The Winchester news. [volume] (Winchester, Ky.) 1908-19??, 1908-12-28
PROHIBITION IS
ISSUE IN SOUTH
More Than Half of Dixie is Dry
Vets Are Driven to the llS
Cities.

washington, Dec. ga wave Oh
prohibition has swept with such re-
markable effect over the south and
sentiment has SO crystalized against
the saloon and its kindred evils, that
the dawn of the new year opens upon
a vast stretch of territory absolutely
bereft Of liquor, while the area where
anti-prohibitionists have triumphed
marks the battle-ground for impend-
ing fights for and against the sale
of intoxicants.
Significant. Of the magnitude this
problem has assumed is the fact that
In many states prohibition looms up
as political issue of chief concern to
the voters, obscuring other municipal
and state questions.
Reports rejecting accurately the
present stage Of the prohibition
movement in the south show that
more than half the souths territory
is dry" absolutely, and that in the
remaining area listed as wet" the
sale Of intOxicants is upon a restrict
ed scale. 1t is evident that the cities
ere the only remaining strongholds
for the saloons and 1t Is unlikely that
this condition will be modified, except
through a radical change in political
thought, through failure to enforce
the laws against the liquid trafic,
failure to solve the problem growing
out Of deficits in county, municipal
and state treasures from a loss Of
the whisky tax, or inability to cope
with the Illicit sale Of whisky, and,
perhaps, other obstacles which follow
In the wake Of prohibition.
Georgia now holds the center Of
the stage and for a year has been ex-
perimentihg in what II strictly .
near prohibition law, in that 1t for
bids the sale Of liquors containing
more than four per cent Of alcohol.
State wide prohibition laws become
effective on January 1 in North Caro-
lima. Alabama and Miaaissippi. Ia
each of which a majority of counties
had, heretofore prohibited the sale of
hquor. Prohibition advocates IN
Louisiana have suspended their night
to test the new Gay-shattuck law for
the regulation of the liquor traffic
which also becomes operative Janur
airy 1. The anti-saloon people say
they will be content IL this law IL en-
forced rigidly.
Tennessee is the chief center Of
interest among the states where state
wide prohibition fights are In pro-
gress. The prohibitionists assert
that state wide bill will pass the
Legislature which they expect to or.
ganize and control Kentucky, the
second largest distilling state in the
Union, with 119 counties, has but four
In which the sale of liquor Is not
prohibited. Virginia presents a string
Of victories for the anti-saloon ele-
ment, as prohibition now exists in 80
out of the states 100 counties.
In Texas, where more than half the
counties have accepted prohibition,
the voters soon viii be called upon
to vote upon constitutional amend
ment for prohibition. In Arkansas
two-thirds Of its area, or rs counties,
are "dry" and the question of state
wide prohibition will be presented to
the voters for decision Florida is
partly dry" through local option, and
like some Of the other states the sale
of liquor principally is confined to the
cities. The results OF prohibition
generally are CLEANED from reports
indicating a great decrease in the
record Of arrests for drunkenness, an
increase in the bank deposits of la
borers, fewer cases Of wife abandon
ment, and a decrease in criminality
generally.