New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-23
PROHIBITION IN PENYsYLYAHIA.

An emphatic proof has Just been given in
PENNSYLVANIA Of the habtual fairness Of the
Republican party in dealing with the temper
ance question. A Prohibition amendment 10
the Constitution has been already passed by
the Legislature, and comes up this winter for
the second time. The question arose whether
il should be submitted to the people at the
regular election in November, or at a special
election held solely for that purpose. The Re-
pubicans Of the Legislature have decided in
caucus in favor OF a special election to be held
June l9. This will give the advocates Of
Prohibition the fullest possible opportunity to
prove their case before the people. This is
what they have always demanded, aud all they
could fairly ask. There will be no side issues
Of partisan politics to distract the attention Of
voters no contests for Office no party ieai-
ousies. The question can be decided absolute
y on its merits. The expense Of special cleo
ton is about 50 900, but ii was felt that it
was worth while to expend this sum in order
TO leave no room for dissatisfaction on the part
OF voters on either side.
The newspapers Of Philadelphia have been
endeavoring to gauge the sentiment of the
State, and predict an earnest and close con-
test. THE Philadelphia Press" goes so far
as TO say that the chances are apparently in
favor of the Prohibition amendment being
carried. The Republican Committeeman from
Philadelphia estimate that twenty-three wards
will vote against Prohibition and four in its
favor, leaving six doubtful. CuriousIy enough,
the Democratic Committeeman count only
seventeen wards as against Prohibition, or six
less than the Republican estimate, and seven In
its favor leaving tho rest doubtful. While
these estimates agree in believing that Phila-
delphia will give heavy majority against Pro
hbition, the Republican politicians Of Pitts
burg think the result in that city is very doubt
full, and the Democrats claim only 5000 or
1000 majority in Allegheny County against
the amendment. "The Press" poled the en-
tire Legislature with results necessarily some
what vague, but still showing stronger senti-
ment for Prohibition than was expected TAX
ing the State by Senatorial districts nine are
set down as positively for Prohibition and
three against, with fourteen doubtful; taking
it by Representative districts forty-nine, or
nearly one-half, are reported as favorable,
twenty-one unfavorable and thirty-six doubt
full.
There is little doubt that much Of tho
strength Of Prohibition feeling is due to the
stubborn attempts of the liquor-dealers to break
down the High-License law. This is the view
of "The Press and it is an entirely reason
able one. The taats-Zeitung" Of this city
long ago gave warning that il was a mistake
for the leaders OF the liquor traffic to resist prop
er regulative legislation, because the only result
would be to arouse spirit in the community
that would dictate seyerer measures This
might be a good time to repeat that warning.
II remains to be seen what the result Of the
discussion will be in Pennsylvania. Thus far
the experience Of the only Eastern States in
which Prohibition has been adopted has not
been encouraging. Pennsylvania differs from
them in having several large cities within her
borders, which would seem TO make successful
Prohibition even more difficult. She diffen
from them also in having already IN operation
an admirable High-License law which has
worked wonders in diminishing drunkenness
and crime. To the outside observer Il would
seem on the face Of it unlikely that the people
would abandon these positive advantages which
they have already secured, for an experimental
policy. But that is question which they ar.