Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-11-21
PROHIBITION IS ISSUE
IN The SOUTH.
Wave of Reform Is Not Stayed
as 1t BUSHES Over Fair
Dixie Land.
CHANGE BENEFITS NEGROES.
William E. Curtis Writes of the
Remarkable Impetus of Cru
SADIE Against Drink.

IIOuibItIOu Is TIE Ouly pOllllCdl ISSUE
in the South, writes William E. Curtis
in the Chicago Record-Herald The en-
tire population is nov lined up on one
side or the other. There is no dis
tinct prohibition party, but both of the
old parties have put planks in their
platforms advocating the abolition of
the liquor traffic and at local elections
the members of both are found voting
for and against Local option and pro-
hibition.
The strongest argument in favor of
prohibition is the imperative necessity
of keeping whisky out of the reach Of
That argument carried Georgia and is
proving equally strong in other States,
because it is believed that nearly all
the crimes, the assaults that lead to
lynchings, are due to whisky.
Georgia has taken the lead in the
movement. Great impetus was given
to it by the race riots that occurred
at Atlanta last spring and were pro
NOhCd ny I'll utSIOcS.
Georgia has a general prohibition
law, and the sale of liquor is absolute
~ prohibited throughout that State.
In Alabama law has recently been
passed authorizing each county to vote
on the liquor question, and a large ma
jority of the counaies have already vot-
ed for prohibition. 1t is predicted that
the next Legislature will pass a gen.
eral prohibition law.
In Arkansas a similar law prevails,
and sixty out of seventy eight counties
have adopted prohibition.
In Florida thirty out of forty-five
counties have suppressed all saloons
and the Democratic party has declared
for prohibition. This means the adop
ton of a general prohibition law al
the next session of the Legislature.
In Kentucky-mirabile dictu-the
sale of liquor is prohibited in al but
four of the 10 counties of the State
and even in those every saloon is closed
on Sunday.
In Louisiana seven-eighths of the
counties are dry, and there is law
prohibiting what are called jug
trains" Before this law was passed
accommodation trains used to run from
cities and towns where liquor was solo
into the ''dry counties" on Saturdays
so that thirsty citizens could buy a
supply for Sunday.
Mississippi has had county local op-
ton for several years, and in sixty
eight out of seventy-five counties there
are laws prohibiting not only the sale
of liquor, but it must not be given
away. A man may be sent TO Jail for
inviting a visitor to take a drink with
him in his own house. This law is
habitually evaded by placing the bottle
and the glasses on the sideboard or the
mantelpiece, where visitors can help
themselves.
South Carolina has recently repealed
the dispensary law and adopted county
option instead, and it is expected that
a general prohibition law will be pass
ed at the next session of the Legisla-
ture.
In North Carolina Gov. Glenn, who
is leader of the Democratic party, is
also leader of the prohibition move
ment and is stumping the State in sup
port of it.
In Tennessee liquor is sold in but
three counties. It's sale is absolutely
prohibited everywhere else, and the
members of the next Legislature from
other parts of the State will probably
wipe out those wet spots at the next
session.
In Texas two-thirds of the counties
have adopted absolute prohibition and
have made it unlawful to give away
as we'll as to sell liquor, as in Missis-
sippi. Prohibition is the principal is
sue of the campaign now in progress.
West Virginia has abolished the
liquor traffic in thirty out of fifty-fve
counties, and prohibition is likely to
be an issue in the next campaign.
Oklahoma, like Georgia, has passed
a general prohibitory law.
Prohibition has not made much head
way in the State of Virginia so far,
but the sentiment is growing, and the
epidemic is likely to spread over the
boundaries of the neighborlng States
without much delay.
Saturday afternoon the streets of the
cities of the South are always crowded
with colored people from the country
enjoying a holiday and spending their
earnings for confectionery, ribbons, gilt
iewelry and other useless objects which
seem to fascinate them. But, owing
to the prohibition law, the men usually
90 home sober. They consume vast
quantities of "soft drinks" and occa-
sionally get a little liquor from some
city friend, but the police are vigilant
and it is very difficult for them to OBJ
tain firewater.