CHAPTER X.

INTEMPERANCE AMONG MANUAL WORKERS.

A Topic that is closely connected with the Labor Problem - Testimony taken by the Senate Committee - A Manchester Carpenter's Thoughtful Observations- - Practical Effect of the Drinking Habit on the Skilled Trades - Wages and the Money Spent for Drinks - Some Considerations Based on Tenth Census Facts - Edward Atkinson's Calculations George E. McNeill's Contrary Views on the Subject of Economy - His Statement of the Cost of Living — Mr. Powderly's Answer to a Critic — A letter in which he Defends his Position as an Ultra Temperance Man-His Presentation of the Cost of the Drinking Habit to Workingmen - Testimony of Fall River Mill Hands-Some Final Considerations upon the Relation of Temperance to the Wage and Labor Problems.

IN

N this chapter I desire to discuss briefly the causes, effects and remedies of alcoholic intemperance among those who depend upon their labor for support, and specially but not wholly from an economical point of view. This topic is closely connected with the labor problem, a subject which of itself would require volumes, and I shall not presume to be thorough or dogmatic where the greatest minds are still in the dark.

The ills of poverty and of intemperance have this difference: that, however they may produce, exist with and aggravate each other, the former are most frequently owing to causes beyond the control of the sufferer; while intemperance, by the consumption of strong drink is a personal act for which, however great the temptation and strong the impulse, the individual is directly responsible. This statement is still true, although the habit may at last become irresistible. The enslaved consumer sold himself and is therefore guilty of his own thralldom. Poverty on the other hand is in most instances, not always of course, the result of conditions which are beyond the control of its victim. The great body of those who suffer for the comforts of life neither elect nor create their condition. Nor do they remain in it from lack of the same degree of desire and effort to obtain comfort and competency which is manifest

on the part of those who are in less exacting circumstances. It is unjust to demand, and useless to expect, of those who have no accumulation of means, either inherited or otherwise acquired, the exhibition of virtues which are not possessed by others in more fortunate circumstances, when the sacrifice is made from the absolute necessaries of life. If the poverty be so great that the whole nature is constantly overtaxed, there will be a strong tendency to purchase temporary relief from mental horror and bodily exhaustion in the use of some agency which has power to take one, for the moment at least, out of the insufferable environment. Expenditures of this nature constitute a cause of poverty that illustrates the tendency which any condition has to reproduce or increase itself, and to create additional conditions which have like consequences. The long struggle for a competence, and, lacking that, for a decent living, in which most human beings engage, thwarted so often by accident, sickness, misfortune, and sometimes by the absence of those inherent qualities of endurance, frugality and hope, which others possess and which are a natural or acquired capital more necessary in the battle of life than any other; the innate desire to enjoy life to some extent while living, if possible, and to escape from its hardships when there ceases to be expectation of further happiness in living, very often drives even a powerful mind to despondency and, in a manner, compels the utilization of surrounding temptations to avoid despair. To be sure the remedy is worse than the disease, and there is no escape from personal responsibility. The very constitution of society compels us to hold every reasonable man responsible for the natural consequences of his own act; but we are speaking of causes, and the cause of intemperance and waste and ruin in such a case as I am supposing, was expressed by the inspired writer upon the labor question when he said that the "destruction of the poor is their poverty." Nor does the fall in these cases imply any want of equal strength and merit of character compared with others who do not fail because of different surroundings. Trifling things make or mar our fortunes. Individuals are merged in, and controlled by, the system of which they are a part. It is a wellaccredited fact that ninety per cent. of the merchants of our

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large cities become embarrassed in business during their business lives. Their embarrassments as a rule do not imply any less industry or economy than are exhibited by the few who never have failed. The commercial system of the country, and those other causes in the course of nature and In a similar way in general affairs by which the individual atom is controlled, sweep him on to fortune or destruction. conditions which they did not create, and which they cannot avoid, and from which they have never had the opportunity or power to escape, cause and perpetuate the poverty of a large proportion of the poor, and finally induce them to yield to habits and vices which destroy all hope whatever. While we know that the average human being will succumb to these surroundings, and that only systematic effort of the masses and their gradual uplifting will remove these causes of poverty -those deep and strong movements from within which elevate humanity as the earthquake heaves up the mountain, or by continual pressure lift the continent to its place-it still remains true that the expenditure of the fruits of industry or the idleness and destruction of the power to work itself, by reason of any needless or vicious indulgence, has its evil consequences, and the individual and society must suffer so long While I would not overlook the as he yields to its practice. responsibility of society at large for much of the want and suffering which exist, still it remains true that whatever remedy we get must come almost wholly from ourselves, and each one will only add to his inevitable troubles by the gratification of any bad habit or propensity. So it has been, so it will be; and, whatever the excuse or the unavoidable cause, the consequence will follow.

It is of little use then for us to complain of those consequences, the causes of which either are or have been of our own making. There is no doubt that the amelioration of our own condition is to a great extent under our own control, and that we are ourselves a great and responsible part of that very "society" whose aggregate power must apply the larger and systematic remedies for evils in the life of the community as a whole. In a country like this he is a vagabond, indeed, who has not or may not make at least the opportunity for If he cannot save he need honest work and frugal saving.

not waste. And here, too, the poor man, the man of moderate means, can make the law, and the law is society in its highest form of action.

It is idle for us to attribute the habit of intemperance to any one but ourselves. Every man must make an effort in this world, and if he fails in everything else he can at least die conscious of having done his best. That consciousness is itself victory. The old Athenian in his oration over the tombs of those who had died for their country in battle exclaimed: "What was the part of gallant men they all performed. Their success was such as the Supreme Ruler of events dispensed to each." So in the battle of life. Our responsibility is for high endeavor, and ends there. But the man who wastes his resources of body or of mind, or his time or his money, or spends them for that which satisfieth not, has no claim against fortune, and is in no condition to prosecute society. He is his own curse and a curse to society also, and especially to all those who depend upon their daily labor for their daily bread. I was greatly impressed with this fact by the testimony of a mechanic before the Senate Committee, taken in the investigation upon the relations between Labor and Capital.

The following is the official report of his testimony found in Vol. III. of Report of Senate Committee on Education and Labor, p. 251, in answer to questions proposed by myself:

MANCHESTER, N. H., October 15, 1883.

Alphonso Crosby examined by the Chairman:

Q. Where do you reside?

A. I reside in this city.

Q. How long have you resided here?

A.-Thirteen years.

Q.-Have you had occasion to make any observations upon the habits of the people here as to the use of intoxicating drinks?

A. I have.

THE CHAIRMAN.—I understand you have some data, some statistics or facts, which you can give us, so please proceed to do so in your own way, with a view of showing the bearing of intemperance upon the sufficiency of the wages received by working people for their labor. THE WITNESS.-I would only speak especially of it in my own line. I am a carpenter. I have worked at that business for forty-one years,