The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-01

| ough enlightenment the Keystone state
 declared by a majority of 194,556-the
 greatest ever cast by any state on any
 subject since the foundation of the Union-that the law was not suited to it or helpful to the cause of temper ance.
 In 1855 Maryland adopted prohibition. In no state was the result so disastrous
 and so freighted with evils. Bad re-
 suits followed the law rapidly that
 after a few months trial 1t was re-
 pealed, and there has been no dtspo-
 sition on the part of that state to re- peat the severe lesson it then received.
 In the same year Delaware adopted prohibition and tried for two years to
 enforce 1t. but in 1857 gave up the eff fort and has since shown no inclina-
 tion to again try the experiment. Ohio also repeated the bitter experi- ence. The law in that state, which was adopted in 1885, was short-lived and was wiped from the statute books dur ing the same year.
 Among the states which persisted In the experiment of prohibition Michigan may be enumerated. This state adopted the law in 1858, and for twenty-two years endeavored by the whole power of the state and by extraordinary police laws and regulations to enforce 1t, only to find the effort futile. She abandoned the policy In 1875, and when faction endeavored to again saddle 1t upon the state in 1887 the people oyerwheimed it at the polls. In the words of Gen. R. A. Alger. You cannot talk prohibition to the people of Michigan They have tried 1t and know what a dire failure 1t is' Indiana passed prohbitory measures in | 1S55. They were never enforced and were ] soon abandoned. In 1882 second enoit l was made to impose prohibition on the state. but was defeated by the biggest majority cast in that state on any ques- | ton for twenty years.
 | Nebraska in the same year adopted pro | hibition but it's enforcement was fouhd l impossible and 1t was soon repealed. A | second effort was made in 1SSO and was defeated by a decisive majority or 4o,oo'' l The legislature of Illinois enacted ] prohibitory law in lS55' put It was so u.', 1 popular with the people of the state | that in the election in the fall or ths l same year both the law and its cham pions were buried.
 | Twice the effort was made to fasten i prohibition on Wisconsin, and twice the | governor interposed his veto' with the | baortv concurrence of the people. rms was in 1S55 Since that time more ho- | eral spirit has guided the state | Finder prohibition Iowa witnessed an | exodus of her population, a depression III her commercial interests, accompanied by great moral retrogression ana cohlplo'e l revolution in her political status me | law was enacted in 1884 So calami'ous were the results that In obedience to | overwhelming popular demand was | modified and practically abandoned few 1 years ago.
 l Kansas has been under prohibitory laws | for the past twenty-two years haVliis | adopted them in 1882. That they are m ! effective is demonstrated by the open sa- looms and secret joints in all the towns and cities of the state That they are | detrimental to the welfare of the state | is proved by the depression in her eoh- | mercial. manufacturing and industrial en- | terprises, and by the enormous tax rates
 prevalent ranging from to per cent.
 | That they have not been beneficial 10 the
 | moral tone of the state is evineed py 'he
 l fact that thousands of the pest men oi
 the state earnestly advocate the over
 | throw of the law.
 An effort was made in 1887 to put pro