NOVEL TEMPERANCE EFFORT.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 11789, 13 February 1906, Page 4

NOVEL TEMPERANCE EFFORT.

Judok Pollard, of St. Louis, has evolved a curious but highly practical method of iuducing the drunkards who are continually brought before him to reform. Realising that to send even chronic intemperates to gaol is useless, as the hardship falls upon their wives and children, th« Judge has prepared a form of pledge which he offers to those convicted as an alternative to fine or imprisonment. "As an evidence," runs the pledge, "of my apprecia* tion of the opportunity given me by the Judge of Second District Police Court to become a sober and better citizen, in staying the fine imposed upon me this day, I hereby freely and voluntarily sign this pledge: That I will abstain from intoxicating liquors of every kind or character? for the period of one year from date." A year looks a long time to the prisoner, but so does a month in gaol. The Judge imposes a fine of 15 dollars, with the alternative of one month's imprisonment, both of which penalties are stayed if the pledge is signed. But in order to see that the promise is kept the prisoner has to report himself personally at the Judge'a private house, accompanied by his wife, upon a given date, and, later again, at least once to the Court. If the evidence upon these occasions shows that the pledge has been kept, the sentence ia definitely cancelled. "As long aB the germ of good is not dead," says the Judge, "I believe it is the duty of the Court to save such men from themselves. I would rather make my Court a tribunal of reformation than of punishment. I want to do the best for the defendant, and the best for the city." Experience has shown that it is useless to make a confirmed drunkard sign a pledge, but in the case of early offenders the system is reported to hay« worked excellently. Judge Pollard has now had it in practice for nearly threa years, and finds that fewer than .1 per cent of the promises are broken. This experience covers several cases a week, and most of those who have signed and kept their pledges have completely reformed at the end of the year.