The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1889-01-11
The Prohibition Amendment.


There seems u be lItt!s doubt in any
quarter bat the Prohibi lon smsndment
will pass the present Legislators, and in
that event. according to the constitu-
tion, must ''be submitted 10 the quail
fed electors of the Sta e, in such 10 4u-
ner and AZ such time, at least three
months after being SO agreed To by the
two Houses. as the general assembly
shall prescribe.n THIS will prob ably
necessita;e a special election, and, as
all experience proves, n light vote. BY
hurryIng mp action on the amendment
in the legislature I. might be voted on
At the town and city elections the third
Tuesday OF FEBRUARY, aud a full vote
secured, but thus is not probable. In
his message, Governor Beaver advo-
Ca es submission, but urges that the
election b. held as early as May or June.
so that the vote upon IL may hs taken
without any admixture OF partisan poll
tics or local interest 70 perplex the
voters.
The opponents OF Prohibition in the
legislature will probably endeavor to
modify the proposed amendment by
making provision for compensation !;
but this idea was voted down two wears
ago and is not likely to fare better at
this time. It's adoption would natural
ly make the amendment a new one. and
necessitate its passage by the legisla-
ture elected in 1890 before it could be
SUBMITTED TO vote OF the people.
There is good deal OF speculation
as TO the fate of the amendment on the
popular vote. The liquor interest, at
one time disposed 10 mako light OF any
prediction OF its approval by the people,
now considers the question more seri-
oUsly, and is apprehensive 1t may secure
a majority. Ii will probably make q
deter mined fight. and will have The
sinHws of war in Sbun lance, as the
traffic In lis various forms in this State
represents many millions of invested
capital and thousands of employees.
The farmers WILL also have q money in
teress iE the question, as Pennsylvania
raised more rye than any State (nearly
600 600 bushels), and about one fifth
OF the product OF the Uuion. This is
almost entirely sold TO distillsrs. while
the barley product (about 500. 600 BUSH
elsl goes 10 the brewers.
Tue PrUhibitiOnists. assuming that
the amendment will be submitted, are
already making effoIts to secure a ma
iority for IL. A combination of all the
temperance organizations in the State
Is proposed, and the initial steps to Sc
cure it will be taken at q meeting to be
held in Pittsbure to-day, under the
auspices OF the Ministerial Association.
A Campaign committee will be created
10 which all temperance organizations
o. he State, including the Sons OF Tenn
perance, Good Templsrs, Womsu's
Christian TrmpeIance Union, Gospel
Temperance Union, Murphy Associa-
- hnlF. a
ciety, will be invited to slsct delegates.
Inis com mittee, or subcommittee
from IL. will take charge Of the canvass.
and, OF course, will have the active
sympathy and material aid of nine
tenths OF the Protestant churches OF the
S ate. All this represents a powerful
force IN influencing public opinion.
The chairman Of the Prohibition State
COMMITTEES has issued a call for a con
vehtion OF representatives of all tenn
perancs organizations in the State at
harrisburg February 5, and the Phila-
deiphiR committee has called local
convention OF the same character. to
meet in that city January 2l. Ex-
ChsiImen Campbell, of the Catholic
Total abstinence Societies OF the
Philsde psis archdiocese, states he
fee's Certain their societies will not
Join the movements above indicated.
and intimates majority OF the mem
beTs favor high license rather than Pro-
aihltion, as more practicable measure.
The nearest approach we nave had
IN this State 10 vote on Prohibition
was az the local Op' ion election in 1873,
when the qu-s lon OF license OF DO Ii
cense WAS submitted to the people.
The cities and many Of the boroughs of
the State voted seperately from their
counties. Forty one counties voted
againsr liceuse. aud "a for for license.
the aggregate showing mai irity of
4. 800 for license. Twenty-fOur cities
md boroughs voted separately. and
gave majority for license OF &c. .734.
Showing majority in the State against
Prohibition of 81 234, on yery light
vote certainly not half the vote that
woCid be drawn TO the polls on the
straight issue in My or June. PnfIa
deiphis gave p 633 majority for license,
Pittsburg 432 Allegheny 2O4, ard
B-rks county 8 600.
Ii may De said both parties are strong
or now than they were In 1873, and will
make more desperate battle. An i'm
mense business interest, threa,ent d
with ahnihi Ia.Ion, will take one side
and a powerful and enthusiastic moral
-
tween the two there will be The great
mass of citiZsns, sympsthizing TO some
extent with :he objects OF the Prohibi-
tionists, but having no confidence in the
prscticabiiity or efficacy of their ex-
treme policy, even should it be adopted.
TO do aught else thar promote in more
Objectionable form the very evil at
which IL strikes. 1t may be said that
this sentiment has been strongly en-
forced by tie working of the license
law Of the las. legislature. AS mat
ters stand. we believe Prohibition Will,
De rejected ia this SIa.e by not less
than hundred Thousand majority and
that The existing license Law will ma
tertaily aid in this result. Ii solves the
question an evil my be regulated but
Lot prohibited, as public sentiment now
seands. And yet again a crusade NAV
nay be started that will carry away the
sympatbiss o. the people-the women
aud churches being important factors
and the result OF the vote NAV be much
closer but 10 any event, considering
the forces I'D interests In the impend@
Ing conflict, 10 does not at all seem pro.
oaole the radical mendment, prohibit
Ing the manufacture and sale wi hout
compensation to vested interests can
oe carried on the popular vote.-Pats-
burg Post.
The Farmer got There.