The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-06-15
Prohibition IN Pennsylvanla.

/ Senator Colouitt, who has taken a very
active part in the prohibition contest in
/ Pennsylvania. and who is in that state at
present for the purpose Of making another
/ speech or two in behalf OF the prohibitory
amendment before the campaign closes,
thinks that the majority, whether it is for
or against prohibition, will not be large.
and that it viii be for prohibition if the
voters generally go to the polls The cleo
ton takes place next Tuesday.
The newspapers Of Pennsylvania do not
think there is any probability that the re-
suit of the election will be victory for the
prohibitionists. They estimate that there
are about 100, 900 voters in the state. and
that if the prohibitionists poll their whole
vote, the number Of votes for the prohibit
rion amendment will be between $50, 600
and 10000 In their view the only ques-
ton is, how large win the majority against
the amendment bel
1t seems that the prohibitionists and the
politicians differ widely in their esti-
estimates of the result Of the election. The
reason Of this doubtless is that the prohibi-
tionists have studied the situation only
from their own standpoint. They are very
enthusiastic and their meetings have been
largely attended There has seldom beea a
more exciting or enthusiastic campaign in
Pennsylvania than that which is now near
its close. Most of the enthusiasm, however.
has been on the side Of the prohibitionists.
but the effective work mas not been all on
that side.
The probabilities are that Senator Col
quits opinion respecting the result Of the
election is an erroneous one A full vote
means prohibitions defeat rather than its
success. There are many thousands of
voters even in Philadelphia who, although
strongly in favor of temperance, are op-
posed to prohibition. They do not believe
that a general prohibition law can be en-
forced, especially in the cities They think
that, while under a prohibitory law the
liquor evil would disappear almost wholly
in the rural districts, it would increase in
Philadelphia and other cities of the state
The history Of prohibitory legislation in
other states justifies them in entertaining
this belief. They have taken little or no
part in the prohibition campaign, but they
wiz fOIo dL Luc t4ECbiOIls
There are thousands Of voters in Phila-
delphia and other Pennsylvania cities who
are satisfied with high license They de-
clare that the results of the high license
law, which has been in operation about a
year, have been very gratifying The
Record, Of Philadelphia, published some
figures few days ago, showing that during
the last year drunkenness had decreased
one-half in that city, and that no liquor
whatever was now sold on Sundays Be-
fore the enactment of the high license law
there were nearly 5000 licensed dram shops,
and about 600 unlicensed. The number Of
dramshops is now only about 200 Under
high license there has been a decrease of &c
per cent. in the arrests for all kinds of
crimes, and of 80 per cent. in commitments
to the House of Refuge At the same time the
increase which the city derives from
saloon licenses has been increased over
100000 year. With such showing it is
! not to be wondered at that there is a strong
sentiment in Philadelphia in favor of high
| license.
The election on Tuesday promises to be an
exciting one. Both sides are preparing to
bring out full vote. 1t will be somewhat
| surprising, however, if three-fourths of the
votes of the state are cast.