SOCIALISM AND THE DRINK QUESTION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 117, 8 May 1908, Page 3

SOCIALISM AND THE DRINK QUESTION.

To the Editor. Sir,—l am glad to hoar Mr. Kilir- t'.v planation of tbe attitude of socialists to this <(ti<»tion, and also his reasons *liy Mr. Tom Mann omitted any reference to it in his lecture here. I tliink I understand the main objects of social-i-t-. and 1 certainly admire tlio high | ideal they set up. when every man shall i work for the good of the community and enjoy the fruits of hi-, labor in |>\" [Hjrtion to his needs, with due regard to tile need,, and welfare of his fellow uian. Moreover, 1 understand, too. that they also recognise that this ideal state iuirli<- an improved individuality, whic.i will certainly be an individual who doe o not "take an enemy into his mouth to 11* teal away his brains." ±\ow, sir, lef us keep thi„ high ideal always before us. and in the meantime see what we can do, even in a tentative fashion it may be, to bring it nearer. It does not really matter, so far as the consumer is concerned, whether the liquor is mad.' for profit or not; it is still a poison if taken into the human ri.vstein, and any habit or custom or manner of life that renders the individual less efficient than lie ought to be, and would lie, is most certainly anti-socialistic. The Temperance movement has in it the elements of ■socialism, in that it eeeks to elevate society, and though many of its workers do not call themselves socialist*, the attainment of the object they have iu view would be the greatest help to the real socialist, most especially when we look at it as a movement towards the abolition of the greatest and most overbearing monopoly of tlie day—the liquor trade. One fault with socialism is not in it* ainns, but that, without abating' in the least its high ideals, it j does not condescend to the concrete and j thro v in its energies with this one great pr»~ nt means of social uplift—the abolition of the licewed liqnor trade (the nnli'-enaed will go, too, as well as many other evils when true socialism reigns). The i".i-l'ke seems to lw in part indicated when Mr. Rich classe- intoxicating with food, drink, clothing, and other necessaries of life and well-being. [ wonld call on all lovers of mankindtrue (and socialists are that, I believel—to join hands with the Temperance party in seeking to rid our country of thi- one great evil to whicn our attention is now called, and on which we. -hall have to vote in a few months' time: that being accomplished, we -hall be in a better position to tak* 1 the next step.—l am. etc.. fJKO. H. MAU>""l7n.