Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1908-04-11
.PROH|BS STRIKE A SNAG
National Legislative Aid No
Longer Probable.
HIGH TIDE OF PROHIBITION

/ w Ht1hss ttiSHf WESTERN
Grain Growers Etc, Are uo n
Arms Against It,
Washington, D. @. April ~ Nation.
al legislative aid for the prohibition
lists is no longer probable, according
70 The frank admissions OF Represen-
tative Sims. of Tennessee. and other
| prohibition leaders. For tho first
time IN the many years In which they
have been pulling down legislation In
Washington more or less favorable
to their cause the prohibtonists have
encountered an organized opposition
that they never conemplatei. They
secured the abolition OF the santeeu
in the regular army, apd followed that
with legislation aholishlng the canteen
In the soldiers homes of the country.
Imposed restrictions here and there
and every year found encouragement.
While this was going on they encoun-
/ tered practically no opposition So
| far as the canteen was concerned the
| whiskey interests were really on the
other side. as the chasing out OF the
beer from army posts meant larger
consumption % whsLey III saloons
outside the posts But With the vic
tories of the prohihitlonists in the va
4 rious states came a compact organ
izatlon OF the alked interests and the
IA, fsf hn ft.fah nd
others who hold their personal liber-
ty as 10 eating and drinking was be-
ing infringed upon In the past COM
mittees OF congress were carried on
their feet BY thousands OF letters and
kilograms from the w G, 4, II. and
Anti-Saloon workers. They feared
tremendous uprisings In Their dis
| diets and the members fell over them
selves 20 vote as the dry pscpls
wanted. This time the telegr ms con
Z tinued as before. but there were tsle
grams and letters on the other side.
: The California wine growers; the hop
growers OF the Pacific coast; grain
growers of the West machinery man
ufacturers of the country; Insurance.
men carrying policies on distilleries
and breweries; bottle manufacturers
I IN all directions: German, irish and
other political organizations, all made
their views known in opposition bv
letters and kilograms The man who
had been swept off his feet before
realized that there were two sides
to the question and powerful infiu-
ences against him either way.
When congress opened predictions
were freely made that the prohibition,
lists would get nearly everything they
asked for. What they wanted above
everything else was legislation pre-
venting shipments OF whiskey into
prohibition communities, but the SEN.
ate committee on judiciary decided
I that this was not constitutional. The
committee gave one crumb Of satfs-
faction BY agreeing to report a bill
providing that whiskey could not be
shipped without the plain address Of
a person for whom 1t was intendef.
This put stop to anybody calling for
package. paying the freight and get;
ting the goods. The next Important
legislation asked for was rohibitiou
for the District Of Columbia which is
controlled by congress. But the
chamber of commerce, business and
other bodies OF the District, including
many ministers. arrayed themselves
strongly against the measure. and the
District committee of the house will
no report the measure. Consequently
the District will continue to license
| the sale Of whiskey as in the past,
without additional restrictions
Those opposing the Prohibition de-
mands say that the high tide of pro-
hibiion has at last been reached;
that the tremendous interests oppos-
ing It have at last been thoroughly
aroused and that in the future their
| organizations will meet and defeat
those of the other side. The prohiD~
tionists claim that they will win some
other day, and thus the matter stands-