New Hartford High School - Senior Annual Yearbook (New Hartford, NY)

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PUBLIC MENACE o. 1 FOREWORD: Although this composition did not win the Terry prize for the best senior essay, we feel that it deserves special mention because of its valuable contents. I look about among my acquaintances in various spheres-business, literature, the stage, the bar, politics- and I see everywhere men whose lives are obviously clouded, and their careers impaired, if not most gravely imperilled, by continual immoderate indulgence in alcohol. And I would say further that the decent majority of people who drink anything at all would be more interesting com- panions, more lovable helpmeets, more exciting sweet- hearts, more efficient citizens, and less silly at the polls Cespecially the municipal polling-boothsD if they cut down their consumption by half. And I would say still further that the majority of them would greatly like to cut down their consumption-but can't of their own accord. Are the majority of drinkers slaves to alcohol, in the sense that it controls them more than they control it? They are. -Arnold Bennett. Wlien mixed with gasoline this problem becomes one of the gravest social problems to be solved by the next generation. One of the most patriotic things my generation could do is to rid the world of the drunken driver. To adequately discuss this problem it is necessary, first, to take up the difhculties with which the law enforcement agencies have to contend, the existing perplexities under which these agencies have to work. Next, the discussion must in- clude the effects of alcohol. The last point to be discussed will be the methods now in use for determining intoxi- cation, Now to discuss the first point stated in the introduc- tion. The police face many difficulties in determining whether or not a driver has been drinking. A driver cannot be identified as under the influence of alcohol until he has committed some driving error or is involved in an accident. It is hard to prove whether the driving ability of a person who is under the influence of liquor has been impaired to an extent sufficient to require that he should be kept off the streets and highways. The legal definitions and court interpretation of such terms as intoxication and under the influence are so inadequate in many states that it generally is difficult to obtain convictions for anyone ex- cept those who are obviously drunk. Another difiiculty lies in the fact that there are so many conditions that may pro- duce symptoms similar to alcoholic influences that evidence must be sufficiently convincing in order to obtain convic- tions. Officials in some states hesitate to arrest or convict intoxicated drivers because of the heavy penalties. Public opinion and court cooperation have not been developed sufiiciently so that officials often are afraid to press charges of drunken driving. Therefore, to obtain convictions for the offense of driving while under the in- fluence, it is necessary to prove that CID the person was operating on a public highway, CZD his physical condition or judgment had been impaired so that he was not in pos- session of his normal faculties, and C51 this impairment was caused by the influence of alcohol. These are but a few of the perplexities the law enforcement agencies have to overcome in order to rid our roads of drunken drivers. More adequate legislation is necessary in order to allow the police and the courts to do their work to the full extent of the law. They should not be hindered by such problems as these. The second point is the effects of alcohol on the body. just what are the effects of alcohol? Dr. S. R. Gerber of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, uses a blood-alcohol concentra- 26 tion of 0.10 per cent as the borderline of intoxication. Wliat does this mean? What effect does this have on the body? The next few sentences will try to answer these questions. Both alcoholic intoxication and fatigue produce temporary impairment of a persons ability to act as he would under' normal conditions. Fatigued drivers generally are aware of their decreased efficiency and consequently operate at lower speeds. Persons under the influence of liquor are not able to compensate for their decreased ability because of faulty judgment and are dangerous behind the wheel. The de- termination of the borderline beyond which the drunken driver is dangerous is a technical problem that must be overcome. Dr. Gerber's test means that there are ten drops of alcohol to every thousand drops of blood in the body. This test solves the technical point. The National Safety Council reports: Special examina- tions of drivers injured or killed in traffic accidents have revealed that the percentage of accidents involving drink- ing is higher than indicated in official reports. Although public opinion recognizes to a limited extent that the driver under the influence of liquor is a menace on the highway, there is need for an educational program to in- form the public in a more specific manner of the dangers of driving after drinking. Such a program should point out the effects of alcohol both on the person's physical condi- tion and upon his judgment. It should stress particularly the impairment of judgment which occurs before physical condition has been noticeably changed. Lastly, it is indicated that over half of the city and state departments still rely upon the general observations of ofiicers and witnesses in securing evidence of intoxica- tion. There is a definite trend toward the use of more scien- tific methods. Many departments recently have adopted spe- cial examination forms for use by officers in recording answers to questions, and results of physical examinations and coordination tests. Many of the large cities have police surgeons who make clincal examinations. Scientific inves- tigators have pointed out and repeatedly verihed the fact that the concentration of alcohol in the body fluids. The degree of alcoholic influence can be evaluated closely when the concentration of alcohol in breath or in the body fluids is known. Now that all the points have been discussed, a definite conclusion can be reached. The evidence shows that the law enforcement agencies are working under many per- plexities. Another very perturbing problem is the effects alcohol has on the human body. Lastly, scientific investiga- tion for determining intoxication must be improved, No one can afford to be lax when it comes to testing whether or not a person is under the infiuence of alcohol. It all adds up to one big question that it is absolutely necessary for the next generation to eradicate the drunken driver from the face of the earth, The public realize now that gasoline and alcohol won't mix, can't be combined safely, and shouldn't be added together. The results are usually disastrous. As Arnold Bennett says, I see every- where men whose lives are obviously clouded, and their careers impaired, if not most gravely imperilled, by con- tinual immoderate indulgence in alcohol. Are the majority of drinkers slaves to alcohol, in the sense that it controls them more than they control it? They are. - SAFETY FIRST! BURRELL HEERMANS.

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Name Nifkmzme General Chief Final Favorite Appeamnre Orrupation Outrome Expreuion ROSEMARY Poo1ie Freckled Getting the Efflciency expert Want to hear a POOLE Tattler out good joke ? MARGARET Peg Slinky Acting Actress Oh, dawling- RAMAGE WILLIAM Bill Humorous Having fun Man about town Oh, I like that RIELLY orchestra ELEANOR Eleanor Quiet Being quiet Quietest Carolyn- ROBERTS JOHN Hutch Careless Praising Hitler Dictator Sure ROBERTS THELMA Thelma Coquettish Chewing gum Night club I did not l ROBERTS entertainer BETSY Betsy Lipstick Talking to Burrell Mrs. Heermans Burrell ROSS WILLET B. Ben Teddy Bear Confusing the Tug boat captain Those buds and SHERWOOD teachers babes- NANCY Nan Tall Singing Singing athlete Oh, now I SIMON DORIS Sloanie Going Talking Tamed by I've got something SLOAN somewhere Lauren Stopper to tell you FLOYD Rubinoff Blond Playing a fiddle Farmer It's nice out, SMITH isn't it ? RUTH Ruthie Southern vamp Acting bored Senator's wife Is that so ? STEELE LAUREN Larry Attractive Being with Doris Subduing Sloan Doris ! STOPPER ALBERT Angel Apollo Looking handsome Matinee idol Huh ? TIMIAN Belvedere ELIZABETH Betty Friendly Having fun Hospital Hello again I TOWNSEND Superintendent BERNADETTE Bernie Sweet Being friendly President of the Oh, did you l TROSSET Junior League RUTH ELEANOR Skippy Friendly Being friendly Best friend of Hullo l VANDENBERGH V everybody ROBERT Wannie Joe College Moving furniture Still in furniture Oh, yeah ! WANAMAKER business MARION Watty Preoccupied Asking questions Scenario Writer Know what? WATKINS FRED Fred Honest and Mowing the lawn Gov. N. Y. State on Hello, that I WEIGEL true Independent ticket ROBERT Butch Freckles Annoying people Movie gangster Well-l-l-l-1 WESTER CHARLES Charley' Mischa Tickling people Farmer Did I do BIASI Auer II something ? FAY Bill Collegiate Being with Phil Married to Phil Hi ! BILLINGS EDWIN Maggie Lanky W Loafing Pool room mummy Do I have to do it? KELLY N 7 WALTER Grif Serious Thinking Leading tenor in NoI haven't GRIFFITH ' Metropolitan Opera JANE ANN Calamity Sophisticated Having fun Wealthy widow Oh, smooth ! LYNCH GORDEN Rhodesy Ears Learning history History Prof. In 1856 RHODES dates JAMES Jim Slow Doing History C Farmer I don't know HALLIGAN l25I

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Q FOR WHAT? For what did they tight- Those valiant souls Who sailed across the sea? Did they fight because they wanted to, Or was it for you and me? For what did they die- Those brave young boys- Who gave their lives with a grin? Did they light because they wanted to Or to shield our world from sin? J And what have they gained- Those generous lads- Have we tried to repay their faith? If so, we will keep out of war again, For theirs, if not our own sake. -DOROTHY CLEMENT. QUOTES When shall we three meet again? -Betsy, Burrell, and George. Music hath charms to sooth a savage beast -look at Rube Driscoll. And what is so rare as an A in june? To die, to sleep - Chuck Garvey. Something rotten -Chem lab. Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow -before summer vacation. Infirm of purpose -Edgar Mulligan. There has been much throwing about of brains - Snort Norton and Rosie Poole. The best paid plans of mice and men gang aft agley -We tried to get our Senior Essays in on time! No pent-up Utica contracts your powers, But the whole boundless continent is yours -Ruth Steele. Great wits to madness surely are allied fBill Fix. 'Tis distance lends enchantment to the view -jane Ann and Bremer. Masterly in activity 4Gene Madden. Wherefore art thou, Romeo? -Inez Miller. Frailty, thy name is woman -Miss Namon Cully. l27l