Omaha daily bee., 1889-07-04
WEIGHED AND FOUND WANTING.
States That Have Tried and Rcpudi
ated Prohibition.

New York passed the law in 1854,
tried it for two years, and gave it up as
bad job.
Massachusetts, tried prohibition for fif-
teen years, and repealed it as vain and
injurious.
An effort to restore prohibition in
Massachusetts was voted down by an
overwhelming majority April %, 1889.
Atlanta tried the law for one year
and repudiated it by an overwhelming
ma iority in November, 1887. The in
jury to the city was incalculable.
Connecticut enacted the law in 1851
tried in vain to enforce it for eighteen
years, and then finally repealed it for
ever in 1872.
Ohio enacted prohibition in 1855, and,
after few months of bitter experience,
repealed it.
Maryland passed prohibitory law in
1885. The results were so disastrous,
both to material and moral welfare,
that after few months trial, it was re-
pealed, and the lesson was so severe
that the question has never been raised
again in the state.
New Hampshire tried prohibition for
thirty-four years. April II, 1889, an
effort was made to incorporate it into
her constitution. This was voted down
by an enormous majority only two coun-
ties in the state giving u ma aiority in
favor of prohibition.
Delaware tried it in 1866. and, after
two years, found that it so affected the
welfare of the state that it was repealed
In 1857,
The independent anti-prohibition re-
publicans and democrats of Iowa are
united for the purpose OF overthrowlng
prohibition.
The law was twice passed in Wiscon-
sin ana twice vetoed by the governor,
with unanimous support of the people.
Since then the state has been un-
troubled by fanaticism.
Rhode Island enacted prohibition in
1858, and after ten years trial repudi-
ated the law in 1868. She again enacted
it last year, and is now trying to get
rid of it, after one year OF financial and
moral disaster. The legislature has by
almost unanimous vote decided to re-
submit the matter to the people.
Michigan passed the law in 1858 and
kept it for twenty-five years, when,
finding the futility of attempting to
enforce prohibitory measures, she
abandoned it in 1875. The fanatics
tried to saddle the law upon her again
this year, but her people would not have
it, and overwhelmed it at the polls.
Indiana and Nebraska in 1855 passed
prohibitory measures, but neither Of
them kept prohibition upon their statute
books for any length of time. Indiana
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 90, 900 majority against the
effort to force prohibitory amendment
into the constitution.
An effort was made to force the law
on Tennessee in 1887. The people after
thorough discussion resolved not to
put it into their constitution.
Oregon submitted the amendment in
1887. The amendment was buried under
an avalanche Of votes.
In November, 1888, West Virginia
voted on prohibition. The question was
thoroughly discussed, Investigations
| into the working of the law in other
| was defeated by a vote of three to one.
Canada has tried prohibition. The
law was passed, and on Il reconsidera-
| tion of the question April 3. 1889, the
| voters slaughtered prohibition from
| Lake Erie to the Bay of Fundy. Every
! city and town in Canada which voted
| that day repealed prohibition
In Iowa in 1880 there were 3O34 Gov
| ernment licenses issued for the sale OF
liquor. In 1885,. undef pfOnlDlIloh, JHe
number had increased to 4O33-an in
crease of 800. 1t is not within the linn
its of reason that any man would pay
for license unless he meant to use it.
For the year ending April 5, 1881 ,
before prohibition, 1884 government Ii
censes 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 58 per cent more
| places selling liquor in the year ending
| April 80, 1887, under prohibition, than
in the year ending April 80, 1881, be
fore the enactment of the law. There
had simply been change of name from
"saloon" TO drug store"
| Maine had m ore liquor sellers in pro-
portion to population than many license
states. Rhode Island has one liquor
seller to every DAB men. (See internal
revenue reports).