- cated and in many places adopted. Tlie Governors of 15 States have endorsed this movement among the young, while the Secre- tary of State for Vera Crux pledged himself to support Temper- ance teaching in all the public schools. Remarkable support has been rendered to total abstinence and Prohibition by the writings and addresses of such men as Senor Don Enrique Creel, Governor of the State of Chihuahua ; Dr. J. E. Moujaras, Secretario-General Del Cossezo Superior de Salubridad, City of Mexico; Manuel E. Pastrana, National Director of the Meteorological Service of Mexico, and many others, including His Excellency the late President Madero. Miss Dunmore, W.\\\C.T. U., reports that two States have recently adopted laws favouring Prohibition. An authoritative book entitled “El .\lcoholismo en Mexico,’’ has been published and widely circulated under the authorship of Dr. Fernando Ponce, Medical Director of the Louis Ponce Hospital of Tulancingo, and a member of the Interior Medical Society of Mexico. Dr. Ponce calls for the organising of a National .\nti-.\lcoholic Congress, which it is expected will be held in the city of Mexico at no distant date. .Additional gather- ings are projected for the definite purpose of reducing inebriety and putting down the evil of alcoholism in that country. Other notable contributions to the subject from the medical aspect have been made by Dr. .Adolfo Oliva, of Guadalajara, entitled, “Alcoholism : its Nature, its Ravages, and its End,’’ and “ .Alcoholism and the Tobacco Habit: Their Dangers.’’ 'I'he legal profession has also taken a leading position in the growing agitation against the liquor traffic. In this con- nection may be noted the issue of several pamphlets by Senor Celedonio Padilla, a member of the .Academy of Jurisprudence of Jalisco; and “.Alcoholism Before the Law,’’ by Senor Diego G. Lopez, of Merida, who has also contributed an interesting thesis based upon his professional examination of alcoholism from a legal aspect. 297 Tlic pages of Salud y I'ida (“Health and Life”), and other influential magazines and newspapers of the Mexican Republic, frequently give prominent and expert attention to the general subject of intoxicants and their suppression. The lemperance and Prohibition workers have departments organised for work among' women along the lines of the W.W.C.T.U., and among the young in the form of the Loyal Temperance Legion. Central America. — Throughout Central America the manu- facture of spirits is largely a Government monopoly by which huge sums of money are raised for revenue purposes. The moral and material condition of the people seem to be very little con- sidered. When proposals are placed before either of the Par- liaments having reference to the liquor traffic, the first question asked is “Will it affect the revenue?’’ and on this ground the proposals stand or fall. While it is true that all new countries must have revenue for the construction of railways, roads, canals, ports, etc.. Governments must learn that the prohibition of the importation, manufacture and sale of all intoxicants is the truest way of bringing prosperity to the people and perma- nent success to the nation. The liquor laws of the Central American Republic are very similar. San Salvador is the only one of these Republics which prohibits young men under 21 years of age from entering a liquor saloon, or being served with alcoholic liquors. A heavy penalty is inflicted for the violation of this law. There is no restriction in the hours of sale or the number of places, the idea being that the larger the number of saloons and the more liquor disposed of, the better for the revenue. There is also no law prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors to the Indians, and it is stated that the Maya Indians, which were once a great race, are being “wiped out of existence by the liquor traffic.’’ The English and American traders are accused by the missionaries of dis- tributing gin to the natives at Christmas, by which an enormous amount of mischief is done. At one time Prohibition was thoroughly enforced in the Moskito Indian Reservation in Nicaragua, but the Government is now so decidedly in favour of the liquor traffic that even this restraint has been removed. It is greatly to be regretted that so little Temperance work is being done in either country. 1'he West Indies. — Tlie principal islands are under the Governments of Great Britain and the United States, with the Republics of Haiti and San Domingo. There are very few restrictive laws, the larger number dealing simply with duties and licence fees. Speaking of the Bahamas, Mr. Albert Dillett states : — 298 “ Local Option was enacted over twenty years ago, but has “ since been practically nullified by amendments. No liquors “ are manufactured in the Colony, all are imported and pay duty, “ which makes the traffic a favourite with the Government. We “ have had only one instance of the employment of a barmaid. “No person under i8 years of age may be employed to sell “ liquors, and liquor cannot legally be sold to a child under i6 “ years of age. These laws are continually openly and flagrantly “ violated. The police are culpably negligent, and the com- “ munity apathetic.’’ In all the other islands similar testimony is given. The Governors and Councils make the laws, and seldom if ever con- sult the people in any way whatever. When asked by the British Government if there was any system of Local Option, almost every Governor replied, “No such legislation exists.’’ Haiti. — In reference to this Republic, it is stated that no public records are kept, either of the manufacture or sale of intoxicating liquors, or of the evil results. Poverty, immorality and crime abound on every hand. One remarkable statement is that “the religious organisations of Haiti do not make the dis- couragement of drinking a prominent feature of their local work.” It is about time they did. San Domingo. — In this Republic everybody who cares to sell intoxicating liquor can do so without the slightest pretence at regulation ; all that is reguired is to pay the licence fee. The Rev. C. H. Williams states : — “ Think of a small town with a population of 8,000, where “ there are 115 stores, and at each liquor is sold as the chief “ article of trade. The custom has grown to such an extent that “ customers, male and female, before patronising a store, must “ be assured that rum will be given to them as a premium on the “goods they purchase. The merchant who has no rum would “ sell no goods, so he goes with the tide. There are 5,000,000 “ acres planted with sugar cane, mostly manufactured into rum. “ The people of all the Islands of the Carribean Sea flock here “ for this spirit. The Government care nothing for the evils “created because they receive a big revenue.” In several of these islands the W.\\'.C.T.U. and the Good Templars are working in the hope of rousing the people to their danger. CHAPTER XI South America “ There is not a doubt but that total prohibition is the method which responds most fully in the Anti-Alcoholic campaig-n to the requirements of hygiene and morals, and that it also constitutes the one true medium in therapeutics and ethics which we can use, that the social organism may recover from an evil so profound and extended as in alcoholism.” Victor Deljino, M.D., F.K.I.H.S., Buenos Ai/es (1913) In several of the South American Republics there is a distinct awaking' to the dangers of alcoholism. Many notable men are speaking out with no uncertain sound, and leading new'spapers have published of late columns of information respecting the Prohibition movement in other parts of the world. Some of the official documents issued by the International Prohibition Con- federation have been translated and published in full in several newspapers of the most importance. Argentine Republic. — At present there are no laws for restraining the liquor traffic, but both in Parliament and the country, efforts are being put forth in favour of Temperance reform. The first step taken in the interest of reform was the issue of El Alcoholismo by Senor Victor Delfino, Editor of the “Scientific and Industrial Annual,” in which he proposed Tem- perance teaching in all the public schools. To this Dr. Delfino received the Government’s endorsement, and it is now part of the curriculum of the schools. Numbers of meetings, and the spread of Prohibition literature, made it possible for Dr. Juan F. Cafferata, M.P. , to bring the matter before Parliament and to propose a measure for the suppression of alcoholism, a favour- able hearing being given to the measure. In June, 1913, an important meeting of the Argentine Society of Public Hygiene and Sanitary Engineers, was held at Buenos Aires, under the presidency of Dr. Cafferata, M.P. Dr. German Anshiitz, Dr. Domingo Calred, and others spoke, and the following resolution was unanimously adopted ; — “ For the purpose of uniting ideas in the campaign against “ drunkenness in America it is desirable to form an International “ Committee of the Latin American countries charged with the “ organisation of a special Congress for this end.” 300 The Gothenburg System having been recommended as a solution of the evils, Dr. Delfino declared the system to be im- practicable, and that to permit themselves to recommend its trial amongst the existing babel of drink-sellers would be bad policy for their country, llie proposal to exclude wine and beer from the proposed Prohibition law was also condemned, Dr. Delfino stating : — “ From a study of this question we can see that the pro “ position to exclude fermented liquors from the prohibitive laws “ is not only against the experience of other countries, but con- “ trary to the principles of social justice, and is inspired more “ by fiscal considerations than by considerations of the general “ interest of humanity.” Bolivia. — The constant revolutions and wretched adminis- trations are declared to have almost destroyed the trade of the country, but the liquor traffic, with all its evil influence, will doubtless have too often incited to the one and made possible the other. Some slight efforts are being made on behalf of Tem- perance. Brazil. — -The Brazilians are stated to have become so accustomed to the habit of drinking intoxicating liquors that they are consumed ‘‘ before breakfast, at all meals, between meals, and with coffee after meals.” The physical evils re- sultant from such a life must be enormous, and it is little wonder that a number of Doctors have commenced an agitation for reform Among the leaders of this new movement may be named Dr. Wolfgang Schultz, Editor of Des Alkoholgegner, of Porto .-\legre ; Dr. Jose F. V. Oliviera, L’Ecole Normale, San Paulo, and Dr. Joao B. de Lacerda, Directeur Music National, Rio de Janeiro. British Guiana. — By an Ordinance passed in 1909 the sale of intoxicating liquor to Indians is now prohibited. Mr. J. H. King, Assistant Government Secretary, states: — ‘‘ This Ordinance (No. 10) prohibits the sale of intoxicating ‘‘ liquors to the aboriginal Indians of the Colony. A measure of ‘‘ this sort has been found necessary here, as it has been found ‘‘ in other places. The Ordinance makes it an offence to sell, or ‘‘ give, intoxicating liquors to any Indian, and enables any such ” liquor to be seized and forfeited. Any intoxicated Indian can ” be arrested and detained in any lock-up till he is sober, and is ” liable to a penalty if he refuses to give information as to the ” person who supplied him with the liquor. This Ordinance ‘‘ follows the lines of similar legislation in Canada, Natal, and ” New Zealand. ” 301 Chili. — In 1895 the Chilian Parliament passed a law for the diminution of the sale of spirits. Believing- that spirits were the only cause of drunkenness, wine and beer were omitted from this legislation. Dr. Zillereuclo, criticising this action in 1913, says — • “ The reduction of the sale of spirits coincides with an in- “ creased consumption of wine and beer, so that now brandy and “ liquors equals 21 per cent, and wine and beer 79 per cent, of “ the alcoholic consumption of Chili. This fact teaches much. “ To-day our people get drunk with wine and the vice remains “ just as it did before the laws were passed against spirits. The “ law, to be effective, should suppress all alcoholic liquors from “ whatever source obtained. Laws that protect one kind of “ alcohol and attack another are hypocritical and are only good “ to show the decadence of the Legislature. The net result of “ this queer kind of reform is that drunkenness remains the “ same, the consumption of alcohol is maintained, and the crime, “ lunacy, suicides and other evils resulting from its sale, re- “ mained equal to what it was before the law was passed.” In 1902 the Chilian Parliament passed a number of regula- tions, both for the seller and consumer of intoxicating liquors. The police were given power for the first time to arrest for drunkenness in any public place. Tlie penalty is three to five days’ imprisonment, or a fine. Public officials, army and navy men, drivers of vehicles, persons with firearms, etc., are to be sent to prison without the option of a fine. Heads of public offices, or employees in State educational work, are to be sus- pended from duty with a loss of salary for 60 days, and for a second offence to be dismissed. Railway and steamboat workers, found drunk on duty, are to be punished and dismissed the service. If an employer or State official permits any of these workers to follow their employment when under the influence of liquor, he is liable to a fine of $1,000 (;^20o), and if employed by the State, to instant dismissal. A husband who becomes in- capable of managing his business through drunkenness may, on the petition of any member of the family be sent to an ine- briate asylum for twelve months. The saloon keepers are prohibited from serving any person under 21 years of age, and the giving of liquor to such persons which makes them drunk is a penal offence. Liquor saloons are allowed to keep open from 6 a.m. until mid-night, but in country places only from sunrise to sunset. It is illegal to sell, or advertise liquor for sale, in any theatre, circus, or any other public place of entertainment, rail- way station or railway train. Liquor saloons are prohibited 302 within 220 yards of a church, school, charitable institution, gaol, or military barracks. All saloons existing in these areas in 1902 were ordered to be closed within three years. In 1911 an Anti-Alcoholic League was established at Santiago by Admiral Arturo Fernandez Vial, of the Chilian Navy. At the inaugural meeting the Admiral declared himself convinced that “ Prohibition is the law that must be adopted against the liquor traffic, if the evils are ever to be suppressed.” Many leading medical men and others are joining in the move- ment against the liquor traffic. Columbia. — While an energetic effort is being made to counteract the evils of the liquor traffic, the United States Brewery Company have erected a large brewery at Colombia. The opening of the Panama Canal is the excuse for this exten- sion of the brewery plant. While it may not be fully carried out as extensively reported in the public press, that during the con- struction of the Canal, liquor saloons are prohibited, except at Panama and Colon. The following is proof, however, that liquor is not generally sold. The Dean of Hereford, in June, 1911, stated: — “ I have just returned from a trip to the West Indies and ” Panama, and in regard to the latter area, where the great “ Canal is being made, I found they have not only banished the ” mosquito, which is the cause of fever, but strong drink, which “ is the cause of drunkenness. On each side of the Canal for ‘‘ five miles inland, I found there was total Prohibition.” Sir Harry H. Johnston, G.C.M.G., K.C.B., writes on the 6th October, 1911, in reference to his visit to the Canal works : — ” I certainly observed wherever the .American Government ” had direct control and owned the hotels, that Prohibition was ‘‘ enforced. I am a teetotaler myself, but 1 remember that my ‘‘ travelling companion had this prohibition strongly enforced ‘‘ on him when once or twice he asked for a little wine or beer ” If Prohibition is not enforced throughout the Canal zone, 1 ” think it is a grievous pity.” Ecuador. — Practically no check is put upon the liquor traffic except for the purpose of revenue. Native wine is the common drink, but spirits and beer from the United States, and from Europe, are being imported in increasing amounts. The in- habitants are largely Spanish, with a goodly number of abor- iginal Indians and Mestizos. Drunkenness is stated to be growing, especially in the City of Guayaquil, the chief port of the Republic. Missionaries and others are speaking and writing in favour of something drastic being done to stop the further inroad of alcoholism among the people. 303 Paraguay. — While we are told that this Republic “ stands at the threshold of an age of newer and greater things,” the curse of the liquor traffic is felt in every direction. By means of the Paraguayan and the Argentine Railways, which now extend from Asuncion to Buenos Aires, liquor is carried into the interior, so that the country is being flooded with it. The Government, while refusing to listen to the appeals for Prohibition, have en- couraged the making of wine and the distillation of spirits, with a view of increasing the revenue of the country. The condition of the people is said to have gone from bad to worse, so that the Government will be compelled to adopt some measures against the traffic before very long. The pity is that so much preventable evil is permitted, before active steps are taken to suppress the cause. The Prohibition Colony of Cosme, established in 1894, by Mr. William Lane and others, still prospers. The people are stated to be all total abstainers, and to enforce thoroughly the laws of the Colony, which prohibit the importation, manufacture and sale of any intoxicant in their midst. Peru. — The Government of Peru places no restrictions upon either the manufacture, importation, or sale of intoxicating liquors, they merely sell, every four years, to the highest bidder, the right to carry on the traffic, and tax those who sell. By this method the Government obtains an annual revenue of over ;:^20o,ooo ($1,000,000) from a population of about 3,500,000, of whom only 500,000 are whites, over 2,000,000 are Indians, and the remainder Spanish Indians, and Negroes, and Asiatics. In spite of its inexhaustable wealth, and its superior climate, drunkenness and crime are reported to extensively prevail, so that a number of doctors and others are appealing to the legis- lature for some drastic reform. The leaders in this reform movement are Dr. Giro Napanga Aguero, Lima, and the Rev. Thomas B. Wood, Chief Templar of the Good Templars of Lima. Uruguay. — In 1911 the Government appointed an Official Commission of Enquiry, to study the evils of the liquor traffic, and advise how best to limit the pernicious effects of alcoholism. A large amount of evidence has been taken, and the report of the Commission is anticipated with much interest. The medical men are taking up the question, several advocating the entire prohibition of the traffic. Dr. Bernard Etchepare, Dr. Jose Salgado, and Dr. Scoseria, are leaders in the agitation. The W.W.C.T.U. and the Y.M.C.A. are also taking a leading part in the fight, for ‘‘ A Sober LTuguay. ” A great Anti-.AlcohoIic Congress was recently held at Montevideo, and the speeches of 304 the principal doctors have been printed and are being widelv circulated. Mrs. Coates, of Montevideo, states : — “ These Latin people have been so accustomed to the “ habitual use of wine that it is difficult to break them from it. “We, however, incessantly place before them the benefits of “ Temperance and the evils of alcoholic indulgence, and have “ been rewarded by support in the highest circles of the State, “ notably with the Government, Police, and Legislative Authori- “ ties. ’’ Mrs. Carrie van Domselaar, President of the Uruguay W. W.C.T.U., writing on February 7th, 1913, states: — “ The Government is beginning to awaken to the importance “ of at least limiting the number of drinking houses (Dispachos “ de Bebidas). Dr. Etchepare, who has made the study of in- “ sanity a speciality, has done, and is still doing, a great deal to “ awaken a sentiment toward Prohibition. Our Union is work- “ ing all the time, but it cannot have much influence with the “ Government as yet, although petitions are sent to the Chamber “ whenever the subject is to be discussed. Our hope is in the “ children who are receiving instruction ; as they take their place “ in the world it cannot fail to have great effect.” \’enezuela. — T here are a large number of distilleries dis- tributed throughout the Republic of \'^enezuela, producing, it is reported, a vile concoction of spirits which causes a terrible amount of drunkenness. All appeals to the Government for suppression of these distilleries have so far been in vain. The Government impose a State tax upon these distillers which pro- duces about ;^20,ooo ($100,000) per year. In addition to the State tax there is a municipal tax and a licence fee. Rum is the common drink, but gin and brandy are also extensively used. Beers are almost unknown. A number of so-called “ low drink- places are run by the Chinese, where rum and other intoxicating concoctions are sold to the poorer classes, which it is conceded are ruinous to those who use them,” PART V AUSTRALASIA I Reductioa by popular vote. CHAPTER I The Commonwealth of Australia “ In the face of modern medical science, it is strang-e, passing' strange, that men and women should spend such vast sums of money in intoxicants. There is warfare ag'ainst microbes and various forms of disease, yet people court weakness by the daily use of alcohol. A man once on the down grade may at last join the criminal classes, and become a serious trouble and ex- pense to society. A woman made a widow by drink may, with her children, have a bitter struggle with poverty for a decade. These things ought to be a trumpet call to action to all true-hearted men and women, to work for a complete reform. I venture to predict that a national, a scientific view, will in time prevail, and the expenditure in alcoholic liquors will fall to compara- tively tiny proportions .” — Archdeacon Boyce, Sydney {1913). The Commonwealth of Australia was established in 1900, and consists of the six States — New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia, with a seventh, the prospective new State of Northern Australia. The evils of the liquor traffic and the benefits of Prohibition, have repeatedly been brought before the Commonwealth Parlia- ment, and in almost every instance the members have decided against the traffic. The difficulty of deciding upon a Federal Capital was at last settled by the determination to establish a new Capital which should be free from the liquor traffic. The liquor evil has a foot- ing in every city and town of any importance in the Common- wealth and this fact was one of the strong arguments against making either of the existing cities or towns the new Capital of the Commonwealth. The liquor interests were greatly incensed against Members of Parliament who supported the building of an entirely new city, similar to Washington, where the Federal Par- liament and all the central Government offices would be estab- lished, and at the General Election exerted their influence in vain tO' defeat those who supported the New' Capital. The Labour Party was successful in the contest, in 1910, and Mr. Andrew Fisher, a personal abstainer, was called to the position of Prime Minister. His Government and party consisted largely of total abstainers, so that w'hen it was decided to call for plans for the laying out of the new Capital, Yass Camberra, the Government decided that no liquor licences should be issued for the city. It 308 is not expected that the defeat of the Fisher Government at the elections in 1913 will alter the policy thus adopted. During the existence of the Labour Government very many important administrative reforms were effected. The liquor traffic was prohibited from sending liquor through the post ; water was used by Lady Denman in the christening ceremony in launching the Australian capital ; the liquor canteens were prohibited in connection with all military camps of training; liquor saloons were prohibited from being opened, or liquor sold from Govern- ment stores, in connection with the construction of the great Trans-Australian Railway. The Government promised if again returned to power the}’ would secure the enactment of the Initia- tive and Referendum Law under the provisions of which the people would have power to decide that legislation should be adopted to deal with the liquor traffic, even up to Prohibition. The Government were also pledged to pass a Measure giving the residents of the Northern Territory, as soon as the new State be- comes establish, power to prohibit the sale of intoxicating liquors altogether. The defeat of the Labour Government only means the delay of a few years in the adoption of these and many other drastic proposals dealing with the liquor traffic. In reference to the Prohibition of the Liquor Canteens con- nected with the Training Camps, Senator G. F. Pearce, the Minister of Defence, in the Fisher Government, in an interA’ievv published in the Sydney Star, .A.pril, 1913, says : — “ I was not in favour of the prohibition and at the present “ time I am in a state of suspended judgment. When the Bill “ was introduced, I opposed it. I voted against it. I did not “ make the Act, but I have to administer it. 1 thought at the “ time that if the canteens were abolished, the men would get “ the liquor surreptitiously. I have asked all the brigadiers to “ furnish me with a report as to how the system worked right “ throughout the Commonwealth. “ I have been informed that there has been a total absence “ of crime during the camps. I don’t know what caused it, but “it is a reasonable supposition that the lack of opportunities “ for obtaining drink must have had something to do with it. “ I believe that a hardened toper might walk a mile or so to “ obtain his liquor, but I also tbink that the young lads who were “ in camp for the first time were not exposed to temptations which “ would have existed there had the customary canteens been “ allowed. The fact that the soldiers go into the towns and “ obtain drink does not affect the situation at all. for, if this “ prohibition has been a success, it will not be a difficult matter “ to have a short Act passed making it an offence to sell liquor to ‘ ‘ the trainees, ’’ 30P Under the authority of the Australian Commerce Act, Mr. F. G. Tudor, Minister for Trade and Customs, had a new regula- tion drafted which came into operation on May ist, igio. The Acting Controller-General of Commerce and all State Collectors are instructed that — “ Schnapps and other spirituous liquors, upon which ex- “ travagant and misleading statements appear on the labels as ‘‘ to the medicinal and curative properties of the liquor, are not “to be admitted until such misleading and extravagant state- “ ments or claims have been eliminated from the labels, “ wrappers, etc. ’’ A number of labour troubles have occurred in various parts of Australia, and the liquor problem — as in the great Swedish strike and the Liverpool strike — has had to be dealt with. In Brisbane, during the great strike of January and February, 1912, the authorities ordered the closing of all liquor saloons as follows ; — From February 1st to 7th the saloons were closed altogether. From February 8th to nth they were closed except from mid-day to 3 p.m. ; from February 12th to igth, they were open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. ; and afterwards they were open during the usual hours. The following are the number of con- victions for drunkenness during these weeks : — Week previous to W'eek ol Three hours Twelve hours First week ot entire closing^. Prohibition. of sale. of sale. full time. 50 5 6 40 67 .After the strike the Medical Superintendent of the General Hospital of Brisbane made the following statement ; — “ The closing of the liquor bars was to the advantage of the “ hospital. Tlie refractory ward, which has been occupied for “ months past, w'as entirely out of commission until the hotels “were re-opened.’’ Temperance teaching in the public schools of .Australia has been generally adopted by each of the State Parliaments. Several of the Ministers of Education have endeavoured to secure the best training of the young in the principles of total abstinence. Mr. VV. F. Finlayson, M.P., who has done so much in the Federal Parliament to advance Temperance legislation, was entertained to luncheon in February, 1913, at which the Mayor of Perth (Mr. J. H. Prowse) presided, supported by a large number of the leading Temperance reformers of Australia. Mr. Finlayson was thanked for his efforts to prohibit the sale of liquor in the Federal Parliament buildings; the sale of liquor in connection with the construction of the Trans-Australian railway, and for voicing the opposition of the Commonwealth to the sale of 310 intoxicating liquors in the new Capital City. Mr. Finlayson, in his reply, said : — ‘ ‘ 1 am more than ever convinced that it is necessary to give “ the Federal Parliament absolute control of liquor legislation. “ At the present time there are six States dealing in a different “ way with this vicious traffic. The liquor traffickers and their “ friends oppose Federal control because it is so much more easy “ to influence local Parliaments than it would be the Federal “ Parliament. The failure to secure just liquor laws from the “ State Parliaments will be readily admitted, and justified an “ appeal to the National Parliament. If I were a Member of a “ State Parliament I would urge the transfer of the power to deal “ with the liquor traffic on grounds of economy. The Federal “ authorities control the Custom and Excise revenue received “ from the liquor imported and manufactured, while the States “ carry the burden of the police, criminal courts, judges, magis- “ trates, gaols, lunatic asylums, etc., rendered largely necessary “ by the sale of liquor, and the deal is by no means fair. I am ‘ ‘ strongly opposed to State-owned hotels, and to any system of “ nationalisation, and have no hesitation in saying that such “ proposals would find no favour with either the Federal Govern- “ ment, the majority of whose members are total abstainers, or “ with the members of the Federal Parliament. The liquor “ dealers have no geographical limitations, their defence organ- “ isations are nationalised, and the Temperance forces will do “ well to federalise their efforts for the coming fight. In each “ State the Temperance and Christian vote must be organised so “ that it can be cast, not only in favour of prohibitory legislation, “ but against any party or men who refuse to allow the people, “by a simple majority vote, to decide this great question for ‘ ‘ themselves. ’’ Papua, or New Guinea, having been brought under the authority of the Commonwealth, the Federal Parliament in 1909 gave the whole white population, male and female, local and colonial option, a majority vote being able to secure the entire prohibition of the liquor traffic. This is stated to be the most up-to-date local option legislation yet secured in any British Colony. CHAPTER II The Australian States “ Research had shown that a person who was a chronic consumer of alcohol was less able to stand disease than was a person who did not take alcohol. I believe that if the Federal authorities would take over Cape Barren Island, and make it a prohibition area, to which all persons who desired to g-et away from intoxicating liquors could go, and also those persons who were habitual drunkards could be sent, a great step would be made toward arriving at a solution of the difficulty. They should also make it the main part of their work to educate the young in Temperance principles,” — y. .S. Purdy, M.D., Chief Officer of Health for the Stale of Tasmania (1912). Frotn the time when responsible Government was placed upon the shoulders of the people of these States, until now, there has been a long and continuous struggle with the liquor traffic. The traffickers have opposed with all their might any recogition of the right of the people to regulate, reduce or suppress the liquor saloon, and it has only been after prolonged agitation that the State Parliaments have conceded this right. New South Wales has a full veto power ; and the other States have power to reduce the number, or to prevent the opening of new places for the sale of intoxicating liquors. Although no great victory can yet be recorded in either of the States the fight is still on and will be continued until the traffic is destroyed. New South Wales. — At the general election for the State Parliament in 1903, Mr. J. H. Carruthers, M. P. , Leader of the Opposition, promised that if elected with a fair majority, he would introduce a Measure giving the people the direct popular veto over the liquor traffic. A most strenuous campaign was entered upon and the State witnessed the greatest struggle ever waged in its history. The result was a great victory for Temper- ance. It was the first election in which the women had the right tO' vote, and it is estimated that a very large percentage gave their votes to Mr. Carruthers or his supporters. The Gov- ernment being defeated, resigned and Mr. Carruthers was ap- pointed Prime Minister. He formed his Government and intro- duced his liquor reform bill, which after a strenuous fight was carried through the Representative Assembly by large majori- ties. When the measure reached the Council a demand was 312 made for Compensation if liquor saloons were closed by means oi the popular veto. After a severe struggle the bill was passed by a majority of one vote only, and that without any kind of com- pensation. The new law came into force on Januarj' ist, 1906. Tlie Act closes all liquor saloons on Sundays and on all Parliamentary Election days. It prohibits the employment of barmaids under 21 years of age, and no young person of either sex, under 17 years of age, is permitted to enter a liquor bar. It penalises a parent who sends a child under 14 years of age for liquor. It strengthens the law preventing the sale of alcoholic liquors to Aborigines and other coloured people. It prohibits any liquor seller having more than one bar except by permission and the payment of an extra fee. This was adopted with a view to closing a number of immoral private bars. It abolishes all bogus clubs, and brings under regulation all other clubs where liquor is sold. A number of other regulations were passed to assist the Law Courts to better enforce the law. The Act provides for full local option, the principal clauses may be summarised as follows : — On the day of any General Election, unless 18 months have not intervened, a vote on the liquor question shall take place. All men and women who are electors are entitled to vote. The three questions submitted to each voter are as follows : — i For or against the continuance of the liquor traffic; 2 For or against a reduction of the number of saloons ; 3 For or against no-licence. If continuance be car- ried all persons licensed to sell intoxicating liquors in the electo- rate are able to continue to do so as before. If reduction be carried, a special court, consisting of a judge and two chairmen of licensing benches, decide which liquor saloons shall be closed. Under ordinar}' circumstances the reduction would be from 12 to 25 per cent., but where there are more than 36 licences the discretion appears to be wider. If no-licence is carried, no liquor can be sold either in an hotel, wine shop or club. While the brewery is not closed the brewer is not permitted to sell to any one in the no-licence electo- rate. A chemist may sell liquor only on the production of a medical certificate. After a no-licence resolution has been adopted, a poll can be taken at the next General Election for a restoration of liquor saloons. Either for no-licence or for res- toration a three-fifths majority is required, together with a vote of 30 per cent. , of the electorate. A bare majority Is sufficient to secure a reduction or a continuance of the traffic. The first contest under the Act took place on September 10, 1907, and was preceded by a most vigorous campaign. The 313 whole State was well organised by both parties, and although the Temperance friends failed to carry any electorate for no-licence, in 13 electorates majorities were given in favour of no-licence, but not the three-fifths majority required. In no less than 65 out of the 90 electorates, Reduction was carried, and a large number of saloons were closed. The voting resulted as follows : Continuance Reduction No-Licence 210,371 74»72i 178,600 The second contest took place on Oct. 14th, 1910, and again no electorate polled sufficient majority to carry no-licence. In ten electorates majorities were given in favour of no-licence, but not the three-fifths majority required. Only 14 electorates car- ried Reduction, each of which had carried reduction in 1907. A careful study of the figures shows what a tremendous handi- cap the three-fifths majority added to the 30 per cent, poll has been to the Temperance workers in all parts of the State. The educational influence of the contest was stated to have been of enormous good in the interest of sobriety. The result of the voting was as follows : — Continuance Reduction No-Licence 3^5.963 38.689 212,840 It will be seen from the foregoing figures that while the prohibitionists secured an increase of 40,213 on the 1907 poll, the liquor traffic secured an increase of no less than 117,454. The contest was remarkable as showing the largest number of voters — 584,823— that have ever taken part in a no-licence contest in British history. The Rev. Archdeacon Boyce, President of the no-licence organisation, writing after the contest, stated : — “ The battle was strenuously fought on both sides. The “continuance votes cost the brewers and publicans about 5/6 “each ($1.32) as they spent about ;£.'90,ooo ($450,000). The “ General Election was on the same day, but in many electorates “ the Local Option issue quite overshadowed it in public inter- “ est. The Temperance people worked splendidly in the cam- paign and some fifty or sixty liquor licences will be cut off by “ the reduction vote. ffTe dishonourable tactics of ‘ The Trade ’ “ in the fight, revealed chiefly in the last two days — wffien it was “ too late for us to answer effectively — ^wdll permanently injure “ their cause in this country.’’ The third contest is to take place in September, 1913, just as this book is passing through the printers’ hands. News from the State shows that a great fight is being again waged between the liquor traffic and the Temperance people, the latter being hopeful that at least a large number of places will be carried for Reduction. 314 Queensland. — The State Licensing Law, adopted in 1885, which conceded the principle of local option, was greatly altered and amended in 1912. By the new Act it has been arranged that the old system of local option shall continue until the end of 1915. Under this law no new licence shall be granted unless or until at a Local Option poll such has been decided by a majority of the electors. In 1915 it will be necessary to secure a majority of three-fifths before any new licences can be issued. Until 1915 a tenth of the ratepayers in any ward or municipality, division, or shire, may demand a poll for reduction or for Prohibition. To carry reduction a simple majority is sufficient but to secure Pro- hibition a two-thirds majority must be obtained. .\t the end of 1915 these provisions are abrogated and the new .-\ct comes into force. Under the new Law of 1912 it is enacted that on and after the Senate Election in 1916 a poll of the electors may be held as follows. At each contest up to 1925 the question of reduction can alone be voted upon. In 1916 a vote will be taken for or against the following: — " That the number of licences shall be reduced by one-fourth of the existing number.” In 1919 the question to be voted upon will be : — ‘‘ That the number of licences shall be further reduced by one-fourth of the number existing when Resolution .A was carried.” Three years later (in 1922) a vote may be taken upon the following : — ‘‘ C. That the number of licences shall be further reduced by one-fourth of the number existing when Resolution B was carried.” In each case the poll must be demanded by one-tenth of the electors, and a majority vote will secure the reduction. Three years later (or in 1925), it will be possible to vote on what is called Resolution ‘‘ D,” viz. : — “ That the sale of intoxi- cating liquors shall be prohibited.” To carry this resolution a three-fifths majority will be required and in order to make any poll effective 35 per cent, of those on the register must go to the poll. When this resolution is carried it shall ni t be lawful (whether from outside the area or otherwise) to sell, supply, deliver, barter or otherwise dispose of any intoxicating liquors within the prohibited district. No railway refreshment room or other licence shall be issued, and all licences shall cease at the expiration of the year for which they were granted. If at the commencement of the .Act in any area (i) resolution ‘‘ .A ” has been adopted ; or (2) there are no licences in force, the resolution so in force shall, until revoked, have the same effect as if resolu- tion ‘‘ D ” had been carried, and the provisions of this part of the Act relating to the consequences following upon the adoption of resolution ‘‘ D ” shall be in force. 315 Other sections of the Act prohibit liquor sellers supplying liquor to habitual drunkards, any person apparently under the age of twenty-one, any person who is insane or is reasonably suspected to be insane, whether temporarily or permanently, and any female in any bar or in any room adjacent to a bar which is specially set apart for drinking purposes. A liquor seller is also prohibited from gratuitously supplying any liquor to personal friends or guests in any bar or any room immediately connected with or opening into a bar. All liquor saloons must be closed on Sunday, Christmas Day, Good Friday, during polling hours of any polling day for members to the State or Common- wealth Parliament, or during the day on which a local option vote is being taken. All clubs in which intoxicating liquors are sold must be registered, have at least 8o members within a ten-mile radius of the G.P.O., Brisbane, and 40 elsewhere. The lowest annual subscription must be ;^i ($5). All clubs are subjected to the same laws regarding the sale of liquor as licensed victuallers. Needless to say the Act did not meet with the approval of the Temperance people of Queensland and a determined agitation has been commenced for the repeal of that section which post- pones until 1925, the taking of a vote on Prohibition. The amendments advocated are as follows : — (i) Provision for taking a State Option Votej (2) Triennial polls, automatic and without request, on Prohibition or continuance ; (3) The result of all polls to be decided on a majority vote irrespective of the number of electors voting; and (4) No compensation for licences taken away as the result of any local option poll. South Australia. — By the Licensing Act passed in 1908 it is illegal to supply alcoholic liquors to aboriginal natives or half- castes ; or to persons under sixteen years of age, for the use of other persons, or under eighteen years of age for their own use. No person under sixteen years of age — other than the child of the licensee — is permitted to be in a bar-room and no additional barmaids must be employed after March 31st, 1909. At present South Australia has only the power to secure, by Local Option, a reduction of licences. On July i8th, 1913, a large and influential deputation waited upon the Hon. A. H. Peake, M.P., Prime Minister, with the request that liquor bars be closed the same as ordinary places of business, and that some advanced Temperance legislation be introduced into Parliament at an early date. Mr. J. Smeaton, M. P., introduced the deputation and presented the first portion of a petition signed by 40,000 persons in support of the views of the deputation. Addresses were delivered by Mr. W. J. Rofe (President South Australian Temperance Alliance), Mrs. E. W. 316 Nicholls (President W.C.T.U.), Bishop Wilson, Rev. H. H. Cann (Methodist), Rev. Dr. Davidson (Presbyterian), Rev. D. M'Nicol (Baptist), Rev. A. H. Teece (Congregational), and others. Some strong statements were made in reference to the evils of the liquor traffic and the need for some drastic reforms. Colonel Gain (Commander of the Salvation Army forces in South Australia) made a very forcible speech, in which he said : — “ The great object of the Salvation Army was the saving of “ souls, and so strongly did it view the liquor question that it “ made it a test of membership. He supported the request for " pertinent, powerful, and immediate legislation. Iffie Army ‘ ‘ did not see by any process of reasoning what right the bars “ had for advantages over any other trade, and it could not see “ the utility of the. liquor trade in any form. He would like to “ see it swept away, and they could start by accepting the “ request. The liquor trade should have no place in the State. “ They were not necessary for the accommodation of man or “ beast. The Salvation .Vrmy had Temperance hotels in all “ parts, and these were all congested. Tliat was an argument “ against the need for hotels. Why should temptation be open “ to their young manhood to degrade it instead of helping it to “ become a potent factor in the affairs of the State. They hoped “ that the present Government, the custodians of the sacred ‘‘ rights of the people, would employ all its powers to curtail the “ traffic. The Salvation .Army was always on the side of law “ and order and good citizenship, and all its powers and passions “ and force and faith were ever exercised in trydng to benefit “ humanity in the best interests of the State, and he hoped the “ present Government would help it to that end.” The Premier in his reply stated that in accordance with his pledge at the last General Election he could not give the promise asked for. They must give the Licensing .Act of iqog a fair chance, and until the next election nothing more could be accom- plished, but he assured them that — ‘‘ Every member of the Government had active sympathy ‘‘ with Temperance reform, and for his own part and in behalf ” of the Government, he could tell them that when they went to ” the country they would propound their policy for the next ‘‘ election — it was no use talking to them before then — they ” would propound a policy of Temperance reform which he was ” hopeful would be satisfactory so far as the Temperance people ” generally were concerned, and would help to bring Temperance ” legislation generally up to date.” Much dissatisfaction is felt throughout .South Australia in the ranks of Temperance reformers at the want of action on the part of the Government, and an energetic agitation is going forward in preparation for the next General Election. 317 Tasmania. — Full local option is to come into force on Jan. ist, 1917, in the meantime the people have the power, by a simple majority, to prevent the opening; of any new liquor saloons ; Sunday Closing; and other laws are well enforced. Lec- tures have for many years been given, and lessons allowed, in all the State schools. Victoria. — The licensing laws of Victoria prohibit the sell- ing of liquor to any person under sixteen years of age, and no new licences can be issued unless on a poll there is a three-fifths majority in favour. By this provision many new' districts and towns are growing up in w'hich no liquor shops have yet been opened. By an amendment of the Licensing Act in igo6 the Victorian Parliament remodelled the licensing law's very closely upon those of New' Zealand. On January ist, 1917, the people will have the pow'er by local option to prohibit, reduce or continue the liquor traffic. No-licence w'hen adopted will prevent the sale of intoxicating liquors at hotels and at all other places from the end of the year for which the licence w'as issued. In the meantime a Court has been established, called the Reduction Board, which has power to close surplus liquor saloons, and the Board has been very active in this direction. In six years (1906-1912) no less than 613 liquor saloons were closed. Formerly compensation was paid out of public funds when liquor saloons w'ere closed, but by the new law' a tax, for this purpose, of three per cent., is levied upon the liquor sold. The laws of Victoria state : That aboriginal natives and children under eighteen years of age must not be supplied with intoxicating liquors ; the doors of all liquor bars must be kept locked during the whole of Sunday and prohibited hours ; barmaids under tw'enty-one years of age must not be employed ; concerts and dancing must not be held on licensed premises ; no person directly or through his wife is permitted to have any financial interest in more than one licence ; the licence is liable to forfeiture if the licensee is absent from the premises for more than 28 days ; no liquor can be sold on credit ; the payment of wages and totalisators are prohibited in connection with liquor saloons. Western Australia. — During the 1912 Session of the State Parliament, the Hon. Thomas Walker, on behalf of the Government, introduced a Local Option Bill, which how'ever was so mutilated in Committee that the measure was withdrawn. Mr. James Mather, General Secretary, West Australian .Alliance, writing from Perth, February nth, 1913, says: — “ There are a few points about this Bill of historic interest. “ (i) It is the first Bill presented to an Australian Parliament 318 “ which did not emanate from the avowed friends of the liquor “ traffic. (2) It is the only Bill so presented which recognises “ that a simple majority of votes cast may terminate every kind “ of liquor licence. (3) It is the first attempt in any Parliament “ by the direct recognised representatives of the workers to deal “ legislatively with the traffic which inflicts such cruel wrongs “ upon the working classes. “ We have the assurance of the Premier that the Bill will “ be re-introduced in .August (1913) and that the ‘reduction’ issue “ will be deleted, thereby reducing the issues submitted to the “electors to ‘Licence’ and ‘No-licence.’ These amendments “ are of peculiar interest to those engaged in a life and death “ struggle with the national degradation, and the struggle before “ us is to overcome the opposition to such a measure in the “ Legislative Council.’’ At present the general laws of the State prohibit any female, other than the wife or daughter of the licensee, unless registered prior to 1910, from serving as a barmaid. A bona-fide traveller must have travelled at least ten miles before he can be supplied with liquor during prohibited hours. .A.s the law stands at present local option will come into force in 1921, when a majority of three-fifths will be required to prohibit the liquor saloons. CHAPTER III Papua, and the Pacific Islands “ One thing is beyond all possibility of denial — alcohol is the very worst drink a man can indulge in in Papua. It is directly responsible for more breakdowns than all the diseases put together, and, indirectly, accounts for an enormous percentage of malarial deaths and recurrences. The natives who are universally free from the alcoholic craving call alcoholic liquor, the ‘ silly white man’s medicine.’ ” — Colonel Kenneth Markay, C.B. Chairman of the Australian Royal Commission to Papua (1906). A variety of laws and orders exist among the large number of Islands to be found in the Pacific Ocean. Temperance legisla- tion however, is very little known except in Papua — formerly Bri- tish New Guinea, where there is a very good local option law, which is fairly well adopted and enforced. In most of the other Islands Government orders have been issued for many years pro- hibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors to the natives, and taxing the manufacture, importation and sale of such liquors for revenue purposes. Papua. — When the Commonwealth of Australia was formed, Papua was placed under the Commonwealth Parliament, and a new constitution had to be drafted. The Federal Government pro- posed a clause prohibiting the liquor traffic, but this was changed to one of local option. On this point Mr. W. H. Lee, G.C.T. of the Good Templars, New South Wales, states : — “ Prohibition was knocked out of the constitution of Papua “ at the request of the Missionaries, who gave as a reason that “ they did not want Prohibition forced upon them from without “ but would prefer to settle the liquor question for themselves. “ So the Federal Parliament substituted a clause giving the white “ residents (male and female), local and state option, without “compensation, and on a majority vote. This is the most “ up-to-date measure in any of the States of Australia or New “Zealand.” The Bill passed both Houses of Parliament and Is now the law of the Island. A large number of saloons have been closed by means of this law, but the writer cannot understand why the Mis- sionaries of Papua should have opposed the wise policy of prohi- bition proposed by the Federal Government, in favour of a system 320 of local option, which at its best, is very far from being as satis- factory as the entire prohibition of the liquor traffic. The following statements in reference to the benefits of total abstinence and prohibition, from leading British representatives in Papua, will be read with great interest. Sir William McGregor, K.C.M.G. , Administrator of Papua, in his annual report for 1888, stated : — “ In my experience people that are total abstainers in the “ Colony enjoy better health, and have a lower mortality, than “ those that are not abstainers. There is a widespread popular “ belief that some stimulant is required in the tropics, especially “ by people that have in a cooler climate been accustomed to it. “ This will not stand the test of experience. It is a matter that “ any one, not a total abstainer, can prove for himself in a “ month. I have not known a missionary that was of intemper- “ ate habits; but it is easy to see that the missionary who has “ no alcoholic stimulant with his meals is healthier than he who “ has. The principle applies to all residents in the country, but “it is easier to see in the case of the missionaries than among “ other classes, because their habits and practice are more regu- “ lar and uniform. The missionaries who as a class are total “ abstainers, are the healthier, and stand exposure better than “others. The man who is a total abstainer bears very much “ better the onset of fever than the man who is not; and he is “ also less liable to other diseases.” Tfie Hon. Stanford Smith, .Administrator of Papua in 1912, states : — “ .Another matter in which the interests of the natives are “ studied with greater concern than in most of the newly settled “ countries of the world relates to the use of intoxicating liquors. “ No fermented liquors are made by the natives, and the use of “ imported alcoholic liquors is prohibited. During the twenty- “ two years of British rule, the administration has succeeded in “ maintaining these prohibitory laws. “ In nearly ever}’ country peopled by coloured races, string- “ ent laws have been enacted against supplying intoxicants to “ natives, but in very few hav^e the authorities succeeded in “ preventing the natives from procuring them. “ I believe it can be said that very few if any of the natives “of this territory' have ever tasted any intoxicating liquor, and “ this condition of affairs in the island of Papua is certainly very “creditable to its British administrators.” The Hon. J. Batchelor, Minister for External .Affairs in the .Australian Commonwealth, having had his attention called to the number of Papuans who leave the island for Torres Straits and the Thursday Island Pearl Fishing, and are there .served with intoxicating liquors, has determined no longer to permit these 321 people tO' leave the island to undertake this work. And all per- mits under which even Asiatics have been employed in the Pearl Fishing have been withdrawn since January ist, 1913. Among the reasons given for these important steps being taken are the following “ That reports have been frequently received that such “ natives have obtained intoxicating liquors and acquired the “drinking habit. That such natives on returning to their vil- “ lages are always desirous of obtaining liquor, thus creating a “ danger of such liquors being surreptitiously imported into the “ territory, and consumed by the natives.’’ A great outcry has been raised by those engaged in the sale of alcoholic liquors, and by those engaged in pearling, the one wishing to dispose of their liquor, and the others wanting, of course, cheap black labour. Neither of these parties seem to care for the welfare of the labourers. The Commonwealth Government, and especially the Minister, is to be congratulated upon the stand they have taken, which it is to be hoped they will maintain, so that the Papuans and the Asiatics may be protected from the evil influence of the liquor traffic. Fiji. — The Colony of Fiji consists of some 250 islands in the South Pacific Ocean. Several of these islands are unin- habited, and the total population is only about 150,000, of whom about 90,000 are Fijians, 45,000 Indian immigrants, and 3,734 Europeans, together with some Polynesians and others. When asked by the British Government in 1906 if Local Option was the law of the Colony, the Acting Governor, Hon. Charles Major, replied: “I have to state that there is no law in this Colony giving powers of Local Option.’’ The evils of the liquor traffic are great both among the coloured and white people. Mr. G. Beauclere, a leading Good Templar of Suva, writing in the Fiji Times of September 21st, 1910, draws the attention of the authorities to the danger arising from the growth of the drinking habit in the islands, quoting among other official figures the following, which shows the amount of intoxicating liquors consumed by white and coloured people ; — Year. Whites. 1891. ;C12,466 (162,330). 1901. ;£14,950 (175,050). 1905. 19,574 (197,870). 1909. £26,281 ($131,505). Coloured. £13,334 ($66,670). £26,502 ($132,510). £32,530 ($162,650). £39,960 ($199,808). Totals. £25,800 ($130,000). £41,452 (.$207,260). £52,104 ($260,520). £69,241 (.$346,115). Hawaii. — The Hawaiian, or Sandwich Islands, were an- nexed to the United States in 1897, and organised as a territory in 1900. Owing to the admitted evils of the liquor traffic, an V 322 effort was made in the United States Congress (1909) to secure Prohibition, but in this it was found impossible to secure the agreement of both Houses. It was therefore determined to sub- mit the matter to a popular vote. This vote was taken on July 26th, 1910, resulting in a victory for the liquor traffic. The result was as follows: — For Prohibition, 2,185; against, 7,284; majority against, 5,099. The Temperance friends in the Islands had very little organisation, but they had the great help of the Hon. J. G. Woolley. They have now determined to get a thorough organisation established so as to be better able to fight the liquor traffic at the next contest. Two of the Islands have, however, secured Prohibition, viz., Kauai, with a population in 1910 of 23,744, and Lanai, with a population of 131. The following extract is taken from the Pacific Commercial Advertiser of May 31st, 1910, a morning paper published at Honolulu : — “ With a closer approach now to prohibition than it has “ ever had, Kauai points to its record with pride. That shows “ that Prohibition, so far as cutting out the saloon is concerned, “ is regarded as a good thing in Kauai. “ Hawaii has another Prohibition Island to point to, an “ island where Prohibition prohibits, where the manufacture, “ sale and importation are prohibited, and where it has done and “ is doing good. That is the little island of Lanai. “On Lanai, prohibition prohibits; it has proved itself for “ the good of the whole people of Lanai and the people of Lanai “ know a good thing when they have it. “ Lanai is a little island, with few people on it, but it has “ shown itself big enough to disprove all the theories of the anti- “ prohibitionists.” New Hebrides. — In October, 1906, a Convention was held in London of Representatives of Great Britain and France, with a view to settling the difficulties in reference to the liquor traffic and other matters In the New Hebridean group of islands in the Western Pacific Ocean. The following is the text of the agree- ment which deals with the liquor traffic : — “ Article LIX : (i) From the date when the present Conven- “ tion comes into operation no person shall, in the New Hebrides. “ including the Banks and Torres Island, and within the terrl- “ torial waters of the Group, sell or supply intoxicating liquors “ to the natives in any form and on any pretext whatsoever. “ (2) .'Mcoholic drugs or cordials employed in case of disease or “ sickness are not included in the present prohibition. (3) The “ present Prohibition shall cover spirits, beer, wine, and gener- “ ally all fermented and intoxicating liquors.” 323 Pitcairn. — In 1789 the Mutiny of the “Bounty” took place, and Fletcher Christian, a young man who was one of the leaders, eventually settled with a number of the mutineers on the Pitcairn Island. One of the first enactments adopted by this band of mutineers was the following : — “ No' person or persons shall be allowed to get spirits of any “ sort from any vessel. No intoxicating liquors whatever shall “ be allowed to be taken on shore, unless for medicinal pur- “ poses. ” The Island was visited at various times, when several Captains of British ships reported the progress of this small community living without the use of intoxicating liquors. One officer states : — “ The agility and strength of these natives were so great “ that the stoutest and most expert English sailors were no match “ for them in wrestling and boxing.” Captain Worth, who visited Pitcairn in 1848, states : — “ I never was so gratified as by my visit, and would rather “ have gone there than to any part of the world. They are the “ most interesting, contented, and happy people that can be con- “ ceived. The comfort, peace, strict morality, industry, exces- “ ive cleanliness and neatness apparent about them, were really “such as I was not prepared to witness; their learning and “ attainments in general education and information are astonish- “ ing; the men and women are a fine race, and their manners “are of a really superior order — ever smiling and joyous; but “ one mind and one wish seemed to actuate them all. Crime “appears to be unknown; and if there is really true happiness “ on earth, it is surely theirs. The island is romantic and beauti- “ ful ; the soil of the richest description, yielding almost every “ fruit and vegetable. In short, it is a little Paradise.” The Island has been visited many times since then, and all who go to see the descendants of the mutineers of the “Bounty,” marvel at the order, happiness and prosperity which abounds among the people. The fact is sometimes overlooked that for nearly 125 years Pitcairn Island has been under entire Pro- hibition of the liquor traffic thoroughly enforced. Tutulia. — This is one of the Samoan group of islands, under the authority of the United States, and for several years the sale of intoxicating liquors to the natives has been prohibited. It is stated that the law is fairly well enforced, and one writer states: “The natives being unaccustomed tO' the use of alcohol they are fully content to live without it.” 324 The Society Islands. — In an interesting work entitled “ Malayisa and the Pacific Archipelagoes,” published in 1908, the writers, Messrs. F. H. H. Guillemand, M. D., and A. H. Keane, LL.B., state; — ‘‘ One chief cause, probably, of the decreasing numbers of ‘‘ these people is the prevalence of the habits of intoxication, in ‘‘ which they indulge as a substitute for the dance and song and ‘‘ varied amusements so injudiciously forbidden by the mission- ” aries. A recent French traveller, M. Jules Gamier, informs us ‘‘ that the Tahitians now seek the more sensual pleasure of in- ” toxication, unenlivened by the social enjoyments of their ‘‘ ancient festivals. Most fatal gift of all, they have been taught ‘‘ to ferment the juice of the orange, so abundant and delicious ” in their island home, and thus produce a liquor with which to ‘‘ obtain the pleasures and the penalties of intoxication, which “ men, women and children alike enjoy and suffer. The orange ” has been for these people as the forbidden fruit of the garden ‘‘ of Eden — the tree of good and of evil.” Western Pacific. — For many years the British Govern- ment has prohibited the sale of intoxicating liquors to the natives in all the Western Pacific Islands not within the limits of the Colonies of Fiji, Australia, or Papua. As far back as 1888 a Regulation to that effect was issued throughout the following Islands: Friendly, Navigators, Union, Phoenix, Ellice, Gilbert, Solomon, New Hebrides, Santa Cruz, etc., in which it was declared : — ‘‘ If any British subject in the Western Pacific sells or ‘‘gives or otherwise supplies either directly or indirectly any ‘‘ native of any island or place within the Western Pacific Islands “ any intoxicating liquors he shall on conviction thereof be ‘‘liable to punishment as follows: — (i) Imprisonment for any ‘‘ term not exceeding three months, with or without hard ‘‘ labour, and with or without a fine not exceeding ;^io ($50); or ‘‘ (2) A fine alone not exceeding ;^io ($50). ‘ Native ’ shall ‘‘ mean and include in its reference every person in the Western ‘‘ Pacific not of European descent. ‘ Intoxicating liquors ’ shall ‘‘ include all spirituous compounds, and all fermented liquor and ‘‘ any mixture or preparation containing any drug capable of “ producing intoxication.” CHAPTER IV The Dominion of New Zealand “ Local Option is only a stepping-stone and an educational movement, and the duty of the men and women of New Zealand is to get hold of the Ifiquor traffic and strangle it by carrying the national prohibition of the importation, manufacture, and sale of alcoholic liquor. The liquor traffic is almost as insolent in its pride to-day as it was fifteen years ago. Its wealth is increasing daily. Its political power is almost as great as ever. Why should we keep our Christianity outside the sphere of practical politics ? The open liquor saloon is more potent than the school, the Church, and the home combined, , If they want to get hold of the boys and make them good citizens they must prohibit the liquor traffic. • No doubt there are other urgent reforms needing settlement, but the evils of the liquor traffic are so enormous that they must be removed if the other necessary reforms are to be effective. The one great crime for men and women in the face of these evils is apathy and indifference ." — Tom E, Taylor, M.P., Mayor of Christ- church, N.Z. { 1910 ). The Dominion of New Zealand was the first of the Colonies in Australasia to adopt the principle of a popular vote over the issue or renewal of licences for the sale of intoxicating liquors. The first poll was held in 1894, when 48,993 voted for no-licence, and over 100,000 in favour of the liquor traffic. So many defects were found in the Local Option Act, that the New Zealand Par- liament in 1894 made some very radical changes, giving a vote to every adult (male and female), and arranging for a poll to be taken in connection with every General Election for Members to the Dominion Parliament. Under the new law five great struggles took place, resulting in a steady increase in the vote for no-licence, until (in 1908) there was a clear majority of 33,331 against the liquor traffic. The voting at each of these contests was as follows : — Year. Continuance. Reduction. No- Licence. 1896 139.580 94.555 98,312 1899 143,962 109.449 120,542 1902 148,449 132,249 151.524 1905 182,884 151.057 198,765 1908 118,140 162,562 221,471 It will be seen from these figures that in the first twO' con- tests the liquor traffic had a majority of 41,268 in 1896, and 23,420 in 1899. The majorities then changed in favour of no-licence. In 1902 it was 3,075, in 1905 it had increased to 15,881 and in 1908 to 33,331. In 48 districts a clear majority was given in 326 favour of no-licence but under the three-fifths rule the liquor traffic continued. In 12 districts no-licence was carried by the three-fifths majority and the liquor saloons closed. In only 16 out of the 76 districts were the liquor traffickers able to secure a majority in their favour. In 1909 a great demand was made to the Dominion Government in favour of a poll being permitted for National Prohibition, and in 1910 a Measure was passed through the Dominion Parliament which repealed the old local option Act and the Reduction Clauses. The new Act decided that two ballot papers should be given to each voter, one for or against continuance, or national prohibition, and the other, for or against continuance, or no-licence. The first contest was fixed to take place at the 1911 general election. To carry either National Prohibition or no-licence 60 per cent., of those who vote must be in favour. If Prohibition is carried a time notice of four years is given to the liquor traffic before the saloons will be closed. When Prohibition goes into force it will be illegal for any person “ to import, make, have, or sell alco- holic liquors, except for scientific, industrial, medicinal or sacra- mental purposes.” When no-licence is carried it goes into force at once and all liquor saloons in that district have to close at the end of the licence year. In neither case is there any financial compensation given. By the new law it was made illegal for any one under 21 years of age to purchase liquor at a licensed liquor bar. The employ- ment of barmaids was prohibited, except in the case of those already employed and registered. The attempt to permit liquor saloons being placed in the prohibited area, ‘‘The King’s Country,” in which the Maoris live, was so strongly opposed that the proposal was abandoned. The first contest for National Prohibition and Local no- licence under the new law took place in November, 1911. The result was most gratifying to the Temperance party, although owing to the great handicap of the three-fifths requirement neither National Prohibition nor any additional places were carried for >no 4 icence. Out of 76 districts no less than 67 gave a majority in favour of National Prohibition, and only nine were in favour of the liquor traffic. The total poll was as follows : — Total National Prohibition. Majorit)' Districts. Electorate. For. Ag-ainst. For. For. Against. 590,042 259,943 205,661 54.-S2 67 9 While the poll showed a clear majority of 54,282 in favour of National Prohibition, overwhelming as it was, it was 4.17 per 327 cent., short of the required majority of 6o per cent., fixed by the Act. It is, however, gratifying to know that no less than 55.83 per cent., of the electors voted against the liquor traffic, and in favour of National Prohibition. It is also very satisfactory to note from the returns that in each of the No-Licence districts (with the single exception of Ashburton, where the boundaries had been altered), a consider- able majority was given in favour of Prohibition, showing that the people, after several years’ trial of Prohibition, were satisfied with the results and would have extended it to the whole country. The vote in the 12 no-licence areas was as follows ; — Electorate Total National Prohibition Majority District No. of Electors For Against For Against Ashburton 7,084 2,795 2,986 191 Bruce 6,633 3.069 2,421 648 Cluth 6,235 2,742 2,019 723 iiden 8,150 4.384 2,074 2,310 Grey Lynn 8>536 4.782 1.978 2,804 Invercargill 8,643 3.941 3,220 721 Masterton 7,292 3.062 2.764 298 Mataura 6,627 2,888 2,320 568 Oamaru ... 7,194 3.365 2,760 605 Ohinemuri 7.413 3.266 2,687 579 Wellington South 9,067 4.189 2,774 1,415 Wellington Suburbs 7,432 3.374 2,460 914 Totals 90,306 41.857 30,463 11.585 191 It is often stated that while the population of rural areas might vote for Prohibition, a majority of the people in urban areas would never support such a drastic method of dealing with the liquor traffic. There are many large centres of population in various countries where the people have suppressed the sale of intoxicating liquors, and each of the large cities of New Zealand voted by substantial majorities in favour of Prohibition. Similar majorities were also cast against the liquor traffic at the two pre- vious no-licence contests. The vote cast for and against National Prohibition in November, 1911, was as follows : — City. Total No. of Voters. National Prohibition. For. Against. Majority For. Auckland ... 28,545 11,283 10,297 986 Christchurch ... ... 27,763 12,268 10,668 1,600 Dunedin ... 38,111 17,841 13.484 4.357 W ellington ■■■ 48,153 18,806 16,320 2,486 Totals ...142,572 60, 198 50,769 9.429 328 In the vote for National Prohibition the following electorates secured the 6o per cent. , in favour of Prohibition, but owing to there being twO' ballot papers and the issue thereby confused, local no-licence was not secured : — Electorate. Per cent. Buller 61.11 Eden 67.88 Egrnont 64 45 Grey Lynn 70.73 Electorate. Per cent. Marsden 61.52 Oroua 60.40 Patea 62,35 Port Chalmers 61.63 Welling-ton South 60.16 Electorate Per cent. Raglan 63.04 Stratford 60.82 Taranaki 60.79 Waikato 61.51 Statements having been made that intoxicating liquor “is poured into the Prohibition areas in abundance, with little, if indeed, any abatement,’’ Sir Joseph Ward, M.P., Prime Min- ister of New Zealand, was requested to secure a return showing the amount of liquor sent into no-licence districts. This return, together with a full return showing the total consumption of liquor in the licensed district, was laid upon the table of the New Zealand Parliament on Oct. yth, igio, being for the year ending June 30th, 1910, and was as follows : — Liquor sent into Per head. Per adult. Per lamil)-. Licence districts ... 12 gallons 22.7 gallons 60 gallons. No-licence districts ... 2.1 ,, 3.5 ,, 10.5 ,, The Otago Daily Times, in a leading article of March 17th, 1911, said in reference to this return : — “ After all the return laid before Parliament last session, “ and now printed as a State paper .... made it clear that the “ disclosed consumption per head in those no-licence districts is “only a fraction of the average consumption per head of the “ whole Dominion.’’ The Dominion drink bill amounted in 1910 to ;^3 13s. id. ($17) per head, but the return showed that in licence districts it was ;^4 3s. ($20) while in the no-licence districts it was only i6s. 6d. ($4). New Zealand having shown that it wanted Prohibition but had been robbed of it by unfair conditions the Temperance party have determined to fight for an alteration of the law in favour of a bare majority to settle the liquor question as it settles all other questions in the Dominion. In June, 1912, a very large and influential deputation waited upon the then Prime Minister, Mr. J. Mackenzie, M.P., being introduced by Mr. L. M. Isitt, M.P. Seventy electorates were represented. Rev. J. W. Comrie (Wellington) said that they repre- sented the party that polled 250,000 votes for National Prohibi- tion at the last election. Having grown steadily during twenty- five years, the Alliance had now a majority of 53,000 voters in the 329 Dominion as a whole, and a majority of votes cast in 67 electo- rates out of 76 electorates at last election. They asked that the licensing law provision which required that 60 per cent, of votes should be cast in favour of Local Option or National Prohibition should be repealed, and that a bare majority should be made suffi- cient to secure the determination of licences or the restoration of licences, as the case might be. They also asked that the period of four years which must elapse under existing law before National Prohibition would come into operation should be con- siderably reduced. Mr. W. J. Speight (Auckland) said that the deputation repre- sented every part of the Dominion, and people who were members of no party. They felt that they were speaking on behalf of a majority of voters in the Dominion. They represented no- party, but the gradual trend of thought with members of the Alliance was that unless the existing parties met the desires of the Al- liance, it would be necessary to form an entirely distinct party, and sacrifice the existing parties. It had been said that the anti- liquor agitation was a disturbing influence in politics. This was true, and the disturbance would continue until the reforms advo- cated by the Alliance had been carried into effect. Mr. Speight strongly championed the bare majority proposal, contending that it was wrong to adopt any other method in a referendum than that used in electing members of Parliament. The Alliance would be a disturbing influence in politics until it received the meed of jus- tice it was asking for — and equal value for every vote. They claimed this as a democratic right. Whether the present Ministry or any other helped them, they would proceed and see this thing through to the end. Mr. Mackenzie (the Prime Minister) replied that the Cabinet had decided that licensing legislation would not be dealt with at present. Personally he was against a bare majority settling such an important question. A few weeks later the Government were defeated and a new Government formed under the Premiership of the Hon. F. W. Massey, M.P., to whom the Temperance party appealed in vain for justice and fair play. A Bill to remove the inequality of the three-fifths majority was introduced by a private Member, but was defeated by a majority of ten votes. The Temperance Party, after mature consideration, deter- mined to organise in preparation for the next General Election, which takes place in 1914, and the following pledge is being extensively signed by electors throughout the country : — 330 “ I hereby give my pledge that, regardless of Party, I will “ not at the next election vote for any candidate for Parliament “ who will not undertake, if elected, to do his utmost to remove “ or at least substantially reduce the present unfair handicap on “ both the issues of No-licence and National Prohibition.” The Committee of the New Zealand Alliance, in their Annual Report for 1912-13, protest most emphatically against the necessity of the sober community being handicapped by the three-fifths majority, and state : — ‘‘ The people are staggered when the truth comes home to ” them that we have for twenty years had a fifty per cent, handi- ‘‘ cap on our vote, and, when they realise that although 71 of ‘‘ the 76 electorates have during those years each had a majority ‘‘ vote against the liquor traffic, some of them several times, ” we have had an effective vote in only 12 of the 76. When it ‘‘ is pointed out to them that we had a majority of over 3,000 in ‘‘ 1902, 15,000 in 1905, 33,000 in 1908, and 54,000 in 1911, and ” that the traffic exists on a 44.18 per cent, as against a 55.82 ” per cent, vote, they declare that it is time not only to protest ‘ ‘ but to act. ” The Committee therefore appeal to the people to rise against this injustice, concluding as follows : — ‘‘ We are satisfied that we have in the Democratic Vote ” Campaign not only a method but the master-method for secur- ‘‘ ing justice at the ballot-box. If men will vote as they pray, ‘‘ vote as they love, vote as they desire in their best moments, ‘‘ vote as for God, Home, and Humanity, then we are near the ” end of the liquor traffic in New Zealand, and justice to the ‘‘ dead and protection for the living demand that it shall die ‘‘ soon. ” Index PAGE Aarrestad, Ex-Minister 57 Aarseth, Ivar Th 60 Aasen, Ivar 60 Abbey, John 221, 238 Aboriginal Natives 312, 315, 317 Absinthe Prohibition 110, 115, 129 Abyssinia 215 Adamson, Sir Harvey 183 "Affsecles Union" 82 Africa 14, 203, 205, 206, 207 Aftonpost 216 Age Limit 74, 98, 134, 189, 256, 297, 301, 312, 315, 317, 326 Aguero, Dr. Giro 303 Alabama 269, 270, 287 Albricias, Rev. F 124 Alberta 263 Alcoholic Commission (S.A.) ... 246, 247, 248 Alcoholic Commission (Budapest) 104 Alden, M.P., Percy 104 Alexander, Crown Prince (Servia) ... 143 Algeciras Conference 213, 214 Algeria 209, 210 Alkoholmerkblatt 90 All-India Temperance Conference 179 Alsace-Lorraine 86, 90 Amaldi, Dr 132 America 189, 249 American Civil War 269 American Temperance Society 268 Ando, Taro 187 Andrado, Jesuit Antonio 185 Andresson, Rev. M 50 Anglo-Indian Temperance Association... 168 Angola 232, 233 Annam 184 Anti-Alcoholic Congress ... 14, 19, 78, 95, 96, 112, 132 Anti-Alcoholic League 120, 302 Anti-Canteen Law 272 Anti-Saloon League (U.S.A.) 246, 268 Antisdel, Rev. C. B 224 Antwerp 113 Arabia and Arabians 4, 147, 148 Arangalovitch, M 143 Aranjo, Rev. Carlos 124 Araujo, Don M. E 23 Argentine 299 Arizona 291 Arkansas 287 Army and Navy ...30, 54, 72, 78, 84, 96,98, 103, 267, 272, 279, 301 Artizans' Labour General Dwellings Co. 32 Arullani, Dr 134 Ashantee 226 Asia 145, 147, 150, 151, 179 Asquith, Mr. H. H 34, 35 Atlanta 270 Australia 12, 13, 14, 23, 196 Australian Commonwealth 305, 307, 308, 309 Australian Federal Capitol 307-510 Australian States, The 311 Austria 94, 95, 97, 129 Austria-Hungary 22, 94, 203 Austria Silesia 94 Austrian Poland 106, 107 Azcarate, Don J 122 Bahamas 297 Baker, Rev. P. A 279 Baldwin, Theo. College 154 Balkan States 139, 140 PAGE Baltic Provinces 81, 82 Band of Hope Movement 14 Banks Island 322 Barakut, Madam 150 Barmaids 123, 196, 312, 315, 317, 318 Barrett, Samuel 218 Basutoland 217 Batchelor, Hon. 1 320 Bauer, Dr. Otto 89 Bauerjee, Sir G 164 Bavaria 90, 140 Beauclere, G 321 Bechuanaland 218 Beecher, Dr. Lyman 38, 268 Beer Bill (1830) 28 Belgium 21, 40, 110, 112, 113, 114, 115, 203, 205 Belgrade, University of 143 Belsay, Prohibition in 32 Bengal 163, 164, 165, 170 Bennett, E. N 136, 137, 138 Bentham, Jeremy ig Bergen 57, 60 Bertillon, Dr 116, 118 Besant, Mrs. A 195 Bhattacharya, A 179 Bill of Rights 8 Bjorkman, A 61 Bjornsson, Dr 50 “Black Peril,” The 242, 246 Blue Cross Association 89, 120, 127 Bolag 59, 61, 66, 67 Bolani, Prohibition in 32 Bolivia 300 Bombay 163, 164, 165, 167, 170, 196 Bonner, Miss 99 Bosnia 99, 143 Boston, Mass 13 Botha, General 23 "Bounty” Mutiny 323 Bourgeois, M 118 Boyce, Rev. Archdeacon 307, 313 Boyes, C. E 218 Brahmins 3^ 16I Bratt, Dr. Ivan ’ 63 Brazil 300 Brend, Pastor A 45 Briand, M 116 Bright, John 33 Brisbane Hospital 309 Brissolali, Signor 134 British Columbia 254, 263 British East Africa 216 British Guiana 300 British Isles 12, 31 British North America 251 British West Africa 206 Broad, Miss Lucy 192 Brubaker, W. A n Brussels 12, 21, 114, 203, 206 Brussels Conference 205, 206 , 208 Brussels General Act 203, 207, 223 Buchanan, W. W 264, 265 Buckingham, J. S 28 Budapest 12, 99, 102, 104 Buddha 4, 141, 161. 171, 180, 184, 187 Buddhists 3, 171, 172, 174, 175, 176, 179, 180, 184 Buenos Aires 303 Bulgaria 140 Bulgarian Temperance Federation 141 Burma ... 163, 171, 179, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184 Burma Gazette 182 Buxton, Chas 31 332 PAGE Cafierata, Dr. J. F 299 Caine, W. S 165, 181 Cairo 212, 213 Calcutta High Court 164, 170, 196 California 291 California Grape Growers’ Union 131 Calred, Dr. D 299 Cambodia 184 Canada 13, 14, 108, 252, 253 Canadian Royal TemyXar 256 Cann, Rev. H. H 316 Canteens 119, 308 Cape Argus 241 Cape Barren Island 311 Cape Colony 236 Cape Parliament 236, 237 Cape Town 23, 236, 242 Cape Verdi Islands 232 Carlyle, Thos 209 Carribean Sea Islands 298 Carruthers, J. H 311 Carteret, Lord 28 Castberg, M 53, 59 Catholic Primate of Belgium 113 Central Africa 215 Central America 295, 297 Central China Post 156 Ceylon 13, 171-179 Ceylon Government Gazette 175 Chai Ryeng 192 Chang, General 159, 160 Channel Islands 39 Chelyshoff, M 76 Chetty, Hon., R.B.P.Th 166 Chili 301 China ... 3, 4, 13, 24, 149, 152-160, 163 186, 196 Chinese 4, 24, 156, 200 Chinese National Opium Prohibition Union 159, 160 Chinese Students’ 'Monthly 157 Christian, Fletcher 323 Christiania 12, 56, 57, 58 Christianity and Drink 141. 170. 172, 174, 184, 215 Cities, American Prohibition 274 Clark, Dr. G. B 268 Clarke, Chief .lustice 270 Cleveland (Ohio) 13 Clubs 284, 312, 315 Coates, Mrs 304 Cochin China 179, 184 Colombo 172, 174, 175, 176 Colorado 292 Coloured People and Alcohol 228, 236, 239, 242 Columbia 302 Commerce Act (Australia) 309 Comrie, Rev. J. W 328 Connaught, H.R.H. The Duke of 219 Connecticut 275 Constantinople 149, 151, 209 Cooper, W. D 199 Cordeaux, H. E. S 217 Cosine, Colony of 303 Cossezo, Secre-Gen 296 County Court (.Vraendment) Act 29 Cox, S. S 209 Cracow 105, 106, 107 Creel, Senor Don E 296 Crewe, Lord 160, 168, 169, 229 Crime and Prohibition 68, 261. 266. 270, 288 Criminological Congress 76 Croatia 143 Crome, Capt 230 Crowther. Rev. .Vrchdeacon 228 Curson, Lord 166 Czar of Russia 78. 80 D’ Arriaga. Manuel 22, 126 Dagga .Smoking 248 Daily Chronicle (London) 75. 212 1 PAGE Daily Citizen (London) 53, 117 Daily Mirror (London) 114 Daily News (London) 77 Daily Times (Olago) 328 Daintsch, Dr 143 Dalhafi, Rev. N. C 41 Dane, Sir L 164 Daum, Dr. Adolf 105 Davidson, Rev. Dr 316 Davis, Judge'-Advocate G. E 272 Dearing, Rev. John L 189, 190, 191 Delaney, Gen 235 Delavan, E. C 268 Delaware 280 Delfino, Dr. Victor 299 Dellett, Albert 297 Denizard, Mile. Marie 117 Denman, Lady 308 Denman, Lord 24 Denmark 13, 14, 40, 41, 44-46, 63, 72 Denmark, King of 41, 45, 51 Denmark Liquor Commission 41 Der Abstinent Arbeiter 130 Des Alkoholgegner 300 Deutsch, Dr. Hugo 97 Dharnapali, H 171 Die Alkoholfrage 96, 125 “Disinterested Management’’... 39, 59, 61, 196 District of Columbia 267, 279 Doczi, Dr. Imrie 104 Domselaar, C. van 304 Donovan, D 24 Dow, General Neal 275 Duckett, Rev. C. V 60 Dundee Advertiser 116 Dunmore, Miss 296 East Africa 215 Ecroyd, Aifred R 124, 125 Ecroyd, Russell 125 Ecuador 302 Edgar, Dr. John 38 Edinburgh Missionary Conference 205 Egypt ' 13, 209. 211 Eklund, Hon. Oskar 67 El Abstemio 124. 125 El Alcoholismo 299 El Salvador 23 Ellice Island 324 Elliot, Capt 153 Ellis, Geo. D 231 Eluteria, The 106-109 Employers of Labour 86 Encyclopcedia Britannica ... 141, 144, 147. 211 England ... 14, 33, 115, 159, 160, 168. 170, 178 Eriksson, Mr 61 Etchepare, Dr. B 303, 504 Europe 5, 7, 11. 13. 53. 150, 151, 189. 196 Extent of Prohibition (U.S..A.) 267 Fallieres. M 57 Faroe Islands 41, 45 Fernando, Dr 174, I'id Ferriaii. Signor 136 Fiji 321. 324 Financial World 271 Finch, John B 267 Finland 13, 53, 72, 73, 75, 78-81, 109 Finlayson, IV. F 309 Firminy, Mayor of 118 Fisher, .Andrew 307 Florida 288 "Forbes-Mackenzies” .A.ct 29 France 13. 40. 80, 110, 115, 116. 117 119. 195, 203. 205, 210, 222, 322 Fraternal Societies 273 French .\bsinthe Prohibition Bill 110 French .Vcademy of Medicine 115 French Bourse 57 French East Africa 220 French West Africa 230 333 p