THE BECKONING HAND OF BEER.

White Ribbon, Volume 40, Issue 467, 18 August 1934, Page 3

THE BECKONING HAND OF BEER.

When viewing the international ramifications of the I.i«|iiur Traffic ni its present-da* activities, one feels that Lord Randolph Churchill was justified in calling it “devilish and destructive, there is vigilance and determination, the magnificent work of the Juvenile I empcrance Societies ot the world is to he undone. “We want to get the-Beer-drinking habit instilled into thousands, almost millions, of voting men, who do not at present know the taste of beer”- such is the declaration ol the British Brewers’ Society, through its Director. Judging by the available means ol pu. uit\ to this end, it would appear that the Brewers have lost no time in acquainting the world of its plans. Then, following the repeal of National Prohibition in the United States, the Press reports a “liquor ring” established to capture School Children with penny bonbons filled with bootleg liquor as bait. The public has been warned of this by the “Christian Science Monitor”: “Complaints made by School teachers and parents to Federal Authorities last December started the investigation. ; eachers reported that children who ate the candies during the recess came into their afternoon classes in a semi-stupor. The bonbons—sold from push-carts in crowded metropolitan sections contained about a teaspoonful of liquor each. This liquor when analysed was found to contain more than 20 per cent. Alcohol, diluted with various kinds of flavouring. Inspector McKinnon, Federal Food and Drug Administration Department (Agriculture), who was put in charge of the investigation found that the pedlars received their supplies in alley-ways and other secluded spots after ordering them by telephone.” Dr 1 YVoolever, in the “Pacific Christian Advocate” describing: a fraternity dance of the Central High School Students of Washington, States: “In a generation of journalism during my college days and since, 1 have never seen so many children who were just dead drunk. It was a new sight a sad sight.” We also learn from France that the Wets have formed a Women’s National Committee which it is intended shall he international—to further the consumption of wine among both young and old. \lme Follet-Gambrouze declared at the inaugural meeting that “the French must drink more wine. In Bulgaria, throughout one large area at least, children are being given wine instead ot milk tor breakfast. One school master recently stated that “the children behaved very curiously m morning classes, some falling asleep regularly and others very plainly ill/' which is no wonder. Desperate efforts are being made by the Wets in all lands to win the young ovei t<» the Drink habit. The methods are clever advertising, liquor sweets and in some cases tree distribution ot liquor. The Declaration of Geneva cannot he too often repeated: “Mankind owes to the child the best that it has to give.” If the infinite possibilities of childhood are to be sacrificed to the illgottcn gains ot the Wet Interests, who will give us back the youth we shall have lost. 1 ' Ihe people must udU t<' the protection of the child, not someday —but NOW!