The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-09-03
PROHIBITION ~ MISSISSIPPI.
All hut NJ Counties Now DR., A ii,csy
Campaign In Two Otbers.

NEW ORLEANS, Aus. N.-Within the next
fev weeks Mississippi will b. the strongest
temperance and prohibition State In the
Union, not even excepting Maine and
Kansas. The prohibition movement III
Mississippi has attracted lees attention
than In Maine because IL has ts"n carried
| on hy counties. no, 10y the State itself.
The Constitution provides for local
option 10y counties and NJ tho Pro-
h~ibitionists OF a county can call for
an election on the subject whenever they
wish. they are almost certain. sooner or
later. Ia bc victorious Defeat does not
seem 10 daunt them and they are no sooner
defeated han they prepare for the next
campaign.
With the preachers and women united
for prohibition. tho cause h naturally very
strong for the State, and tho chances Of
success are great and these chances have
been increased hv the disfranchisement 81
the negroes. who. I, u alleged. voted generally
for the saloon interest.
Moreover. with the support OF local
public opinion. rs shown In the popular
vote. u, u possible 10 enforce prohibition
In tho Mississippi counties and towns FAR
moro thoroughly and satisfactory than
In Maine. where II Is 4 forced on many c~ountie-
which do na want II. Prohibition in
Mississippi. therefore. usually means pro-
hibition. There are a few blind tiger.
tina IL. illegal saloons, but the number IL
small and II l. decreasing The Sheriff
elected by n vote shown Ia be prohibition
IL pretty apt to carry out the law against
harrooms u he wants 20 h. reflected
A. n consequence of the local option
campaign, sixty nine out OF the evenly
five cOuniics Of Mississippi have gone dry,
and have voted for prohibition. and In
only xix II the sale ~ liquor permitted
Thrcn ~ the-r are situated on the MlSi--
sippi coast, and al" separated from the
resi- uf Mississippi Ia population and social
u~agcs Of all kind. and AT" practically
suhurts 81 New Orleans They are likely
10 remain wet for all time. Outside 81 this
coast county are only three CounticS that
still ching Ia the larroom Ia two Of the~e.
Madison and Monroe. local option cleo
tious are soon To l." held, with every indlca-
ton that the drys will win toy big MAORI
Ties.
Madison. with H. county seat 81 Canton,
l. the only county on thu line ui the Illinois
Central Railroad, which runs through
The state from end to end. where II j. TD~-
sihl' 10 get "a glass Of b-er On the Mobile
and OHIO Railroad the town Of Aberdeen
has kept Monroe county wet lhe-e two
towns hay" kept up the liquor interest
but public opinion IN the rural districts
has grown - strong that IN" towns are
not able To hold II In check any longer
In these two counties the saloon II max
ing what II practically IT, last tand against
th" churches and the women IN Mississippi
The campaign las been the most active
and exciting for years, far SURPRISING
th" Presidential election In local import
anCp and enthusiasm Both sides seem
Ia hav" an abundance of money. for con-
trhutions are pouring IN from III" outside,
particularly 10 the prohihiiiOuists.
tn" vets arr largely on the defens.vs
and az" carrying on a sentimental CAIN
Iaign, calling attention To III" fact that
Mississippi had no such doctrine a. pro-
hihitiun In tho good Old days. and that
u y a New England Puritan importation
Perhaps their strongest card In an appeal
to the memory oi Jefferson Davis. for
whom all Mi~sissippian- have reverence.
Mr. DAVIS was "a bitter OPPONENT Of pro-
a. "A woo,ion horse IN which the disguised
enemy To State sovereignty, IA" guardian
~ liberty. IL introduced Mr. DAVIS further
denounced prohibition a. getting at the
evil IN the wrong way The abusn. and
not the u-e, 81 s,imulants," he wrote, rs
the evil To H. rem, died. II drunkenness
IT, the cause of crime. why not pronounce
drunkenness itself To- IT, a crime and attach
To u proper and adequate penalties
But however influential Mr.. Davis
may be with the white voters Of Mis-is-
sippi, u h. doubtful " these words II his
will prevail against the strength and en-
,husiasm ~ the prohibition movement,
and nearly all agree that Madison and
Monroe will go dry, having Mississippi
~ free from saloons ~ any State Ia the
Union.