A Plea for Prohibition

A Plea for Prohibition BY FRED L. W. BENNETT Prohibition is usually assailed on two grounds. First, it is said to unwarrantably interfere with human freedom and ; secondly, that it kills the goose which lays the golden (revenue) egg. To some the latter argument is, perhaps, the stronger of the two. It seems to the writer, however, that the first and last and only point to be considered is whether the sale of liquor is of benefit to the moral and physical well-being of the people. If it is, then it ought never to be hindered by legislation, but rather encouraged as much as possible. If, on the other hand, it can be proved to be inimical, then it should be ruthlessly stamped out like a fell disease. The question of freedom does not enter into it at all. The state has the same right to restrain its citizens in any ether connection when its interference can be shown to be beneficial. We prohibitionists say that the sale of intoxicating drinks is a menace to the welfare of the community. We claim that it is responsible for the bulk of all the misery and poverty and sin in the world today. We denounce it as the greatest devitalizing force extant, and as the cause of more insanity, feeble-mindedness, and crime, than any other agency known. Hundreds of times have we offered statistics to prove our contention, but the liquor interests always evade the point at issue. If they can show where, how, and when they have helped to make the race better and purer and happier, let them speak out the writer will be one ; of the first to support them but they know they cannot do it. ; Many otherwise intelligent people are deceived by the silly plea of supporting the revenue. This is regarded as one of the strong arguments put forward in defense of the continued existence of the traffic. In any case, it is one of the most illogical and fatuous met with in the whole realm of controversy. It is about as sound as the plea for great armies and warships on the ground that they find employment for so many people. Let us briefly and calmly examine this revenue question as pertaining to the liquor traffic. A certain sum per head of the population is expended in intoxicating drinks each year throughout the state. That many citizens do not consume any, does not matter we are dealing in averages. Out of the amount received ; the liquor interests pay a certain small percentage to the state as

1108 IMPROVEMENT ERA a tax the remainder they devote to their own private require- ; ments, like any onel else. Now, if the sale of the drink were stopped, the people would not only have the money they contributed indirectly to the revenue, but the money which the manufacturer and retailer of the drink got, too. In other words there would be more money per head of the population than there was before. If the state suffers through the loss of the revenue, it would be an easy matter, surely, for the people to pa<y directly as much as the liquor people had been paying for them Some say, ! we shall lose business. I say let it go then we can do without ! any business that must be tainted with alcohol. But we shall not lose business, by closing our saloons. No man ever lost business through being a total abstainer from intoxicants. It inspires confidence wherever one goes, even amongst drunkards. This applies equally to communities. For years the white races have gazed with wonder and pity at the Chinese opium smokers, puffing away serenely at the noxious weed which has meant imbecility and death, and many attempts b.ave they made to rid them from this evil habit. Has it never occurred to these would-be rescuers that they have an obsession little less baneful ? Have they never noticed the human wrecks who are sacrificing themselves on the accursed altar of alcohol? Ask any man or woman who has fallen from a position of trust the cause of the misfortune, and you will be told in a great percentage of cases that it is through drink. How pathetic it is to hear a near relative of an individual say, "He is alright when he is sober, but when he is in drink one is never certain as to what he may say or do." Yet many of us could give scores of instances in which such remarks have been made. Then why should the sale of this poison be permitted in this enlightened age, when scientists, educators and others are doing their best to assist the race in its onward march? Why should men and women be allowed to continue injuring themselves and their posterity in this way? There are many inveterate drinkers who would welcome prohibition, but they have not the strength of will to give it up themselves. Whatever may be the result of the present struggle, let it be remembered that the greater the revenue obtained by the state from the liquor traffic, the greater the curse of that traffic. The more prosperous the brewer and distiller, the greater the misery and poverty of their fellow citizens. It is a harsh way of putting it, I knozu it, but it is the only way. OGPEN, UTAH

A Word to Our Friends We are grateful to all who have contributed to the success of the l^th volume of the Era, which closes with this number. Our thanks go out to the writers to the young men who so freely ; and with spirit and willingness, canvassed for subscribers and ; to the readers ,of the Era whose words of encouragement, and promptness in the payment of their subscriptions, have enabled us to make a pronounced success of the volume now closed. And we are glad to say, it. has been a success, both financially and in a literary sense. We believe the Era has done much good, and has proved effective in the work it is designed to do, viz., to advocate the great cause of the Church of Christ; to aid the ministers of that cause at home and abroad to help as a spokesman for the great organ- ; izations which it represents and which are devoting their attention, to the religious, moral, and intellectual welfare of the young — people of the Church the Priesthood Quorums, the Y. M. M. I. A., and the Church schools. We can only thank our friends for the splendid labors of the past, and express the desire on our part that we may be favored with their co-operation to do even better in every respect for the future — and particularly for the new volume which begins with the November number. The Lord has hertofore blessed our united efforts, and we are sure that he will crown our labors with success in the future, if we prayerfully and earnestly d,o our duties. As writers, canvassers, members of the organizations represented, and as general readers, let us unite to make volume twenty the most attractive, the most interesting, the most valuable yet. You may count on the editors, the management, the Priesthood committee, the members of the General Board, and the Board of Education, unitedly to join their labors and influence with yours to this end. And so, good bye, volume nineteen good morning, volume twenty. ; Higher Standards In the M. I. A. conventions, past and now being held, one important consideration is the social work. A letter of instructions from the General Boards of the M. I. A., approved by the Presidency of the Church, and including a writing by President