The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1907-06-18

others equally known, was sent broadcast through
out the Commonwealth.
Following the protest of the lawyers came
one from the physicians, headed by Oliver
Wendell Holmes, and subscribed 20 by nearly all
the eminent doctors of the State.
The merchants and business men, appreciat
ing the disaster that wonld follow prohibition
also united in a remoustraaSe to which ap
pended nearly one thousand names
Labor united with capital in hostility 20 pro
hibtion. The labor leaders, declaring it their be-
lief that the adoption Of the amendment would
ses;ously affect the interests of labOring men,
urged its defeat
names signed to them, conceded with the expert
ence Of people who had tried prohibition and
knew by its fruits what Il Statistics were
not wanting to show it's evil effects when it was
formerly the law Of the State These statistics
were above suspicion, as they We're prepared un
der the order of the Governor and Legislature by
Hon Carroll ID. Wright, one OF the most eminent
and reliable statisticans Of America. They show
the alarming extent of intemperance under prom
btion. and the rapid decrease OF drunkenness
when the prohibititory statute was replaced by
license law.
The tax question cuts considerable figure
III the campaign
The enormous loss Of revenue from licenses
and the consequent heavy increase in taxes was
so obviots that t5e plohibitionists did not at
tempt TO argue on this question.
United with the Phohibitionsts We're The low
saloon and dive keepers of the State. and these
sroye for prohibition with zeal worthy Of
higher motive and a retter caus They worked
for prohibition In order that there might be no
license and that under prohibition they might
have an opportunity OF conducting illegal aud
surreptitious traffic They could not conduct
such illegal business while other men held license,
because man would sneak through alleys and
by-ways to patroni2e them This fact convinced
earnest and conservative people that prohibition
meant Unrestricted traffic, and the amendment
was defeated by 1852 majority.
In 1853 Rhode Island adopted prohibition ana
for ten years gave IT the fairest trial possible
In 1868 the results had been so injurious that the
law was repealed. Not satisfied with the ilrst
experience she again adopted prohibition in $50
The second experiment proved far more dsas-
trous than The FIRST and in June, 1889, the people
of the State repndiated prohibition at the polls
by the enormous majority OF 1887 out OF total
VOTE OF less than $1,000 the vote cast against pro
hibition being nearly three to in its favor.
When the law was adopted in 1856 It had major
ity of 5S83 Three years of experience had, mere
fore. changed the views of more than foar-fiths
of the voters of the State on this subject History
does not present any more striking change "a
public opinion upon any subject
AS early as 1854 Connecticut placed prohibi
ion in the organic law of the State, and Tor
eighteen years used the utmost power OF the
Commonwealth for its enforcement and tnaly
gave up the experiment in 1872. lnOctober, 1851
an effort made TO again engfait piohln'loh
upon the state Constitution and resulted IN an
inplorious failure. nearly three votes 10 one pc
ing cast against tho measure
New York passed prohibitory laws in 1854
tried them for two years ana gave up Tue eApeir
ment as hopeless.
The arst attempt at prohibition in Pennsyl-
,onia vas made in Juno. 1889 The question was
thoroughly discussed throughout the state anu
after thorough enlightenment the heystohe
state declared by a majority Of l94556-the great
est ever cast by any State on any sublect since
the Foundation of the Union-that the law was nor
suited to it or helpful TO the cause OF temper
In 1855 Maryland adopted prohibition IN no
state was tie result disastrous ana so ifeisnleo
with evils Bad results followed the law 50 ,al
idly that after few months trial is was repeated,
y and there has been no disposition on me part ol
that state % repeat the severe lesson II 'pen 'e
In the same year Delaware adopted prompf
t,oo and tried for two years to enforce II, pu'
in 1877 gave up the effort and has since SHOWN ho
inclination to again try the experiment ,cha
Ohio also repeated tho bitter q penen,Si &
law in that State which was adopted In lse9 Nas
sbor-lived and was wiped from the statute pooN'
Among the states which persisted IN the eN
ncrin,ent of Prohibition Michigan may ne tnuihei
ated This state adopted The law ~ 200, az aiiu
for tventy-two years endeayored by the whoi'
mower of the State and by eXlraofamaiy po',i.e a'
laws and regulations TO enforce y, only - ~, 4,
Tho effort futile She abandohed me poHos - y
,o7s and when faction endeavored 70 aA"ii
saddle il upon the State in 1887 the people o,ea W.
,ybeImed it at the polls In the WORDS u urn S
u Alger "You cannot talk prohibition 70 u'
poople Of Michigan. Ihey nave uleu ~ an" o..
what dire failure II Is. .o--
Indiana PASSED prohibitory measures N iN2D
,rho,r ,.ere never enforced and We're soon apan
ianed In 1882 a second effort was mace
imnoee prohibition on the State, but was aeiea'e'
~ the meaest majority east in that State on an
question for twenty years
Nehraska In the same year adopted prohip
lion Int ITS enforcement was found imresslpi
ana If was soon repealed. second eiiori wa
made +, 1880 and was defeated by a decisive ma
jority OF $4,000
The Legislature OF Illinois enacted pfohip
torv law I'm 1856 but It was 80 unpopular VIZ VIZ
me people Of the State that IN the election N lli
fali OF the same year both The law ana l's ep'''
pions were buried n.
Twice the effort was made TO iaAleh thohlo
! tion on Wisconsin ard twice the Governor i%niS %
! posed his veto with the hearty concnrrene vl tn
people This was ia 1855 Since that un" q ii'o'
] liberal spirit has guided the state
Under prohibition Iowa witnessed an fNVuu
; Of her population a depression IN her eommei y
interests accompanied by great moral fsnosie
= sion and a complete revolution IN hef ia'ii''
status Tie law was enacted In 1884 - can
Z mifous we're the results that Ia obedience 20 owe
r whenine popular demand Il was modified an
! practically abandoned few years $50
Kansas has been under WohiDitofy laws ~