Kansas Labor Review from Topeka, Kansas • 3

MtwwvywwnMM Mrsi I art the American Issue Page Three ICELANDIC GOOD TEMPLARS APPEAL TO FRIENDS PUSSYFOOT AWAKENS INTEREST IN INDIA SITISH MINISTER FINDS OUR DRY POLICY GOOD FOR" HELP IN STRUGGLE- TO KEEP DRY LAW Newsholme Reports to Royal So-- ciety of Medicine on His Two Years Study SAYS LAW WILL ENDURE Gould Believes Prohibition is Jus-tillable From Alcohpls Effect -on Human Body Spain Has Little to Gain Financially from Acquiescence in Her Demands and This Vould Seem to be Part of a Campaign Against the Principle of Prohibition about 355 pounds avoirdupois), but it Is generally understood that this is to be doubled if Iceland does not agree to the terms. It was originally requested by Spain that Iceland should at once reply to this demand; but a concession was made extending the treaty until September 20 of this year. From that date it may be denounced at any time with a months notice. We are hoping that it will remain in force until the assembling of the Althing in February next year. The Althing is then to settle the matter to decide whether we are to repeal our Prohibition act or face the consequences of letting it remain unaltered.

I CAN WE DRINK CHAMPAIGN AND TOO? BERLIN Berlin, Nov. 9. (By the Associated German government announced today during debate on taxes in the reichstag that -it was planning stringent measures to curb spec? ulation and traffic in foreign exchange. Minister of Economics Schmidt also disclosed that one billion marks worth of French wines, (jhampagnes, and other liquors were entering Germany through the import control station at Ems, and that 000 marks worth of French perfumes, cosmetics, silks and other superflous articles of luxury were likewise pouring into the country, Were 'our situation not so tragic," Herr Schmidt said, this conception on the part of the entente of our internal needs would have a humorous aspect. But the situation is simply that either we are to consume these French wines, snap our fingers at the reparations obligations or that we are to resolve to fulfill our obligations, in which case we shall be compelled to decline the French libations.

I i ir 't I Among the foreign letters in the Medical Journal of November 5, 1921, appears the following: Sir Arthur Newsholme, late principal medical officer to the Local Government Board, has been in America for the last two years. At the Royal Society of Medicine he has given the results of his study of the Prohibition law. The results of the first year of Prohibition, he said, were only partial; but although it was still easy far the millionaire visitor to the United States to get intoxicating drink, it was still the fact that for the vast majority of the population alcoholic drinks had become unobtainable or were too expensive for frequent indulgence. There were 150,000 physicians in' the United States, and every one of them had to take out a permit to enable him to prescribe alcohol. Four out of every five had not taken out a permit, and in twenty-four out of the forty-eight states not a sjngle physician had taken out one.

As the results of Prohibition, there was evidence of increased prosperity and of the diversion of large sums to the purchase of better clothing, etc. Rescue work in the large cities had largely been replaced by preventive work. Drunkenness and admissions to hospitals for acute alcoholism showed remarkable declines, and although alcoholism was often but one part of a mesh of evil circumstances, the short cut toward the of the evil which Prohibition' provided promised to be successful in diminishing not only disease, but also poverty and crime. He regarded as fantastic the fears that Prohibition would lead to a similar ban on smoking. A country would never give a majority vote for the abolition cf a personal habit unless that was associated with serious national evils.

The case for compulsion was that moral sflasion acted slowly, and meanwhile the multitudes of, innocent people continued to suffer, and the community suffered in pocket and efficiency. Whether Prohibition would endure the tesAf enforcement in America remained to be seen, but his view was that the American, public will endorse the action taken and will insist on its continuance and extension. Sir Alfred Pearce Gould, who presided, speaking as surgeon, said the one thing which lay at the root of the justification of Prohibition was the great physiologic fact of the influence of alcohol on the human body. He believed that anything which thwarted or lessened the power and development of the body could be rightfully prohibited. of several of the most prominent men in the country, as the bishop, the mayor of Reykjavik, and the chiefs of police of the largest towns and villages.

This is moreover known to every individual in the country who has paid attention to the matter and who is prepared to speak the truth. It is not wholly insignificant with regard to the effect Prohibition has had on the economic status of the people that in the year before -Prohibition became absolute, 1914, their deposits in the banks amounted to 9,472,000 whereas in 1917 the sum was True, this is not attributable solely to Prohibition, for there are other contributory causes. But on the other hand, nobody who is familiar with the circumstances doubts that Prohibition has had a large share in bringing this change about. Since 1917 no statistics on this subject have been published, People Are for the Law As already ''stated, we the Good-Templars are convinced that the majority of the people see this in the same lights we do, and in consequence will by no means that the act shall be revoked. The Order of Good Templars has taken great pains in ascertaining as exactly as possible the will of the people iff this matter.

For that purpose it has, to name an example, had the greater part of the country traversed by two of its representatives, the one in 1918, the other in 1920. These two men completely agree as to the will of the nation. It is of course because of this determined will of the nation that all attacks on the Prohibition act by the Anti-Prohibitionists have proved abotive. It is due to the same national will that all alterations in legislation since 1915 dealing with intoxicants have tended to make Prohibition more effective, until at the last parliamentary session the climax was reached in the act endowing the government with monopoly of the importation of alcohol as well as with its rationing to doctors and chemists. Anti-Prohibitionists had come to realize that all attempts to get the act revoked were futile, and begun to acquiesce in it.

They admitted those who spoke with any sense of responsibility that it was reasonable that the nation should be allowed to give Prohibition a decisive trial, and they declared that they did not intend to oppose the Prohibitionists in this matter. Spains Ultimatum- When this stage had been reached fresh difficulties arose. During last summer a commercial treaty between and Iceland expired. Spain then announced that Iceland would no longer be included among the most favored nations un-Jess she permitted the importation and sale of Spanish wines containing up to 21 alcohol. As the only trade Iceland does with Spain is buying salt and selling salt fish there this stipulation implies that increased duty is to be laid on Icelandic fish unless the sale of Spanish liquors, containing the above-said degree of alcohol, is permitted.

This duty has been 36 pesetas on a shippound (160 kilograms, or In the year 1908 a plebiscite. was taken in Iceland qn the question whether total Prohibition should be enacted in the country. Of the electors who voted a little over 60 per cent were in favor of this measure. At that time there was only male suffrage in the country. In accordance with the result of this plebiscite an act of total Prohibition was in the following year passed by the legislative assembly of the country and sanctioned by the king.

This act prohibited all importation of alcohol into the country as from Jan. 1,1912, except or specific purposes (medicine, industry, and similar requirements) and in conformity with statutory regulations. All beverages containing more than 2'A per 'cent alcohol were classed as intoxicants. Under this act Prohibition became absolute in the country on Jan. 1, 1915.

Difficulties of Enforcement As everybody knew beforehand there have been many obstacles in enforcing this act. Attempts have been made to import mtoxicants into the country unlawfully. Some of these attempts have succeeded, others not. Some of the medical profession have abused the privileges which the act accords them for using as medicine. There have been other mishaps which we have not succeeded in preventing.

Some of the difficulties were due to the act not being adequately thought out or the wording of it sufficiently definite. Consequently it has from time to tim been amended with a view to making it more effective. Most important is the amendment made at the last session of the Althing. According to an act which was then passed, the government acquires a monopoly of the importation of alcohol. The government are, besides, to determine by a regulation how much alcohol may be imported, and the quantity to be rationed out to medical practitioners, veterinary surgeons, and dispensing chemists.

This act, which is to come into force on the first 'of January next year, shifts the onus of responsibility for eventual future delinquencies for the most part on to the shoulders of the Government. All Prohibitionists in the country are agreed in considering this alteration of the first importance nd likely to give good results. Law Has Brought Great Benefits In our opinion, tlf Good Templars, which opinion we are convinced is shared by the majority of the Icelandic people, this law has, in spite of all shortcomings, done incalculable good. That hardly a druAkcn man is to be seen, has effected a radical change in the towns. Numbers of men who formerly, owing to addiction to drink, had to resort to the poor law authorities for the maintenance of themselves and their families, are now making a comfortable living, and numbers of women who formerly dragged out a dreary existence owing to the inebriety of their husbands and sons are now living happily.

On this point we have the Explicit statements FOOD AND MEDICINAL Is Officially Entertained at Simla Where Hd Puts in Three Busy Days VISIT BRINGS RESULTS National Legislature Goes on Record Favoring Anti-Drink Movement The tour of Pussyfoot Johnson over India seems to have gotten that country all stirred up. Advices up to October first show that during the month, Johnson has been speaking from two to five times a day and traveling by night. The demands on his time and strength have been immense, but at last reports he was still alive and talking. His visit to Siml, the national summer capital, where the National Legislature is in session, was a triumph. His vist there was arranged by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, twice president of the Indian National Congres and head of the great Hindu University at Bcnards.

Johnson received telegraphic invitations to be the guest in Simla of Sir Edward Maclagan, the Governor of Punjab, at the executive mansion, and. also from the Minister of Excise of Punjab, Lala Harkisan Lai. So he accepted both, staying with Governor Maclagan two days and with Harkisan Lai one day. His stay in Simla was a most lively one. He arrived at Simla September 21st at noon and immediately accompanied the Governor to a garden party at the mansion of a wealthy Sikh resident.

On the following day he addressed a mass meeting in the theater and lunched by invitation with His Excellency, the Viceroy, with whom he stayed for more than two hours. On the next day, he addressed another mass meeting and also addressed the National Legislature, an invitation to do so having been extended to him. The address was followed by a lively two British members taking up the cudgels for the w'hisky traffic and the In- dian members all taking the dry side of the argument. The whisky end of the debate was conducted by Mr. E.

L. Price, member from Karachi, Bombay Presidency. On the afternoon of his departure, Johnson was entertained with a large number of legislators at the Chelmsford Club, the guests of Mr. Bakshi Sohan Lai and a number of members headed by the Minister of Excise accompanied Johnson to the railway station to see him off. The whirlwind visit of Pussyfoot to Simla bore speedy and tangible results.

Four days later, a resolution was proposed by Mr. Beohar Raghubir Sinha declaring the sympathy of the legislature with the antidrink movement and requesting the local governments to consider the advisibility of adopting measures to put a stop to the drink evil as soon as' possible." The president pointed out that it was not quite in order as it was not within the competence of the National Indian legislature to deal with the question as it was a matter for the provincial assemblies. Mr. C. A.

Innes for the government stated that the resolution as it stood would place the national' legislature in a false position and suggested that if the recommendation to the local assemblies be omitted that the government would not oppose the' measure. But this did not satisfy the British-members and they pounded it with much enthusiasm. Innes in behalf of the government finally moved a substitute asking the Governor General to take note of the sympathy of the legislature toward the temperance movement in India and the substitute was carried. The liquor interests are very wrathful at this action of the legislature, which they attribute to the activities of the nefarious Pussyfoot whose name was bandied about very freely in the debate on the floor of the legislature. The drys regard it as a decisive victory as it puts the national legislature on record as being in sym pathy with the anti-drink movement and it is sure to have a far-reaching effect on the provincial bodies who alone have the power to deal with the subject.

If there is to be an Eighteenth Amendment and if licks are to be struck in its enforcement, then they ought to be hard enough to do the necessary knocking out. Chicago Daily Tribune. If eternal vigilance is the price of liberty, everlasting war upon false and incompetent officials all incompetent officials is the price of a dry Helena, Record-Herald. conscience for a large majority of the people to exclude intoxicants from the country, as the conviction has gained an immense strength among them that alcohol constitutes a physical, moral, and spiritual danger to the nation. A deeper wound could hardly be inflicted upon the national spirit of independence than that a foreign power should force the people to do what they themselves conceive to be altogether wrong.

With fraternargreetings, Th. Thorvardsson, What It Means to Iceland In order to make it understood how serious this demand is for Iceland a few words about our production of, and our trade in, salt fish may be desirable. Our fishery products have according to official statistics amounted to: 1901-10 (on the average), about 60 of the total exports. 1915, about 77 of the total exports. 1916, about 88 of the total exports.

1918, about 66 of the total exports. Yet in the last-quoted year hardly any herring was sold. In these figures is comprised the so-called Labrador fish (cured and half-dried), fish that has been sold uncured, and herring. The Spanish demand ought not to have any direct influence on the prices of uncured fish, nor herring, and hardly on the prices of Labrador fish or the cheaper brands of fully cured fish, as next to nothing of these is exported to Spain. On the other hand it must be borne in mipd that if the more expensive qualities suffer a serious disadvantage, the whole of our fishing industry is in a jeopardy.

It is mainly followed for the sake of the more expensive species of fish. As an example we may point out that the herring fishing is mainly done' in steam-trawlers during the season when cod fishing cannot be carried on. No steam trawler is run solely for herring fishing. Of late years cured fish has in price amounted to 33-44 of all exported goods. A small portion of this is exported to Italy, a great deal to Great Britain, and a little less than half of it to Spain.

Fish exported direct to Spain amounts in price to approximately one-sixth of the total of Icelands exports. If duty is decided on in Spain it will of course affect the price of all fish. But it must besides be kept in mind, that as far as we know, much of the fish sold in Great Brjtain is subsequently exported to Spain. Should the additional duty be levied on fish in Spain, it may be expected to effect and reduce the price also of fish sold to Great Britain, as it may be confidently assumed that Spain will demand certificates of origin. If, therefore, the proposed Spanish tariff becomes operative, it may be taken for granted that it will affect the price of practically all fully cured fish from Iceland.

This, we hope, will make it clear to everybody how sinister an economic threat the Spanish demand is to the Icelandic people. Shipowners. declare that they Vvill be unable to meet the disadvantage whichycan be foreseen. It cannot be gainsaid that they speak with reason, for even under the existing treaty they, at present, find it difficult to pay their way. The question may be asked whether we cannot sell our fish elsewhere than in Spain.

Of course we cannot with certainty say that this is really impossible. On the other hand it is certain that for the best fish, which is the staple commodity, we have not so far succeeded in getting an equally good market elsewhere. Solely an Assault Upon Prohibition Principle On the part of Spain the demand does not appear to be made with a view to obtain any economic advantage from Iceland. She is well aware that, as already stated, hed only dealings with us are that we have bought salt from her and she salt fish from us. She suffered no loss by our Prohibition.

We imported no alcoholic driks from Spain before the Prohibition act came into force; and there is no probability that we shall do so even if the act be repealed. Her demand appears to be made olely with a view to initiating a campaign against the principle of Prohibition. Appeal to Drys of the World The Icelandic Grand Lodge of the I. O. G.

T. have decided to apply to their sympathizers in foreign countries respecting this problem with a fraternal request that they will give us their support in the matter, and do what they can to induce Spain to waive her above stated demand. It is obvious that our Prohibition act is in danger of being revoked: contrary to the will of the large majority of the people owing to economic pressure from another and more powerful nation. And it is equally obvious that there is more at stake than simply our Prohibition act. One of the main strands of our national independence is at stake.

The Icelandic nation has for long decennials fought for her political independence, and only recently at last had it acknowledged. Naturally it would be a sensitive point to her if already in the first years it were to be seriously menaced. It is a matter of CALLS FOR WIDER WINE -MARKET Millerand Says French Government Will Inaugurate National Wine Week LADY ASTOR SPEAKS TO UNIVERSITY STUDENTS Extension of Hours Increased Drunkenness in London 50 Per Cent WAS REQUEST OF TRADE Declared Interests of Trade and Christian Community Irreconcilable Lady Astor is reported in a London dispatch of November 19 as having silenced a group of heckling students in the course' of an address before the students of Liverpool University in which she attacked the drink evil. She declared that drink takes away joy instead of bringing it. This statement brought forth vigorous protests from the students in the galleries.

At the close of her address there wasnt a murmur when she asked for questions. She declared for local option because the people of England are not ready for Prohibition in her opinion. She said that the hours of drinking had been extended in London drunkenness had increased 50 per cent. She continued: The extension of the hours came at the request of the trade and not at the request of the nation. You cant reconcile the interests of the 4rade with the in- terests of a Christian community.

I do not say that drinking is a sin but it is a short cut towards sin and We can not recapture the foreign markets unless we cut out drink. Viscount Astor followed his wife with a description of Carlisle where one of the three breweries and fofty pubs were closed during government management and which yet showed a profit on economical distribution and making rather than an increased consumption. He said: I do not say that state maji- agement eliminated drunkenness but it decreased alcoholic casualties. TRY TO RAISE AGE LIMIT FOR SALE IN ENGLAND An Associated Press, dispatch of London says that a movement is under way in England to prohibit the sale of all intoxicants to any person under the age of 18 years, instead of 16 as at present. A petition to that effdet signed by thousands of teachers has been presented to the Home Secretary and temperance reformers are pressing Parliament for a bill dealing with this question.

Attention is called to the fact that the mother country is behind the dominions in such restrictions. In Australia the age limit for the sale of intoxicants has been fixed at 18 and in New Zealand, Tasmania, Ontario and Nova Scotia, at 21. GYPSY SMITH GIVES RUM FIVE YEARS IN SCOTLAND Gypsy Smith, noted evangelist, is quoted in a Cleveland Plain Dealer cable of October 30 as saying: I predict Scotland will go dry in five years and England will be dry in ten years, but I do not think Ireland will ever go dry. Public sentiment and conscience in Scotland is being stirred today as never before, and in the last election which was the first attempt to vote on the liquor question the Prohibition forces had a 15 per cent victory and they are now organizing for greater results. I believe the days of whisky-making there are drawing to an end and I know that a number of distillers are selling out One instance of this is the action of Field Marshal Haig who disposed of his shares in the Haig Haig distillery.

The following scientific data concerning so-called food and medicinal qualities of beer, is compiled by American Issue, New York edition: A United News Paris dispatch of November 6 quotes President Millerand in an address at a banquet of the general council of Herault, a famous wine country, as saying: We must conquer wider markets for ordinary wines and thereby create a demand for the famous marks. Alcoholism is a scourge which I have unceasingly combatted but it is an error to i igF- charge wine with misdeeds of which it is innocent. The government considers it an honor to favor your propaganda destined to further the interests of truth. The President announced also that the government would launch a national wine week. What becomes of the argument advanced by the nullificationists in our own country that the legalization of the manufacture and sale of beer and wine will, stop the bootleg traffic in spirituous liquors? France is recognized as the great wine drinking nation of the earth and yet she suffers from a scourge of alcoholism.

According to the defenders of the wine industry of France, this scourge is not a result of wine drinking for they insist that wine is a harmless non-intoxicant. It must therefore, be the result of spirits drinking which wine has failed to suppress. Eventually France will Come to understand the truth, that her scourge of alcoholism is largely due to wine. QUALITIES OF BEER It was beer and wine quantities of alcohol (equivalent to 2 to 2 1-3 glasses of beer, or 10 ounces of wine) that Durig" and Schnyder found diminished muscle working ability in lifting and mountain climbing and increased fatigue. It wa beer and wine quantities of alcohol that in practically all these experiments misled the person using the alcohol into thinking that he was working better, when actually his work was poorer.

It was beer and wine quantities of alcohol (equivalent to 1 1-2 to 1 1-3 pints of beer or 10-15 ounces of wine) that Dodge and Benedict of the Carnegie Nutrition Boston, found definitely depressed combined nerve and muscle activity. This with other resulti gave clear indication of decreased organic efficiency as a result of moderate doses of alcohol. Dr. Eugene Lyman Fisk of the Life Extension Institute says: Alcohol is alcohol whether in whisky or beer. It is nonsense to claim beer is a hygienic drink.

The truth of the matter is that so-called medicinal beer is not being hailed as a life-saver by physicians and by the sick, but by the brewers and those with an alcoholic craving. Reputable physicians repudiate it and do not wish to be regarded as first aids to those who crave alcoholic stimulants. Reputable druggists are disgusted with the attempt to force them into the position of bar keepers, and decent, law-loving people generally see in the Vet jubilation over this ruling an added reasoti why they should keep up the fight for 100 per cent enforcement of the Prohibition law. Beer is not a medicine. It has never been included in the United States Pharmacopoeia.

Beer is not a food. Dr. Caleb W. Saleeby, the famous British eugenist, recently declared that laboratory experiments proved that the principal food elements, the vitamines, are destroyed in beer in the process of its manufacture, leaving only the poison of the alcohol. A chemical analysis of beer made by Professor Higley of Ohio Wesleyan University, showed that a quart of beer contained more alcohol than food products, the proportion being 3.92 per cent alcohol, 3.75 per cent-food products.

Dr. Howard A. Kelly of Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, said recently: The whole battle for decency and efficiency and better physical health is lost if beer is exempted. It is injurious at all times. The habitual beer drinker stands small chance of recovery from an attack of pneumonia.

Moderate quantities of beef impair efficiency. A German professor, Mobius of Leipsic, has said: It is beer that ruins the German people. And yet the German brewers in this country are trying to persuade the people that it is a valuable medicine and adjunct to public health. Instead of being a medicine, beer has been discovered to be detrimental to health and efficiency, according to the following experiments recorded in a booklet by the Scientific Temperance Federation: It was beer and wine quantities ot alcohol (the equivalent of 2 to 4 glasses of beer) taken daily that Smith found impaired ability to memorize and to add numbers. INNOCENT VICTIM LIST IS INCREASED BY SIX Poisoned rum claimed another victim in Philadelphia on November 20..

The North American in commenting upon the tragedy says: In addition to killing the drinker i of the poisonous concoction the boot-rJegger of saloonkeeper who sold him the stuff added another widow and five more fatherless children, the youngest a girl of ten, to the list of innocent victims of the illicit traffic. I li i.