Smyrna times., 1889-03-13
Prohibition in Eastern States.

elections in Eastern States turning
upon the question of Prohibition, will
nave been held. New HAMPSHIRE
votes March u, Massachusetts ADril
70, and Pennsylvania June 18-all unon
amendments to the Constitution. An
OF these contests present points of in
terest, bearing upon the problem Of
regulation of the liquor traffic.
Inc situation in New Hampshire is
peculiar. A prOhibitory law has been
IN force since 1855, the period of the
hrst Maine law excitement. 1t does
not forbid the manufacture but onIv
the sale, Of liquors. The result is that
large Quantities Of liquor are manufac-
tured and get sold somehow. The
FrHhI0ItlOnists claim that where the
law Is enforced its effects are good, but
admit that in many of the small towns
as well as the cities it is not enforced
ana llquor selling and drunkenness are
on the increase. They urge theamend-
meht TO the Constitution OF the ground
mat 1t will give them a better basis for
1ne warfare upon the liquor traffic.
Inc amendment fOrbids " the manufac-
ture or sale, or keeping for sale. of AL
conohG or Intoxicating liquor as bev-
erage, but eXcepts cider. The cider
question, by the way, has a bearing of
considerable Importance. The opposi-
uOn OF farmers to the amendment
pending IN Massachusetts. because il
would interfere with their making
clder Is counted as an element in the
situation. In PENNSYLVANIA the oues.
llon Is regarded as solserious that ex-
Chlei-Justice Agnew, who is Jealous
IOr Prohibition, has been induced to
announce it as his opinion that the |
farmer could still make cider. if the |
amendment should be adopted selling |
II before 1t has fermented and become |
intoxicating. There seems to be no
uouDt That majority of the voters of
NeW hampshire are in favor of PrObi-
Ditlon, but the adoption of the amend
ment requires two-thirds vote. and il
IS by no means certain that that will he
massachusetts, has system under
"hleh the towns vote once wear
licenses shall be granted that
year or not. When granted, the fees
are high under the law. This system
las worked well enough to give salts
action to large Numbers of sincere
temperance people who doubt the Wis
ION OF attempting universal Probibi-
ION. Those communities in which
'rohlbitjon can be enforced can have it
ma those which prefer High License
IAN have it. 1t does not seem TO he
expected that the amendment will he
-dopted. Few Republicans of LARGE
equation have announced themselves
It's favor. The speakers for Prohi-
'ltion are mostly clergymen but manv
'Iher ciergymen, equally able and
qually sincere, will oppose il. The
party is against the amend
nent, OF course, as it is bv instinct
galnst every attempt TO restrict the
ratiic. A large share of the ReDubIi-
ans are against it, because they be-
leve the State is doing better under its
resent elastic system than it would
nder Prohibition.
The canvass in Pennsylvania is the
cost interesting of all these, and prOm-
ses to be exciting. The recent con-
entlon OF the friends of the amend :
lent at Harrisburg was an imposing
atherlng, representing an unQuestion- &
d popular strength, Officered bv ex- {
erlenced political leaders, and exhib- |
ing degree of enthusiasm and Drac-
cal energy that inspired high hopes of
lccess. The first step was to defeat
le man9uvres of the bitter and mar.
lW-mlnded faction known as the
hlrd-Party Prohibitionists to get pos
esslon of the movement and run il for 7
lelr selfish purposes. This Clique of =
ontlclans, representing vote of :,
1000 out Of 997 900 at the last elec.
on, did secure a temporary advan.
-ge IN the early organization, but a
ere completely routed by combi- s
aIlon OF the representatives of the e
institutional Amendment Associa- il
on, which is said to number 10000 c.
embers, and Of the Woman's Chris
an Temperance Union. Judge Harry q
hlte, eX-COngressman John Cessna. II
I'd Henry w. Palmer, who was At. .
'rney General under Governor Hovt :.
e among the veteran Republicans :,
no Will lead the Prohibition forces :,
r. Palmer, who is man of biub ''
laracter and ability with a thorouSb
'actlcal knowledge of politics. Was 81
aced IN charge of the campaign. A ii
cry large vote will undoubtedly he al
ST Tor the amendment. The strug- CT
e will be earnest and close. Predie-
1ns that the amendment will win are n
..ard more often than predictions of .,
lure. Out of the sixty-four counties Al
hich voted in 1873 on the license h,
lestion, forty were against license io
Id twenty-fOur for it. The rural
unties are largely for Prohibition.
remains to be seen whether they Sc
III be out-vOted by the cities.-N. Y. r
'ibune. F
oe