“ SWORN OFF.”

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2189, 13 May 1908, Page 4

“ SWORN OFF.”

MORAL SUASION. A OWNS-FOll I'NTJfIGMI’USiUuVvN'OE. In Now Zealand, “moral suasion” lias gone rather out of favor as a euro for inteiopoi'ar.eo, but in Ainorion it is 'still regarded an one of it he most offeotive moans of combating the evils of tho liquor traffic, and many in-stauccs are given of its euccesstul application. Some of the molt striking of these have boon supplied by Judge Pollard, of the St l.ouis Police Count, who is said to have reclaimed more druiiikards till,an iiave all the “no-license” laws of the it tat os nut together. This probably is an exaggeration, but the judge's methods. might very /well bo tried by name of G ur own magistrates. When a man is arrested for drunkenness and brought before him, lie gives .him tho option of “swearing oif” for a vear.’or paying the usual penalty for" his offeneo.* “I. allow a man to sign tiho pledgo for ouo year,” ho recently explained to an interviewer, “and I have him call at my house once or twico a. week, ‘in the that ho shall not lose any timo Prom .hie work, and if his face is indicative of drinking, or if ho shows .any odour of liquor, J put the execution ditto force. I say to him in the Court, using a common American expres. sioiC ‘ft > s h,p to you. You have the opportunity to work out your own salvation. Will you do it? I will fine you 50 dollars ami costs, or four solid mouths’ hard labor an the workhouse, but. you shan’t /pay one cent or serve one minute if you will sign the temperance-pledge and keep it.’ ” The man is liable to bo brought into Court at any time .for sentence if -ho.docs not live up to the requirements of tilie probation system, but if lie clings steadfastly io what the Americans call “the water waggon - ’ for tho prescribed period ho is discharged from his pledge, and free to offend again. Tho experinco ot the Judge, however, goes to show that after,* man. has abstained for a year -under such conditions ho is very unlikely to suffer a relapse. It is claimed that the cure fails in only fivo per cent, of the cases to which it is applied, and that in ninety-five per cent, it is complete and lasting. Of course it would he of little use in the case of a confirmed drunkard, who would risk fine and impnisonmenfc and even death in order to satisfy his craving for alcohol; lmt ninety-nine per cent of the unfortunate people who come before the Courts are not confirmed drunkards, and in their ease reformation would be infinitely .preferable to punishment. The National Temperance Party in England has petitioned the magistrates of the United Kingdom to adopt Judge Pollard’s system, and our own authorities will have to move quickly if they do not .wish to be outstripped by those of the 'Old Country.