New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-21
ro.NoRRoWs V0TE IN MASSACHUSETTS,.

TI)-MORR0W'S VOTE IN MASoACh CDh1hD'
The Prohibition canvass, which ends to-
morrow with the vote upon the Constitutional
Amendment, has been remarkable in the MS
tory Of the State. Being campaign purely
upon a moral issue, and unvexed by the IN
trusion Of political questions, it has aroused
such strength Of feeling as to recall the DAYS
of anti slavery. While the defeat of the amend
ment seems to be generally conceded nara
fight has been waged for il, and many OF the
most respected names in the state nave Deeh
enrolled in its behalf. Such Republican lead
ers as Senator Hoar, Ex-Governor Long ana
Ex-Governor Clafin; clergymen IKE Euwato
Everett Hale and Dr. Dorchester; men ike
Whittier, ex- President Seelye, and many otherS
of the same class, favor the amendment. Inc
dividing line brings to light some curious as
tinctions The clergymen OF the baptist ana
Methodist denominations are almost soluiy Iot
the amendment, while those of the Episcopal
Church seem 10 be almost as solidly against IT,
large proportion of tho clergymen OF other
churches are also opposed, but there seems 70
be little doubt that the major part OF the aetVe
influence Of the clergy is in its favor though
those opposing it include some OF the moso uis-
tinguished preachers in the State headed by
the Rev. DR.. Phillips Brooks. The legal pro-
fession seems to be Overwhelmingly against the
amendment, and almost tho same thing Is true
of college presidents and college professors.
In fact. the opposition seem to have more men
NJ destination among their leaders than the
ProhibitionistS.
There Is no State probably so we'll qualified
to pass an impartial Judgment upon the queS-
ton of license or no license as Massachusetts,
for it has given both systems long and iair
trial At the time OF the Maine liquor law
excitement prohibltory law was passed whose
stringency was steadily increased in the course
of years in the hope Of giving 1t Pracucal
effect The fact is now recalled that IN 1901
after fifteen years trial, clergymen' oolege
professors, Mayors of cities, nnd others agreed
In testifying before legislative committee tnao
the sale of liquor was never more free' ana 'nAO
dr;nkino had indeed increased faster than tho
nonnation. The conviction that the prohibitory
law was a failure resulted in the passage In
1878 of the present Local Option law. A most
interesting statement has just been MADE Dy
the Rev. William f. Wolcott, OF Lawrence
allowing that since that time there has been
constant advance in restriction until now the
liuuor law is probably more stringent than that
Of any Prohibition State In the Union
At first il was left TO the Selectmen or Alder
man TO decide whether licenses should be grant
ed that question is now annually submitted TO
the voters Formerly conviction could only
be secured by proving the Salei now the Nero
presence Of liquors is enough. The hour OF
closing has been brought forward from IL
o'clock to IL. and liquor containing only
per cent Of alcohol is now ranked as 'htoAl-
eating. There was formerly no limit to the
number of licenses; now there Is only ono TO
eyery 500 inhabitants In Boston, and one to
every 900 elsewhere. The lowest saloon IL
cepse il now 81, 900, and there is no maximum
limit.
II is argued that THIS steady increase In the
strineency Of temperance legislation Is largely
due to the system Of annually submitting the
question of license or no license to tho voters OF
each community Their attention Is thus stead
,ly directed TO the evils Of the liquor traffic.
Az q result, the number Of communities voting
30 license the sale has been steadily diminish
ing for several years, until last year when the
adoption of high hcense essentially changed tho
conditions of the vote, and caused some in
crease over the year before. 1t Is also shown
that in almost every city the vote against H.
cense has steadily increased, In its practical
results the showing made by license and local
option Is far superior 10 that made by Prohibi-
ton. and this fact will have much to do with
tbe majority to be cast against the amendment
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