Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1888-04-28
PROHIBITION.
HOW 1T WORKS WHERE STRICTLY
ENFORCED.

1t is Openly Violated in Cities and
Towns, While 1t Ruins the Farmers
and Fruit.Growers-High License the
Remedy for Many Of the Evils Of
Intemperasce.
Some two weeks ago the New York
World published an extended and
elaborate article from Maine on the
working Of the prohibitory law in that
State. A condensed statement of the
contents of the article was telegraph
ed and appeared throughout the coun-
try. 1t was shown that liquor selling
was carried on openly Throughout, the
State, the hotels were all running
bars, and the restaurants and billiard
saloons all had wine closets attached.
Arrests for drunkenness in the city Of
Portland for six months ending Janu.
ary l, 1883, were 922-a far greater
number than in Portland, Oregon, a
city of equal size. The farmers are
now up in arms against the prohibit.
ory law, because it declares sweet
cider an intoxicating liquor, and the
J belief is gaining ground that prohi-
bition may soon be succeeded by high
license.
The World correspondent, in a
journey through the rural districts and
interior farming towns, found the
granger element roundly cursing the
lawmakers who have declared sweet
cider to be an Intoxicating liquor.
1t has cut off very handsome source
of income to them and has made the
possession of gallon or two of cider,
which they have been in the habit of
drinking on the long winter evenings,
u dangerous thing to have about the
house.
This stringent enactment greatly
pleased the prohibitionists. But when
the apples were ripe last fall and the
cider began to flow there was trouble.
The farming districts of Maine de.
pend on two staple crops in most sec.
lions, and from their potatoes and
apples come the revenues of the
farms. The wet season last year rot
ted the potatoes and the crop was a
failure. The only thing to be depend
ed on then was the orchards. But
the apples had hardly become ripe and
the cider mills set at work when con-
sternation seized the farmers and op.
erations were suspended by order OF
the liquor constables. Scores of good,
starch old prohib,tionists were rudely
dragged away from their farms Most
of these men have been strongly
identified with the Maine law from its
birth and have year after year voted
the temperance ticket and supported
the constitutional amendment. While
they have never drunk a drop OF
liquor or permitted any in their homes,
they have always kept a barrel OF
home made cider on tap in the cellar
to drink while they ate apples and
popped corn to pass the long winter
evenings.
But the provisions Of the new law
made every farmer liable who gave to
his neighbor a glass of sweet cider or
sold gallon Of vinegar, and placed
him on the same footing in the eye OF
the law as regular liquor dealer.
The penalties are the same, and the
law knows no difference between q
gallon of whisky or brandy and gal
lon of sweet cider fresh from the
cider-press. BY a most surprising
legal machination a farmer who is de-
tected in selling one glass of swec,
cider is liable for no less than five
distinct ofenses. In other words, tn,
same set of facts is used over anc
over again to convict on five differ
ent charges, with possible combined
punishment of FIVE months imprison
ment in the county jail and an accu
mulated fine of 1880.
This is the way the law is framed
and the whole machinery is set ir
motion by the issuing OF warran
for the arrest of person for the sale
of a single glass of cider, beer or al
coholic liquor. The party is arrested
and brought before trial justice OF
police court judge and fined $50 ane
imprisonment for 80 days. But the
evidence produced at the trial of thu
prisoner which showed single sale il
sufficient to warrant search ane
seizure of the premises, and the glass
pitcher, keg or barrel containing thu
cider imposes another fine of 500
At this point the police court has fin
ishcd it labors, the man has paid hi
fine and served his term and is a
home, when he is once more arrested
and an entirely different form OF pro
ceedings begun against him on tn
same old set of facts for which he ha
already been punished.