The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-27
PROHIBITION AND INTEMPKRANCE.

ROHIBITION AND INTEMPERANCE.
Among the resolutions passed by the re-
cent Prohibition convention was one de-
handing prohibitory liquor law for the
state of Washington. The only justifca-
ton for prohibitory liquor law would be
proof that it is more successful in abating
license Law.
The most recent experiment in prohibi-
ton is that of South Dakota. Sioux Falls,
S. D., under the prohibitory law has about
forty saloons. Twenty-Five saloons are
regularly paying $500 month in fines to
the city treasury, which makes 5000
year. At the last election large majority
of the voters of the city said that they did
not want the law enforced. The question
whether liquor shall be sold has been de-
cided in the affirmative by the people, and
the records Of the county court show that
liquor prosecutions are not undertaken or
fall fiat when they are made.
The Rev. A. H. Grant, of All Souls
church, and w. II. Lyon, q lawyer and
United States commissioner, have sub
mitted proposition to the board of
county commissioners to have the city of
Sioux Falls so into the saloon business in
open defiance of the prohibitory law. The
minister and the lawyer offer to furnish
the funds to try the experiment, SO that
it will not cost the city cent. All the
thirty or forty saloons must be closed,
and the preacher and the lawyer will run
a saloon which could be regulated by the
most stringent law. Minors could not be
at a certain hour: it would clear $25, 900
ayear; pure liquor would be sold at rea-
sonable rates. The county board has
agreed as citizens to consent to the plan,
and to do nothing to interfere with its
success. Six city saloons are to be estab.
lished, one for each ward: the saloons to
be open from a. m. to 10 p. m. Beer is
to be sold at 6 cents glass and whisky at
Is cents drink; the object of the differ
ence in price is to induce the customers to
drink beer rather than ardent spirits.
There is nothing new in this plan; it
has been in practice in Sweden and in
parts of Russia for many years, and the
experiment was successfully tried by
Massachusetts town some eight or nine
years ago. This town voted to grant no
license to individuals. but to take the bus
mess into its own hands and open a few
places for Liquor selling where nothing
but the best class of liquors were to be
kept. The experiment was managed by
responsible men and continued one year,
when it was abandoned, public sentiment
not sustaining the innovation. From
practical standpoint it was q success, for
there was decrease In the amount of
liquor consumed and drunkenness was
nearly abolished.
Another interesting object lesson in the
matter of the liquor traffic was the union
of the Chicago liquor dealers and the Pro-
hibitionists in asking for closed Worlds
fair on Sunday. OF this, lfxed Drinks,
organ of the Chicago liquor dealers. says:
sin As far as the liquor interests are con-
cerned, nothing better could have hap
Sunday, for it will fill the saloons as we'll
as the churches, which is the sole aim de-
sired by these cranks."
Maine has hal prohibition for more than
forty years and she has q prohibitory
amendment in her constitution. She has
all the conditions for success demanded by
the most ardent Prohibitionists. Let US
look at the picture of Maine. In spite of
prohibition Maine has one liquor dealer to
about every 500 of her population. In the
city of Bangor there are 200 open saloons,
or one to every eighty-five Of the popula-
ton. In Portland there are $50 saloons.
or one to every 225 of the population.
Under the law the penalty for selling even
glass of sweet cider Is Imprisonment and
fine. The payment Of a United States
license is made prima facie evidence of an
intent to sell. Under the law no apothe-
cary can sell wines or any kind of
liquors save alcohol, in the manufacture of
medicine or the compromising of q pre-
scription.
Within forty-one years forty-one laws
| have been enacted since the enactment of
| the original prohibitory liquor law in 1851,
| and yet the Prohibitionists are no better
| satisfied than when they begun. As late
as September, 1856, Neal Dow declared that
"there IS not city or town in Maine where
| the Law is not entirely ignored and intoxi-
cation in this state has not been percept-
IDLY lessened." That was the situation
| after thirty-hve years OF continuous pro-
| hibition.
| In Vermont, after nearly forty years
| of prohibition. .he United States reve-
hue returns show more saloons in
| proportion TO the population than
in Massachusetts, under license and
| local option. Michigan had prohibition
| for twenty years aud it was dead letter.
| In 1874 under prohibition Michigan had
GAIA saloons, or one for every 207 inhabi-
tants. Between ls76 and 1852, under q tax
law. the number 81 saloons fell Off 1883,
| or nearly 80 persSstt. The history Of pro-
| hibition IN Iowa, Kansas and Rhode
| Island teaches she same lesson that in
every instance where prohibition has been
/ tried 1t has resulted, TO. in the suppress
! sion Of the hquog traffic, but in increasing
the taxes ard industrial. burdens OF the
| people by robhjny il Of q large revenue.
| while IN every instance where high license
Las Neen adopted il has largely increased
the revenue OF the state, and in no case
failed 20 greatly reduce the number of sa-
looms
These facts are 20 tie poin. in consider