New-York tribune., 1908-01-05
EMPIRE STATE WAS DRY
NE Once Had Prohibition Lac
Declared Unconstitutional

While prohibition has conquered the South
the stronghold of the mint julep and the morning
whiskey-there are few New Workers who know
that at one time this state blessed. cursed,
by prohibition. Yes; New York State was brought
within the fold and for almost nine months any
body who sold liquor, except for mechanical.
medicinal sacramental uses liable to prose-
cution guilty of misdemeanor. The man who
associates New York liquor regulations with back
rooms" and Ranes law sandwiches will be
prised the Information that only recently
1855 prohibitory law was passed which forbade
the selling of liquor as a beverage.
But the thirsty popuace was saved because the
law was unconstitutional, and in the first
carried up TO the Court of Appeals this
established. Had the friends of the demon rum
tried 10 defeat the purposes OF the prohbitonis,s
10y writing the law they could have done no better
For example, the Court of Appeals de-
cded that the act deprived owners and venders
of alcoholic liquors of their property without
due process of law"
The saddling Of prohibition upon New York was
of the results of the peculiar political differences
Of time when the great question of secession and
rights splitting the old parties
the first time that such law had been presented,
for in 1852 Myron H. Clark. State Senator from
Canandaigua, had assisted materially in securing
the passage of such an act. II was vetoed by
Governor Seymour. IN 1854 the anti-secessonists.
anti-slavery and prohibitionsts. with most
other radicals of the period, banded together,
called themselves Republicans and nominated Mr..
Clark their choice for Governor. He elected
office in 1855 by majority of only 9o5 out of
total vote of $4,000. the smallest majority
given A Governor of New York. His opponent
was Greene &. Bronson. the leader of the so-caed
''HardshelIs''
\ charact erization of MIR. Clark at tho time O
his nomination is given by De Alva Stanwood
Alexander in his Political History of the State of
New York Although Mr.. Clark harshIy
criticised side and much Iaud-d the
other Mr.. Alexander sketches him the follow
ing words
yroD II. Clark, in his forty-nnth year.
belonged the class of generally known
fanatics. He was a plain man of humble preten-
sions and slender attachments He originally
q cabinetmaker and afterward merchant. Then
he became reformer. He sympathiZed with
the native Americans; he approved Stewards views
upon slavery, and he interested himself in the
WOrkingmen But his hobby was temperance. It's
advocates made his home in Canandaigua their
headquarters and during the temperance revival
which swept over the state in the early sos he
aided in directing the movement. This experience
opened his way, in 1851. 10 the State Senate Here
he displayed Of the legislative gifts that
distinguished John Young He had patience and
persistence; he could talk easily we'll,
underneath his enthusiasm fingered the shregd-
ness Of skilled diplomat. when at last the
Maine liquor bill. which he had introduced and
engineered, passed the Legislature his name was
household word throughout the state. Seymour's
veto Of the measure strengthened Clark People
realized that Governor no less than legislature
needed to make laws and with the spirit OF
tefcrmers the delegates demanded his nomination
To Weed seemed hazardous, but a ma lority of
the convention. believing thai Clark public career
had been sagacous ana upright refused 10 take
another
That another move would he made toward pro-
htbitir3 WAS expected. for. in Governor Clark's
campeisB he had hoen Warmly supported by the
pioC'n.tirnists inde"d piugrs Pliers ascli5e his
ia. aon .tete.t H. - small atEice 70 u seres
ils.
western part of the sta;e by Edmund Burae Far