The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-05-03
WORK OF PRoHIBIrIoNIsrs.
[From Harper's Weekly. ]

The question of liquor license, prohl-
bition, and local option may forever
prove q bone Of contention so long as
mans frailties make him the sport OF
every passing temptation, and few
moralists dare expect the near approach
of the millennium when strong drink
shall cease to stimulate the desire of a
large number of ordinary weak mortals
The fact, however, that liquor laws
have been enacted in all parts of the
country to regulate mans consumption
of all spirituous drinks is evidence that
a good percentage of our population
believes that the state, county, or town
should be held in a measure responsible
for the weak and erring. If we take
prohibition in it's most liberal interpre-
tation, we find that nearly half the pop
ulation Of the United States is living
under local option or state prohibition
laws regarding the sale OF intoxicating
drinks.
In studying the figures given by the
prohibition enthusiasts we find that at
least five states have enacted prohibit
ton OF local option laws which cover
every county and town. These five
states. which have been the pioneers in
this movement, are Maine, New Hamp-
kota. But other states are nearly as
generally governed by the same pro-
hibitory laws, the few exceptions hard
" being sufficient to remove them from
the same class. The whole of Georgia
is under state prohibition or local op-
ton laws, with the exception of four
cities; South Dakota. with the excep-
ton of a few cities and towns; South
Carolina, with the exception of ten
cities; and Iowa, with the exception OF
twenty-five cities. In Montana only
few counties have adopted local option
or prohibition in any FORM but in most
Of the other states there is a goOdIy
array of towns, counties and cities
which have decided to reform them
selves concerning strong drink. In New
York state we have some zoo cities and
towns that have thus drawn the strict
line of abolishing the sale Of spirituous
drink, and in Massachusetts, out Of 353
towns and cities. 263 have fallen in line
Illinois has to her credit $50 cities and
towns enjoying local option laws; Ohio
500; Michigan 400; Wisconsin. 800; Ne
braska, $50; Minnesota, 400; New Jer-
sey. 200; California, us.
All the other states have moved in
line to a more or less extent, many OF
them adopting local prohibition laws
according to counties rather than BY
towns or cities. In Alabama so out Of
65 counties are reported to be under
prohibition laws; in Arkansas, so out o.
70 counties; in Florida, 80 out of IS
counties; in Kentucky. 80 out Of 10.
in Louisiana. 20 out of 50 counties; in
Maryland. Is out Of "A counties. in Mis-
sissippi. Il out of rs counties; in Mis-
souri,, "a out of 115 counties; in North
Carolina. so out of 80 counties: in Penn
sylvania, SO cities and towns and 20
counties; in Tennessee. 70 cut Of 90
counties; in Texas, 100 out of 246 coun-
ties; in Virginia, So out of los counties;
in West Virginia, 40 out Of 81 counties;
and in Washington so cities and towns.
Little Delaware has half the state un-
der prohibition, and little Rhode Island
20 of its cities and towns. In these