The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1889-05-15
HOW IS 1T IN RHoDY2
No. VEN Hard . oet a prInk.

NOT very Hard TO Get Drink.
WHAT THE LEADING EDITORS OF fHer
STATE SAY OF PEoHIstTIoS
Just three years ago Rhode Island
adopted prohibitory amendment 70 its
Constitution similar to that which IS to
come before the people of Pennsylvania
on the 18th of June. This Is what the
leading editors Of that State say Of the
practical working of constitutional pro-
hIbition
THE LAW NOT ENFORCED.
The law has not heen enforced, and
there has been no general and determin-
ed effort in that direction, although the
courts have dealt fairly with the subject.
Newport r. L. lNeles
DRUNKENNESS HAS INCREASED.
l have every reason to believe that
drunkenness and crime have increased
since constitutional prohibition went into
effect in this State. Prohibition. has not
been enforced for the reason that it IS
against the sentiment of the majority.
The revenues Of the city have been inja-
riously affected By it-Egeg,iag Nsss,
Pawtueket, R. l.
FREE RUN
The failure TO enforce prohibition,
think, results from fear Of loss Of position
by officials sworn to perform their duty,
and the autipathy against prohibition,
measured by the majority iof voters who
occasionally want nip. We have had
practically free rum.-E. F. Corhett, edi-
tor Sunday World, Providence, z. l.
HOW TIE Law WAS NOT ESFORcED.
After the law was passed many Of its
ardent promoters evidently considered
their work accomplished, and left the
Enforcement to .l0ok after itself For
few days there was a decided lull in the
liquor business; saloons were closed and
some ofithe largest dealers left the state,
and it looked as though we we're to have
prohibition IN fact, as well as in name.
But this Arcadian state Of things did net
last. The saloon keepers grew bolder as
they SAW that the officials were not pro-
ceeding against them with much spirit
and gradually all that ever did sell we're
hard at it again, reinforced by hundreds
of kitchen bar-room recruits. The spot
ter system WAS tried, with no other re-
suit than 10 disgust people with its work.
ings. 4 change was made in the head Of
the State police, and spasmodic raiding
took the place Of spotting. One proved
about rs effective as the other. And so
the thing has drifted along in the most
inefficient and unbusinesslike way A
few liquor dealers have been sen; To
Cnnston, bat an appalling number Of ca
ses have been side-tracked in the courts.
-Edward F. Sibley, editor Tsales, Olney-
vile, r. l.
MORE SALOONS, MORE DRINKS
The law not having been enforced,
more saloons, more drunks. It is posi-
ble to enforce it. out it has not been done.
There are more saloons in this city to-
day than ever before, and numerous
" kitchen dives" The cause Of failure 20
enforce the law are politics and Doodle.
Charles VI. Newton, editor Gaseee,
Woonsocket, r. l.
POSITIVELY ISOPERATIvE-
It has been proven that constitutional
prohibition Is positively imperative and
that legislating for mans stomach Is
one of the ineongruities OF the times.
Under the law in this State drunken-
ness has increased to the extent that COM
plaint is made that the county jail is not
large enough to contain the victims Of
Baechus.
The failure to enforce the law has been
apparent because public opinion has
been opposed TO system Of hounding
and spotting and because injustice is
done by palpabie discrimination The
financial effect of the attempt in this
State to enforce the law has been to DE-
pIete the public treasury 10 support lot
Of lazy loafers under the gaise ofoiiieers,
who in some instances hvve blackmaiied
the offenders against the law and brought
the whole system OF the State constabu-
larry into disrespeet and disgrace. As u
CARDS business, the law has undoubtedly
affected all classes OF trade TO certain
extent.
The intelligent sentiment of the State
is against the enforcing Of the so-ealled (
prohibitOry Law, AMI while the people
recognize that u man is entitled to his
opinion, it Is neither wise nor just that
the majority should come under the ban /
of MS ideas
As far a. constitutional prohibition is
concerned as affecting the general wei I
fare OF the State, it must be admitted
that temperance. like religion. is out of 4
place in politics, aud the general welfare
Of the State Is better with license sys-
TEN than under prohibition.--C. G. Cor
bett, editor Dispaic,, Providence, r I.