New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-23
PROHIBITION IN RHODE ISLAND.
IT'S ULTIMATE SUCCESS IN DOUBT.

A CAMPAIGN TO OVERTHROW THE AMENDMENT
BEGUN-rnE SITUATION IN PROVIDENCE.
fYRoM AN OCCASIONAL ooRREspoNDEST OF THE IHiBuNEI
ppov,pyScr. r L. Dec 1s-The people Of Rhode
Island have been living state Of unnatural e4ci'o
ment over the subject of prohibition for more nsn Yen
months The adoption Of the amendment 10 ~io So
tuition placing under the ban the manufacture anu se
intoxicating liquors to be used as beverage as no' ~
result of the sober deliberate judgment OF the peo
pie II was the fruit Of one OF those suo"en snu
indignant uprsngs which now and then upset inc
order Of things and which not nfrequent
" followed by reaction during which aars are IN great
danger Of drifting back into worse CONDITION thAn
have doubt that majority OF the voters Oh 'niS ~
taking city and country together are In FAVOR Oh
hbition. would be they thought that pronpi'ory
law could or would enforced Under the local opuon
law I'm force previous to the of July all but very
few OF the towns voted mo license and In nearly al OF
them the liquor traffic substantially suppressed
In many Of them there was absolutely no rum
selling. and In the others the amount OF nquor
sold was very small and the traffic in 1t was carried Oh
with the greatest secrecy In the cities OF Providence
Pawtucket and Newport and the large towns Oh WIZ
socket and Lincoln the annual vote on the question u
licensing liquor saloons generally very close out In
favor license And this vote believe 10 nave iepio
sened fairly the Judgment of the people Inc "oAn
Christian Temperance Union always had It's representa-
tiyes az the polls and the nquordeaers always on
Of license The of the maorities against license IN
the towns used be greater than the aggregate OF
those in favor Of it in the cities anu
larger villages that at any ordinary election during
the last FIVE years think that the entire state wouu
have given majority for prohibition unless special
effort 10 prevent had made by the Liquor Dealers
Association.
The unnatural excitement the question OF prohp
ton began very early in the year with the exposure OF
the failure of the police Of Providence TO prosecute Vo
lators the license law and OF the eniency WIN winch
those who were arrested were treated by the chief law
officer of the On the heels OF this the woman
Christian Temperance Union began an active aggressive
but strictly nonparisan campaign in favor OF the pro
hbory amendment and the interest they were able 10
kindle Joined with stern determination on he part Vi
respectable voters who did not believe in prohibition 10
teach saloonkeepers, who boosted that they con-
troled machinery of both political parties lesson
which they would forget the measure the
required three-ffths vote
Now threehfths vote OF the electors in favor OF any
measure don't what it is or how obtained is likely
to have very great weight with legislative
body chosen at the election and meeting
only few weeks later, and the Cen
ersl Assembly was substantially unanimous In the
passage OF the enforce the provisions OF the pro
hbtory amendment in the reform of the lower branch OF
our judiciary the election Of Chief Constable to
enforce prohibition The unnatural was kept
up by proceedings and by the furious attacks that
made upon all those members OF the Legislature InaI
had anything TO do with them.
But the reaction 70 have come at last, In this
city at least in this city that prohibition is to
fail first if il fails at all in this state In the municipal
election last week the saloon made Its appear
ance In politics once more, and In every
instance in which contest was made
il carried its point Mayoreect Robbins Is respectable
and respected business but acting Mayor since
the death OF the late Mayor Doyle he has displayed no
very great to secure enforcement Of the
hbitory law bring the police TO ooOK when they
have wnked at the violation OF II ana when tne prna
any contest damned ful OF poncenen anu otherC Guy
officials supported liquor dealers and their friends anu
ali of them working like beavers for Robbins The cleo
ton OF Mr. Robbins universally recognized as arluph
OF the Observation-Disclosures opening gun IN
prohibtOy law and IN favorOf tie hna repeal OF the pro
hbitorv amendment carried In the General
Assembly during next winter and In the state
And the city OF Providence were alone to decide this
question should fear that the experiment OF 4onsIn
selling almost ceased In this city last summer ana 1nee
most remarkable reduction IN the number ana ire
three months of prohibition published in The TRrn
UNE nearly two months and they disclosed state OF
things that highly creditable to the city
and To the executive authorities. But OF late
the police have grown binder and the nqiordeaers
bolder drunkenness has greatly Increased and tne cy
is beginning realize what il Is to have liquor sold with
out restriction still believe that large majority or the
voters OF Providence in favor OF the most rigid en-
forcemen Of the law the Republican party Is committed
tion having that end in view while the Liquor Dealers
Association will leave no stone unturned to break down
the law and the amendment ,,,,-,.
Now is the time for the active prohibtonists
of the state to come forward and save
what has been for them and for
Rhode Island by the votes OF the Repun
licans willingness on their part to Join with al good
citizens in demanding and securing the enforcement OF
the laws would either make prohibition success or prove
its imnracticabiity But unfortunately majority OF
those who have been identified with prohibition hereto
fore are apparently more interested In building up th
Marty and smashing the Republican organization than
In stopping selling. The situation Is an interesting
one The outcome is shrOuded III doubt