The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-11
1T DOES NOT PROHIBIT.
THE PROHIBITION LAW A FAILURE
IN RHODE ISLAND.
Indifference OF the Police-The Traffic
in Liquor Conducted in Tenement
Houses - How Republicans Wiring
Money From the Dealers.

there because intelligent public sentiment
was not only earnest in its support, but
was sufficiently aroused to organize itself
formally against all violations OF the law.
The Mayor of the city co-opcrated with
the Citizens Association, and the two to-
gether gave such constant moral support
to the police that the latter pursued all
persons attempting to sell liquor with such
vigor as to completely drive them out OF
the city. Undoubtedly, as we pointed out,
the enforcement of the law was aided by
the fact that Cambridge is separated from
Boston only by the width of the Charles
River, and its inhabitants can easily OBJ
tain all the liquor they desire by short
journey. still, the success OF the expert.
ment showed, first, that prohibitory law
could be successfully enforced in COM
munity in which public sentiment was
sufficiently strong and earnest in its be.
half TO combine, without regard to political
distinctions, against all violations; second,
that being enforced, the gain to the moral
and material welfare of the poorer classes
OF the community was instantaneous and
great.
We now ask our readers attention TO
another prohibition experiment, on II
larger scale, and with quite opposite re-
suits. The prohibitory law OF Rhode Isl
and has been in force now for over two
years. II was adopted at State election
IN April, 1856, bya vote OF 10, ll5 in favor
to $3.50 against, which was about the
average full vote Of the State. one might
Judge from the majority in its favor that
public sentiment would compel its en-
iorcement As a matter OF fact, however,
It never has been enforced. We have
before us now the latest report OF the
officer in charge OF its execution, the
Chief Of the State Police, and in that
little pretcnsc is made that the law has
had any elect ia even restricting the
liquor traffic. Nothing is more striking in
the report than the frankncss with which
the subordinate officials in the various
cities and towns admit that the law i not
enforced, and that the traffic is going ON
about ~ usual.
In some OF the rural portions of the State
the local officers report that there has
been decrease in the number OF places i'm
which liquor Is known 10 bc sold but in
all the larger places there is either q report
OF increase IN greater or less degree, or a
confession of Ignorance ON the subject
which amounts TO the same thing. The
largest city IN the State Is Providence, aud
from this the official report on violations
OF the lawiS "lncrcascdgrratlyOn account
OF larger number of tcnemeni-houscs."
From Newport the official report IT, "a
slight increase owing 10 the INABILITY 10
convict after apprehension. From Paw.
tucket, the second city in size aud great
manufacturing center, the official report
Is 81 don't know" From New shore
ham the official report H. Increased;
reason, no one take, any measures To stop
the same" From Johnston: Increased;
reason, kitchen barrooms"
The tone of the various reports are al
most invariably the same-One OF entire
Indifference as 30 the failure OF the law.
This is the inst and most striking charac-
teristic Of them, and We may add also that
II Is the leading characteristic Oi the Chief
OF state Policies report MS well. The sec
ond point to be noted is the revelation
made OF localities Ia which the increase of
violations is most marked. Tho Pfoyi-
dence official says Il is In the tenement
houses The Johnston official SAYS In
"ktchcn barrOOms This confirms ~.
cent statement Of the Providence journal
that the 'law Is having absolutely no ri-
feet on the liquor traffic save 30 drive il
into places from which II had hitherto
been excluded and into the hands Of ire.
sponsible persons Of the most dangerous
sort The business las now penetrated
into the tcncncnt-hOuscs Of the cities aud
factory villages, thus bringing terribly
dcmoralizing influence 10 the homes II
that class oi people who can least with.
stand IT," There can he no doubt Of the
truth OF this statement, for the official r..
ports admit Il. 4 sadder effect OF any law
could scarcely be imagined, and II seems
incredible that knowledge OF II should
not merely prevail in Rhode Island, but
should be stated in official documents
withou; a word Uf excuse or protest.
What are the reasons for this failure In
Rhode Island, as compared with the sue
cess Ia Cambridge Tie lin.t and greatest
reason Il that, Rhode Island being State,
the influence OF politics has been brought
"a bear on the question. In Cambridge
good citizens Of all parties unite IN de-
manding and sustaining the enforcement
OF the law. In Rhode Island nothing Of
the kind has been done. In fact, from the
outset the Republicans, who made n party
question of the adoption Of the Law, have
used II aud the machinery for iis operation
solely for the benefit OF politics. They
selected for their first Chief Of State Police
their cX.lBoss Brayton, who. ~ Postmaster
oi Providence, had been Government
delaultcr for $4,000. lie nj once showed
his party the possibilities for gain that
we're ia the law. lie did nothing 10 ~.
cure its enforcement but hc WIS quick 10
make Il q basis Tor campaign assessments
upon the liquor dealers oi the State. IL Is
notorious now that nearly all or quite
every liquor dealer pays to the Rcpub-
lican fund an assessment "a a condition Of
continuing his business without molcsta.
ton.
II Is Ibis political aspect Of Prohibition
which We wish 10 dwell upon most ear
nrstly, iuf Il Is IN aspect which We have
reason 10 believe has profoundly impressed
these laticr.day leaders OF the Republican
party. the Qnays Dudlcys aud Plaiis. In
the inst place, the adoption Of n prohb.
tory law takes away the excuse Tor u sepa-
rate Prohibition party, aud thus brings
back into the Republican ranks thousands
Of votes which are greatly needed In all the
close States. In the second place q pro-
/ hibitory law, once II Il on the statute
| books, can b. used ~ q sure means for as
scssmcnt upon every liquOr-dealer In the
land. n be- won't come down" nj a threat
OF being closed up, he will certainly
come down, aud all his fellows with
him, at a threat 10 repeal the law. Thus,
instead Of paying 10 the support Of the
cost Of government through license fees,
the liquor traffic would pay only 10 the
support oi the Republican party. Herein
We catch glimpse OF the reason for loss