Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1874-03-21
The Whisky War.
RenuIfat TO Date.

villages in Ohio give statistics OF the
results of the women's temperance
movement. In the IS places from which
reports are received, $50 drinking
places have ceased the sale of liquor.
OF this number 255 were saloons and 81
drug stores, where liquors were sold to
tipplers. Over $1,000 persons have
signed the total abstinence pledges.
On the other hand, in the same places
$40 drinking places are open, but their
business has been reduced if not des-
troyed. In the few Indiana towns
heard from, nine saloons and nine drug
stores have ceased to sell, and 1888
persons have signed the pledge. In
the aggregate 254 saloons and 100 drug
stores are closed, and the pledge has
10000 signatures. 1t is safe to place
the number of liquor stores closed at
$50, and the signatures to the pledge at
10000. In the 81 towns heard from
612 saloons and drug stores continue to
sell liquor.
Most of this work was accomplished
in the last fortnight of February. AS
still more clearly showing the effect of
the women's crusade in Ohio, where it
started, we may state that in Washing
ton, Cedarville, Zaleski, Leesburgh,
jamestown, Sabina, Reeseville, Blan-
chester, Woodington, Darbyville, Mt
Sterling and Alpha all the saloons have
been closed, and only one store remains
open in Franklin, New Holland,
Georgetown, sWaynesville, Greenfield,
Logan and Macarthur. In Ripley "a
saloons and drug stores surrendered
in % days, and saloons remain open.
In Xenia 26 saloons have been closed,
and Is are besieged. Springfield has
made little progress except in the crea-
ton of q strong total abstinence public
sentiment and a strict enforcement of
the law. In Columbus and Dayton the
movement is in its earliest stages, with
some encouraging symptoms. One re-
suit of the crusade is the passage of
strict prohibitory ordinances by many
towns.
In Worcester, Mass, which seems
just now to be the chief point of inter
est in New England, there is great diff
culty-not in getting up the requisite
amount of enthusiasm, but in finding
the saloons on which to operate. Not
that liquor is not sold and drank there,
but owing to the vigilance of the State
constables nearly all the rum-sellers are
driven into corners liquor is dealt cut
stealthily, and there are no large saloons
where liquor is fagrantly sold. The
prayer crusaders have few obvious
points of attack. There are twenty sa'
looms where lager beer is sold, and also
about twenty-five apothecary shops thai
sell liquor as medicine.
Including these and the hotels, eating
saloons, and groceries, the State con
stables have about three hundred ant
sixteen places on their books. Many
are little stores, where there is no
more than So or So worth of liquor at {
time, and where the sale is carefully
disguised. A barrel of liquor is care
fully concealed in q tunnel under ;
basement floor, being drawn by mean
of rubber tube. This shows the diff
ference between Worcester and Ohio
The great difficulty in Worcester viii
be to get many to admit that they sci
it at all. Still tke State constables be
lieve that the woman's movement ma,
be productive of good, and they vii
furnish the crusaders with list of al
suspected places.
In Ohio the women say that the Pro
hibitionists are endangering the Who'll
cause by their over zeal. Already ther
have been unpleasant scenes when tn
Prohibitionists have insisted upon Civ
ing the women advice. Now the wome
are nearly all Prohibitionists, and q
absolute prohibition law is expects
within year, if this movement goe
on as it has of late. But they urg
that their work just now is work O
love, and that when the law is men
toned the saloon-keepers stiffen thei
backs and say, "Try it /" with provokin
3 obstinacy. The women therefore sa
Glands offp to the men, and, unles
their clumsy hands are taken off,
split in the ranks is inevitable.
Tho Cincinn Iii brew 3rs complain o
q depression OF business as the resul
! of the women's temperance crusade
/ They unite in saying that if the Obi
+ movement becomes common to the {
: S., the business of brewing will be d.
! stroyed, and that with it's fall, ruin wi
a overtake other business and trade!
3 They say, also, that the manufacture G
the necessary iron barrel-hoops, th
! coopers' trade, and the cultivation {
: hops and barley will cease. Near
while, however, as an Offset to thes
dismal Vaccinations, official statistic
show that the sale of beer, SO far froi
falling off during the few weeks past,
= actually on the increase. The bee
stamps sold to brewers in the LIST Di'
trict of Ohio, for the month endin
y Feb. 26, amounted to more than th
I year previous.
v The fever has spread to Maryland
= and the Amended License bill, now b,
" fore the Legislature is strangely
Q contrast with the progressive INTEL
# gence of the age. So sweeping are tt
d provisions of the bill that merchan
g are prohibited from making sales GU
v side their places of business. tt
a Baltimore Gazette denounces it as
! bill to encourage spies and informers,
% and petition signed by several hui
d bred of the leading merchants an
q manufacturers has been presente
% against it, as depriving them of makir
l.. their purchases at,free competition rate
d and as calculated also to cause retail
1t tive laws to be passed by other States
.IU.wxn