ONLY TWO DRUNKS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3135, 18 September 1922, Page 8

ONLY TWO DRUNKS.

Dr Robert Hereod sailed on the juier NoOrdland recently bound for his home in Lauzanne, Switzerland As director of the International Temperance Bureau he had come to America m the interests of world prohibition Jn the pursuit of the data he takes to Europe with him for the use of the International Temperance Bureau the doctor travelled from New York to New Orleans, along the Mexican border to San Antonio and thence to Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle. He returned to New York by way of Butte Denver, Chicago, Cleveland,' and Albany and one of the many tilings of winch he took note was the number of drunken persons he behld in that roll around the country. ".Well doctor,"'he was asked, "how many plastered citizens did yon behold P "Just two," replied l>r Hercod. ' J wo what?" his questioner demanded, convinced that different matters were being discussed. "Two drunks— both men—and that was- all. 0„e I saw in Butte and the other ,n New York. At least I sup. ™ U ] ey w ?r dril » k ' amd I visited every place—the so-called slums and w£Ll ,f l ' wts to be the woist places m the city " He went on to say:' "I made a point especially to investigate conditions in "'»nor cities and industrial centres ™»P«riii ß them with cities similar in mm and condition in Europe. Social ' nnd street life „, America are a I mdml tunes .cleaner and tleconter ''•./," hu, ;! , l? r - Even if one comP«ues the conditions in New York with those m London, Paris or Berlin, New >ork is infinitely better. During the fortnight 7 spent in New York city I appioached many people who were not prohibitionists who convinced me that prohibition in New York is dim""finß destitution, improving homes and bettering hygienic and social conditions. Comparing, for instance, the Bowery m New York with Whitechapel in London, it is the difference between hell and heaven. We have '»-en told m Europe that there was more drinking m America than on our continent—more drinking than before prohibition. After all I have seen and heard I must say that the situation no" al) s°lutely misrepresented." Or. Hercod s report is to be given to tJiei Governments of Norway, Sweden, Finland, Jugo-Slavia, Bulgaria and other countries that the International Temperance Bureau would like to see go dry.