The National tribune., 1907-12-05
PROGRESS OF PROHIBITION.

hdiHe, NoItH bdhotd, hdISdS anu ueor-
gia have State prohibition of the most
stringent character.
In Alabama the majority of the Coun-
ties are dry. with portions of all the
rest in the same condition. The State
try. A special session of the Legisla-
ture was called, the object of which
was supposed to be railroad regula-
ton. Instead it enacted a sweeping
prohibition law by which. after Jan. 1,
1909, the manufacture and sale of al
coholic beverages will be prohibited
within the State. This action was not
taken without vigorous opposition, and
one of the unexpected features of this
opposition was a well-organized move
ment on the part of the leading women
of Mobile. They sent delegation of
500 women to Montgomery to protest
against the legislation, and they carried
with them a petition signed by 5000
women and children. They had two
grounds, the first and principal being
that Mobile has always been allowed
to retain the liquor license money,
amounting to $4,000 a year, and apply
this to the school fund. AS result
Mobile has built up the finest common
school system in the South. The wo-
men frankly expressed their belief that
prohibition never prohibits, and that
the legislation was, therefore, unwise
SO far as it applied to the large cities.
The issue threatens to rend the Demo-
cratic Party, since large portion of
the Democrats are opposed, upon prin-
ciple, to what they call paternal and
centra!izing legislation. They believe
in local home rule and that each County
should be allowed to regulate its own
affairs as far as possible without inter-
ference by the State.
The Alabama papers are counseling
everybody to earnestly support the law
so as to give it a fair trial.
In Arkansas 60 out of the rs Counties
are dry.
In California only four Counties are
actually dry, but nearly all the other
Counties have dry spots of more or less
largeness in them.
Colorado has local option law.
In Connecticut there is local option
for the towns, with 96 towns dry and
~ with license.
In Florida there are 80 dry Coun-
ties, out of total of As, with a strong
tendency toward State prohibition.
Idaho has a Sunday law only, with
high license
In Illinois there are two dry Coun-
ties and 200 dry towns, with a local
option law recently passed.
In Indiana there are three dry Coun-
ties, and of the 1,016 Townships 10
are dry
In Iowa there are 80 Counties, of
only one saloon in them, with a strong
move for State prohibition
In Kentucky the prohibition move
ment has made the most remarkable
advance, with 81 out of the 110 Coun-
ties dry, and only four really wet The
Sunday in Louisville, Covington and
Newport
Massachusetts has local option by
cities and towns, with $50 dry and 100
wet. The experience of Massachusetts
with this local option is most satisfac-
tory, as the laws are strict and well
enforced, with many of the evils at
tending liquor selling practically abol-
ished.
In Louisiana seve1-eighths of the
Counties are dry, with stringent prohi-
bitions against soliciting or receiving
orders in the dry territory.
In Maryland local option has not
made so much progress, as but 10 out
of the % Counties are dry, with two
nearly dry and two others in which
liquor is sold in but one place
In Michigan there is County option,
with only a few dry Counties.
Minnesota has Sunday closing in the
and 1,123 dry municipalities
In Mississippi prohibition has been a
burning issue, with both factions of the
Democracy trying to place each other
on the wrong side. OF the IS Counties
6S are dry.
In Missouri Gov. Folk has rigidly en-
forced Sunday closing, and 40 Counties
are dry.
Montana has license, and seems salts
fled with its operation.
Nebraska has high license, with vii
lage and local option, and seems well
satisfied with it. There are 400 dry and
600 wet towns.
The temperance issue in Nevada has
never been prominent, and a low Ii
cense law is in operation.
In New Hampshire they had prohibi
ton, from which the State fell away,
as public sentiment did not support it.
Now there is turn In the tide toward
prohibition, with about two-thirds of
the population in dry territory.
In New Jersey there is local option
law, with which the people seem sat-
isfed.
New York is also satisfied with town
and Township option, and 900 dry
towns.
In North Carolina there are but few
saloons. and the Governor is leader
for State prohibition.
After 80 years of trying prohibition