The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1889-07-06
The History of Prohibition.

Illinois enacted prohibition in 1855,
but the people repudiated it at the polls
in the same year.
New York passed the law in 1854, tried
it for two years, and gave it up as bad
job.
Massachusetts tried prohibition for
fifteen years, and finally repealed it as
vain and injurious.
An effort to restore prohibition in Mas
aschusetts was voted down by an
overwhelming majority April %, 1889.
Atlanta tried the law for one year and
repudiated it by an overwhelming ma
jority in November, 1887.
Connecticut enacted the law in 1854,
tried In vain to enforce it for eighteen
years, and then finally repealed it for
ever in 1872.
Ohio enacted prohibition in 1855, and
afer few months of bitter experience re-
pealed it.
Maryland passed prohibitory law in
| 1856. The results were so disastrous
both to material and moral welfare, that
after few months trial it was repealed
and the lesson was so severe that the
question has never been raised again in
that state.
New Hampshire tried prohibition fol
thirty-four years. April II. 1889, an
effort was made to incorporate it into
her constitution. This was voted dowr
by an enormous majority, only two coun
ties in the state giving majority in
favor of:prohibition.
Delaware tried it in 1855, and after two
years found that it so seriously affected
the welfare of the state that it was re-
pealed in 1857.
The Independent anti-prohibition Re
publicans and Democrats of Iowa are
uniting for the purpose of oyerthrowirp
prohibition.
The law was twice passed in Wiscon
| sin and twice vetoed by the governor
with the support of the people. Thai
was in 1855. Since then the state has
been untroubled by fanaticism.
Rhode Island enacted prohibition in
1853, and after ten years. trial repudiated
the law in 1863. She again enacted II
last year, and has just got rid of it. aftei
one year of financial and moral dis
aster.
Michigan passed the law in 1853, and
kept it for twenty-five years, when find
ing the futility of attempting to. enforce
prohibitory measures, she abandoned II
in 1875. The fanatics tried to saddle the
law upon her again this year, but heI
people would not have it at the polls.
Indiana and Nebraska in 1866 passed
prohibitory measures, but neither OF
them kept prohibition upon their stat
ute books for any length of time. Indi-
ana voted on the question again in 1882,
and the amendment was defeated by the
biggest majority cast in that state for
twenty years.
Texas cast $1,000 majority against the
effort to force a prohibitory amendment
\ into her constitution
An effort was made to force the law on
Tennessee in 1897. The people after a
thorough discussion resolved not to put
1t into their constitution.
Oregon submitted the amendment in
1887, but the amendment was buried
under an avalanche of votes. 49,,
In November, 1888, West Virginia voted
on prohibition. The question was thor
oughly discussed and the amendment de-
feated by a vote of 8 to l.
Canada has tried prohibition. The law
was passed few years ago and on re-
consideration of the question April 8,
1889, the voters slaughtered prohibition
from Lake Erie to Bay of Fundy. Every
city and town in Canada Which voted
that day repealed prohibition.
In Iowa in 1880 there were 1904 Gov
ernment licenses issued for the sale of
liquor. In 1886, under prohibition, the
number had increased to 4,0SS, an in
crease of 999.
For the year ending April 30. 1881, be-
fore prohibition, 1884 government hcen-
ses to sell liquor were issued in Kansas.
In the year ending April 30, 1887, after
five years of prohibition, 1887 licenses
were issued; in other words there were
So per cent. more places selling liquor in
the year ending April 30, 1887, under pro-
hibition, than in the year ending April
30, 1881, before the enactment of the law.
There had simply been a change from
the name of saloon" to drug store".
Maine has more liquor sellers in pro-
portion to population than many license
states. Rhode Island has one liquor
seller to every 243 men. (See internal
revenue reports.)