The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1906-09-07

statlsucianS ~ AMERICA. Ihey SHOW
the alarming extent OF intemperance
under prohibition, and The rapid de-
creas OF drunkenness when the pro-
hibitory statute was replaced by
license law
The tax question cut a considerable
figure In the campaign. The enormous
loss Of revenue from licenses and the
consequent heavy increase in taxes
were so obvious that the prohibition
its did rot attempt to argue on this
question.
United with the prohibitionists were
the low sal ,on and dive keepers of the
state, and these strove for prohibition
with zeal rthy of higher motive
and better cause They worried for
prohibition in order that there might
he no license, and that under prohibi-
tion they might have an opportunity
of conducting an Illegal and surrepti-
tious trafic They coald not conduct
such illegal business while other men
held licensesI because no man wculd
sneak through alleys and by-ways to
patrouize them This fact convinccs
earnest and conservative people that
prohibition meant unrestricted traffic.
and the amendment was defeated by
1852 majority.
In 1853 Rhode Island adoDfed nro-
hibitlon and for ten years gave II the
fairest trial possible In 1863 the re-
suits had been 20 injurious that the
law was repealed Not adisfed with
the FIRST experience, she again adopt
ed prohibition ia 1856. The seccnd ex-
pertinent proved far more disastrous
than the first. and in June, 1889. the
people of that state repudiated pro-
hihition at the polls by the enormous
majority of 1887 out of a t,tal vote
Of less than $4,000, the vote cast
against prohibition being nearly three
to every one in its favor, When the
law was adopted IN 1856 it had ma
iority Of 5,Se3 Three years OF ex-
psrience had, therefore, changed the
views of more than f-ur-ffths of the
voters of the state on that subject.
History does not present any more
striking change OF public opinion upon
any subject
Al early as 1854 Connecticlt placed
prohibition IN the organic law of the
state. and ~ eighteen years used
the utmost power of the common
wealth for it's enforcement, and fnas!y
gave up the experiment in 1872. In
October, 1883. an effort was made to
again engraft prohibition upon the
state constitution, and resulted in an
inglorious failure. nearly three votes
T. one being cast against the measure.
New York passed prohibitory laws
IN 1854, tried then for two years and
gave up the experiment as hopeless.
The first attempt at prohibition in
Pennsylvania was made in jane, 1889.
The question was thoroughly discuss
ed and after throughout enlighten-
ment the keystone state declared by
majority Of l94556-the greatest
ever cast by any state on any subject
sinse the foundation OF the Union
that the law was not suited to it or
helpful to the cause Of temperance
In 1855 Maryland adopted prohibit
tion In no state was the result SO
disastrous and SO freighted with evils
Bal results followed the law so rapid
ly that after few month trial It was
repealed, and there has been no dis
position on the part Of that state to
repeat the severe lesson it then re
ceived
In tie same year Delaware adopted
prohibition and tried tor two years ia
enforce it, but in 1857 gave up the ef
fort and has since shcwn no inclina.
tion to again try the experiment
Ohio also repented the bitter ex
psfenee The law in that state which
was adopted in 1856 was snort lived
and wan wiped from the statute books
during the sams year.
Among nhe states which persisted In
the experiment Of prohibition Michi
gan may be enumerated. This state
adopted tlia law Ia 1853, and foI
twenty-five years eudeayored by tbs
wh.ge power OF tire state and by ex
traordinary police laws and regula
lions to enforce It, only to find the ef
fort autiie. She abandoned the policl
in 1875. and when a faction endeayoE
ed to again saddle i upon the state II
1887 the people overwhelmed il at th'
polls In the words Ct General r. A
Alger. You can not talk prohibition t'
the people Of Michigan. They hay'
tried il and know what a dire failure
It ls."
Indiana passed prohibitory measures
IN 1855. They were never enforce'
ana were soon abandoned In 1892 |
second enort was made taimpose pro
hibition On the state, but vas defeate'