DRINK THE WORST ENEMY THE WORKER HAS.

White Ribbon, Volume 25, Issue 290, 18 August 1919, Page 7

DRINK THE WORST ENEMY THE WORKER HAS.

Mi (). Bryant, Secretary Austiala sian Engineers:— “In answer to \<»ui enquiry as to my opinion of the liquor traffic in relation to industry and democracy, I say that it is the worst enemy the worker has even worse than the exploiter and profiteer. “A man who wastes his energy fot the' s.ike of strong drink is an enemy not only to his family, but to his ( lass in general. He brings his family dowi. to the low *st ebb of drudgery, and when the time comes that it is necessary for a fight to be put up for better conditions not only for himself, but foi those who follow after him in most cases he is found wanting. “This is due to a muddled brain, the* craving for more drink, and in mo>t cases he is always in debt, and everyone is pushing him for money, and no one will stand by him when he wants household necessities. I he consequences are that good men other wise are often compelled to scab oil thcii workmates.” ABOLITION OF Till’ DRINK TRAFFIC THF. BKST TI.INO FOR THK WORKERS. Mr Arthur Rae, the veteran I.about leader and editor of the “Labour New s : “In my opinion, the entire abolition of the drink traffic would be the best thing that could ever happen foi the workers of Australia. “As a Socialist, I do not believe that Prohibition would emancipate the

workers or make capitalism tolerable. What it would do is to secure cleat In ads, strong nerves, and imnicasui ably intensify the demand for bettei conditions.

“For that reason I believe it would be c heap to get rid of it at any puce, .md would favour compensation if that would bung the end quickei.” CUT IT OCT. Mi I). Mc.Lelland, Seeretaiy, Black smith-’ Society of Australasia: “A single sentence expresses what I think about the ‘drink, that is, rut it out! light out of the national life*. “Who would miss it ? Probably the ‘wowser, who would thereby lose his stock in-trade, possible the publicans and othei> interested in the' lic|U«>i trade, hut nobody else. Certainly not the union secretaries, who find that a necessity of the present time is deal and concent rated thought, resolute* purpose, and patient, perseve ring and continual effort on the' part of thcii members, if we in our generation are to attain to real democratic e itizen ship. “Drink muddles the thought, blurs the vision, weakens the resolution, and destroys patience man’s staying power without which we cannot hope to attain the end we desire. Therefore, on this ground alone I say, cut U nut !” PROHIBITION WOLI.I) BEN LI II THE WORKERS Mr R. Worrall, Secretary, Stone masons’ Union, New South Wales: “During my experience a> a Trade* l nion secretary and man in the La hour movement, 1 have found that the unionist who is free from l>oo/c gives mote* attention to the finding of a solution of the* industrial problems. “Also, in case of industrial trouble* the- sober man is in a better |H>sition to render assistance, and is usually more* amenable to Trade 1 nion discipline. “It see ills to me that in every case* the temperate man has the pull over the* other fellow all the time. “Personally, I am an abstainer, and would like* to see Prohibition enacted, because I believe it would benefit the* workers.” “(»rit.”