Suppose, Mr. Drinker
Supposing your child should leave its own yard
For a romp or in search of a ball,
If its mother were busy and had not the time
To step out and give it a call;
Supposing some drinker should race down your street
As if he were taking a dare
And crush the life out of your little child;
Mr. Drinker, do you think you would care?
Supposing your mother were crossing the street
Your mother now feeble and old;
And some reckless driver should knock her aside,
Leaving her lifeless and cold.
Could you find an excuse for his careless act?
Would you really think it was fair?
Now, putting yourself in this fellow’s place —
Mr. Drinker, do you think you would care?
Supposing a loved one you hold very dear
Were a victim of some drinker’s game;
And lay in bed just day after day
All crippled and helpless and lame.
Supposing he never could walk any more,
No longer your pleasure could share;
Just lay there and suffer day in and day out —
Mr. Drinker, do you think you would care?
How little you care for the other man’s pain
In your reckless pleasure and greed;
How little you care when it costs someone else,
As you travel at dare-devil speed.
But just let it strike in your family some day
For you and your loved ones to share —
Then you’ll slacken your speed and you’ll take time to think
And then, Mr. Drinker, you’ll care.
The Voice of Temperance Scrapbook – 9 Winters of Prayers & Poems from Prohibition is a weekly journey through one of history’s most unique relics of faith and reform. This scrapbook, preserved across nine winters, blends heartfelt poetry with fervent prayers from the Prohibition era—a time when voices of temperance sought to guide communities toward sobriety, strength, and moral conviction. Each entry offers not only a glimpse into the spiritual and cultural mindset of the early 20th century, but also a window into how ordinary people used words to grapple with change, hope, and resilience.
Every week, we will highlight one poem and one prayer from the collection, pairing them with a touch of historical context and reflection. Whether you come for the rhythm of the verse, the quiet power of the prayers, or the curiosity of uncovering forgotten pages of the past, this series will celebrate the endurance of the written word and the human spirit through nine long winters of conviction and devotion.
In 1936 for nine winters “The Voice of Temperance” was broadcast over radio stations. Thousands of poems, newspaper clippings, excerpts of temperance addresses, and personal experiences we mailed to the author Sam Morris. Radio listeners copied or clipped most of them from books, magazines, or newspapers without giving their source or author. We had no thought of putting them into a book and so merely pasted them into a handy reference book. But so many requests had come for copies that we have collected those most often requested into this Scrap Book for wider distribution.
Naturally under the circumstances indicated above, it has been impossible to check up and secure the individual permission to publish each one; we have no desire to infringe upon copyright privileges or personal ownerships. We have indicated authorship where it was known and should there be any infringement upon copyright or personal ownership we shall be only too glad to correct the infringement in future editions.
With this brief explanation we send forth this unique Scrap Book with the prayer that its contents may contribute to the moral and spiritual betterment of human society.
Sincerely,
SAM MORRIS
“The Voice of Temperance”
