New-York tribune., 1888-03-25
STATE AND BAR-ROOM.
HIGH LIoENsx OR PROHIBITION. i.
REPRESENTATIVE MEN DISCUSS TIRE
LIQUOR LAWS.
KRAr n DONE IN VA ARIogs STATES 70 REPREsi
IHTgMPERAHoE.
REPrnLIcANS DEMOCRATS AND PRoHlBrTIoxIsTs
HANDLE rag QUESTION viGoRorsLY-sKv-
YRAL srATUToRY CHANGES sUGeEsrKD

HANDLE rnE QUESTION viGoROrsLY-sKv-
xBAL STATUTORY CHANGES sUGeEsrKD
-rHE LESSON FOR Xrw.YoRK.
THx TRIBrNy begins this morning the pub
cation of the outlines and salient features Of the
laws Of all the States Of the Unihn affecting the
sAls and use Of alcoholic liquors together wit
the opinions Of prominent persons as to tho effect
VI the liquor laws Of their respective States in
meeting the evils OF intempcrancA
The presentation Of the expression Of sentiment
On this subject has been No impartial as possible
stser WIS sent to the Secretary Of State in each
StatA except New-York. asking him 70 send
references to their latest liquor legislation and also
the names and addresses Of three prominent persons
in his State from each Of the three parties-Repuh
noan, Prohibition and Democratic-whom be con-
sidered especially competent to express an opinion
upon such laws and their efcctA
THE QUESTIONS Pnop"UNpED.
Responses were receved from all the Secrctares
Of State except six To all the persons whose
names and addressed were so received letters were
can't requesting answers to three questions relative
70 The iquos laws Of their respective Statea The
.aasssieas upon the sliU were - follows
4. Docs the liquor law Of your
State operate % FePress tntemper-
aneel
.. Is the best usuer law for that
purpose
3. If not what statutory changes
should be made most eHectualiy 10
accomplish that purpose,
In the ease Of States whose Secretaries of State
did not send such lists. they were obtained from
Prohibitiopjsts were kindly furnished By, officers
Of the Prohibition National Committee while the
representatives Of the other parties were named
BY members Of Congress from those States.
pauR RrNDRrp LETTERs sgNT Ut.
similar letter with the same questions was
Also forwarded to the Governor of each State.
Consequently, including New-York twbere the
number was increased to ten of each party, or with
the Governor thirty-one In alb about 400 sach
letters of inquiry were sent out Tie body Of
such letter was uniformly the same through the
whole of the 400 copies and read as follows:
THE TRIBUNE will shortly publish full synopsis
OF the liquor law Of each State Tho Editor dcsies,
at the time to publish the views of thoughtful
and eadipg mon of each party, relative to the work
ings Of the liquor laws of their respective States
For that purpose this letter Is sent TO three Repub-
cans. three Democrats and three Prohibtonists In
each state. and. In addition, TO the Governor ira
speciive VI hts party affiliations.
An expression of opinlon rom you, as ono Of such
represent stve persons R therefore, respectfully re-
quested, IN the form VI to the questions upon
the accompanying slip. A brief statement Of the
tor tho opinions expressed would also be de-
slrabe. The necessity for terseness meet the
igcne'es OF newspaper publication VIII readily DO
Kindly return in the enclosed enveops the question
To these letters about $50 replies have been
received. reprcsenting all shades Of opinion upon
this interesting and important subject The
most OF the replies were. as requested. short and
1a But ssPs Of the writers allowed t their
full discussions that the striking out Of censd-
erable portions OF some answers became ces-
valuable and admirable of the responses mado
by supporters Of " high license
These laws and orinions thereon viii be pub.
lished in three or four instalments. the first of
which is presented to-day 1t embraces the STATE,
the initial letters, of whose names. are included
v F nos wo s of we're
eeived. and the letters were sent 10 five persons
representing each party; besides the Governor.
States on the other hand particularly Delaware,
and some Of the more distant States the names
lists Of replies to be received.
TnE rFLATrvE DENSITY OF POPULATION.
As one Of the most important factors in an in
tellgent consideration of this subject is The rel
ative density Of population, the caption OF the
synopsis of the law Of each State sets forth data
showing the States population to the Sc uare mile,
the population Of the largest city and Of the entire
State. well as its area in square miles. These
figures are taken from the censns of 1880. and.
OF course, In many instances, in the growing
States OF the West furnish very inaccurate state
meuts Of the population as it now exists. Chicago,
for instance instead Of being ety Of 503l 85 Ia
habitapts, the census OF $50 states IT, now con-
tains, it Is asserted 500. 600 and 600 900 inhab-
itants But 1t furnishes an approximate basis
for comparisons, and the only one that rests upon
authentic figures. The publication has been
under the supervision Of member Of the New
York bar by whom the summaries given Of the
LIQUOR laws Of the different States were made.
Although the changes that are frequently occur-
III suab laws and the questions constantly
arising as to whether later statutes have repealed
previous ones make 1t extremely difficult entirely
n avoid some errors It is believed that. with few
unavodsble exceptions these abstracts Of the
existing laws will be found accurate and correct.
The minutiae and details OF the laws provisions
are. OF course either greatly abridged or omitted
But the PURPOSE has been to publish ell the salient
features Of caoh law Necessary for comparison with
the LIQUOR laws OF the other States