TEMPERANCE COLUMN.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 238, 1 July 1908, Page 2

TEMPERANCE COLUMN.

[The matter in this column is supplied by a representative of the Now Zealand Alliance, and The Dominion is in no way responsible for tho opinions expressed therein.] CAMBRIDGE UNDER "NO-LICENSE." REMARKABLE TESTIMONIES. Cambridge, Massachusetts, is a city of 100,000 inhabitants; that is a good deal bigger than the city of Wellington. More than 20 years ago its citizens by a simple majority declared for "No-License." Every year since then the issue has been voted upon, with a steadily increasing majority against the saloons. Twenty years ought to bo a good test of tho experiment, and judging by tho following 'testimonies, the experiment has proved a triumphant success. HIS HONOUR THE MAYOR,writing from tho City Hall, February, 1905, says:—"l tako pleasure in giving my testimony to tho improved condition of Cambridge under No-License, and, as. I believe, largely ill consequence or it. I can conceivo of no circumstances under ; which .tho city would.be likely to revert to the days of open saloons. The material and moral interests' of the city liavo been promoted by tho establishment of No-License, and ■ all the population shares in tho advantages derived from it: None have profited moro than the wagesearners.. ' ; THE CATHOLIC PRIESTS, ' whose pastoral work carries them among tho poor, are equally emphatic. In a published letter, • the lato Father Scully, pastor of St. Mary's Annunciation Church m Cambridgepor.t, anc l the leader to whelm more than .to any other one man the city owns its deliverance from the saloons, presented a comparative statement showing that the South Boston Catholic churches spend annually _ for the support of the poor nearly three times as much money' as is needed for the same purposo by the Cambridge parishes. Ho added this bit of personal testimony:—"The sick call-register of my parish tells the important fact that the sick-list. has decreased more than one-half since the introduction of the''No-License' system. In this connection it is v.ery noticeable that' now the sick have far better chances of recovery than boforo, by reason of the absence from the sick-room : of-a discordant crowd of booav, stupid women of tho 'can racket' class, wonderfully devoted to sipping, sitting, and '.sleeping. 'Can racket' nights were especially uncomfortable for tho priests.. The night sick calls were frequent-, and generally in tune with the disorder, improvidence, intemperance, and domestic slovenliness. There is nothing like that now/. Rum has gone, and those miseries with it. Seldom are we now called out of our beds, and when we are it is always proper and necessary, making hard duty a real, pleasure." The late. Rev. John-Flatley, pastor of St. Peter's Church, in North Cambridge,'.wrote in similar vein:— '

"Tlie benefits of No-License are perceptible. Thcro "is less drinking and' more thrift , and self-respect. I cannot but emphasiso tho blessing of closed bar-rooms: ■ Let them for ever remain suppressed. I will votoj as I always havo' voted; for No-License, arid'from what I 'know of the sentiment of my people,' they will do the baino." - : The testimony of tho Rev. John O'Brien, pastor of the Church of the Sacred Heart m East Cambridge, is of peculiar value for two reasons. In .the first place, because his great parish -.is* in ■ tho 'section- of the city where the largest industries arci located, and, in tho second place, because, although concerned in the moral, aspects of the temperance question and thoroughly alive to tho public' welfare, it was not until after some years-' of No-License : that he became' convinced of'the efficacy'of the system and a warm advocate of its continuance.

In December, 1904, Father O'Brien wrote: —"I would say has been a gre;fr success ,n Cambridge. 'IS'removes temptation from the path" of "the young; it saves our innocent children-from .the: demoralising and often shameful- scenes of..the-open, bar-room. Profoundly conscious of my ro-

sponsibility to God for the advice I. offer.in this matter, with a. firm conviction that ithe interests of religion, .morality,' > and" good citizenship are involved, I say to all who. hear my voice,' 'Vote No-License." 1 - Employers of labour are equally emphatic.' Many letters similar to this from Kendall and Sons, of the Charles River Ironworks, could be quoted. The continuance of .the No-License policy has proved a great benefit to this,section of the city. ,The workmen are. regular in their attendance," and no'time is lost on account of drunkenness. . They do more and better ; work now,, and the' wages which would be spent for drink under .tho old conditions now go to their families.