Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 130, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 June 1917 — Temperance Notes [ARTICLE]

Temperance Notes

(Conducted by the National Woman’: Christian Temperance Union.)

THE w: C, T. U. “PREPARED." The Woman’s Christian Temper-* ance union, like other patriotic wom-t an’s- societies,has —made- quick re-» sponse to the country’s call. As am organization it is in a permanent stater of “preparedness"—its machinery: splendidly equipped for national crises. Every state" and territory is thoroughly organized. Twenty thousand, local units, aggregating near half a million women, spring to action at the touch of the button at national headquarters. For 35 years the W. C. T. U. has* had a department of work among soldiers and sailors which has beem in close touch with the federal war department. Its superintendent, Mrs. Ella H. Thacher, Washington, D. C., through her associates tn the state and. local unions, already has emergency plans well under way. These Include welfare work at training camps and mobilization centers, the supplying of electric fans and delicacies to army hospitals, the serving of coffee and doughnuts or cake and lemonade to> soldiers and marines as they entrain, etc. Another department —that of general relief work—is ready to extend' its services and, if demand comes, will issue detailed plans. Both these departments are to be standardized by ■Red Cross rules.

“The W. C. T. U. members who will! most promptly and enthusiastically respond to the official plans for emergency service will be those who for many years have ardently advocated International peace,” said Mrs. Anna A. Gordon, national president. “They believe It Is now our duty to sufferto unite with the nation in defending the principles of Christian civilization, and thus to answer patriotism’s call.” It goes without saying that the Woman’s Christian Temperance union will use all its influence to secure the enactment of a nationwide prohibition law as a war measure. .. ■■■-<—

LOOKING PROHIBITIONWARD. The government of Peru is planning for nationwide prohibition. “Strict laws are to be passed forbidding the making or the importation of drinks containing more than one and one-half of one per cent of alcohol,” says Mr. Porflrlo Adan of Lima, as quoted by the Christian Science Monitor. “Eventually these also will be eliminated, and the government is even now menting with the production of nonalcoholic drinks which gradually can be substituted for the harmful drinks. It Is estimated that nearly 75 per cent of the adult population of the republic, both men and women, are addicted to alcoholic drinks." One step In the movement was an offer by the government of SSOO for the best temperance text-book to be used In the public schools.

FREE FROM SALOON DOMINANCE. Mr. Otto F. Thum, first president of the Colorado Federation of Labor, says that prohibition has strengthened organized labor in that state, and it is in better condition than ever before. “In Denver,” said Mr. Thum, “we have been for many years trying to get the boys to build a labor temple, but were always thrown down by a sinister influence —the saloons. We have 108 unions in Denver and they meet in twenty-eight different buildings. The saloons saw to it that we were not bunched in a labor temple. But now that we are well rid of the saloons we are able to get together, and in very short time we will have a labor temple to cost about $25,000.”

A DANGEROUS CHEMICAL. If a flagon of alcohol were offered to a student of pharmacology to test as a curiosity, and he applied the standard methods of physiological experiment to it, he could but come to the conclusion that he was dealing with a more dangerous chemical than any now available in the whole range of materia medlca, not second to opium or its derivatives as a destroyer of character, a disturber of function and a degenerator of tissue, and he would be quite justified in advising the prohibition of its manufacture and use as a beverage.—Dr. Haven Emerson, Health Commissioner, New York City.

WHICH SHALL WE HEED? Cry of the wets: S. O. 8. —“Save Our Saloons.” ■ ■ - - ' Drys reply: S. O. S—“ Save Our Sons.” ,' Wets: S. O. D. —“Save Our Dollars.” Dtvs: 8. O. D. —“Save Our Daughters.” Wets (sobbingly) : S. O. B— “ Save Our Business.” Drys: S. O. B. —“Save Our Babies.” WHO DRINKS THE BEEN? “Probably nine-tenths of the beer is consumed by the adult male population in urban communities,” said President Edward A. Schmidt of the United States Brewers’ association, speaking to the convention in New Orleans. Inadvertently, in this statement President Schmidt admitted that nine tenths of the beer is consumed in censed territory. AS DEBAUCHING AS ALCOHOL. Beware of drink-manufactured “Diets