The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1905-05-19


knew in vague way that Prohibition
had been proposed, but had never re-
garded it as even remotely likely TO
come to pass. But the clerk evidently
was not Joking. He must mean II.
When Holland at last found speech ne
said:
well, I've seen wonders over in
Africa by the score, but nothing to
equal this. Tell me about it. How
does it work? How did it come?
How did they get along"
Really, sir. interrupted the clerk,
Il haven't time to answer all your
questions, but I'll INTRODUCED you to
man who will
Responding to his bell-touch, there
appeared a gray-haired man with
kindly, intelligent face.
Mr.. Holland, this is Mr. Converse,
our information man. He tells our
guests Of matters not covered by the
phonograph. Mr. Holland wishes the
facts on Prohibition y
Shall be pleased to give them to
him, said the old gentleman. This
way. please" leading Holland to a
coy private parlor. we used to
have a photographic budget on the
subject but the thing has become
such matter of course that we have
abolished it" After asking the guest
a few questions regarding his absence
from the country, etc, the informa-
ton man continued: Now go ahead
and quiz me.
How did it come about? When
left in "a the liquor interest was
never more powerful, and Prohibition
seemed as far off as ever.
True: but it was the darkest hour
before the dawn. You will recall that
in '93 the financial troubles began,
and that in '94 there was an epidemic
of strikes and disorder. Various
causes were assigned for this out
break. such as tariff agitation, over
production, extravance, centrallzation
of capital, and over-immigratlon; but
many thoughtful people named the
enormous sale and consumption OF
LIQUOR as the chief cause of the trouble.
( The strong arm of Government soon
ouelled the disorder, and in the follow.
ing year. '95. there was revival OF
business. But thinkers saw that this
was but temporary, and that with a
continuance of existing conditions an
early repetition of the troubles mlgnt
he expected. The number of those
who assigned liquor as the principal
cause of the mischief steadily IN
creased. and by 1902 the Prohioltionl
sentiment. aided by the educat,ioInal
work accomplished among the children
by means of medal contests and other
methods of training had grown Sc
strong that all other issues were over
shadowed. and the only opposing
political organization was the License
PARTY. made up Of the, advocates. OF
LIQUOR. In 1908 the Prohlbltionlsts
succeeded in electing their hrst freSl'
dent. and had good majority OF tne
Congressmen. In 1910 they had the
President and a clear majority IN Con
gress and that body passed an Ac'
providing for an amendment to the
Constitution prohibiting the manutac'
tnre or sale of intoxicating liquor
within the boundaries of the United
States When the amendment was
submitted to the legislatures OF the
various States for ratification. the
AGITATION was tremendous. The liquor
forces of course. employed desperate
means to avert the wave that swept
the rum-bot off Of our statute books
and emancipated the groaning millions
from the worst slavery known IN the
worlds history. There was persona
violence. social and commercial boy
cotting and every resource of lega
trickery and every device OF corrup