Arizona republican., 1909-12-27
The Progress of Prohibition

the country appear to be undaunted by Alabama's rejection of the pro- posed constitutional amendment. They are preparing to go before the various legislatures soon to meet, with renewed demands for legislation against the liquor traffic, and they take comfort from review of con- ditions in the several states.
 A recent series of articles in the New York Christian Advocate by Ernest H. Cherrington. editor of the American Issue, gives resume of present conditions in all of the states in their relations to this question. In that article it is stated that more than 40000.000 of people in the United States are now living in no license territory Since January 1, 19O9-that is. during the year now closing-almost 5000 retail liquor saloons have been abolished by prohibitory and local option laws.
 Nine states, continues MI. 'hci rington, are now under statewide prohibition, and but four are left where the legislatures have not grant ed to the people the right to exclude the saloon as public sentiment devel- ops. The Federal C. O. D. law, which goes into effect January 1, 1910. the provisions of which are aimed at the C. O. D. shipments of intoxicating liquors under the interstate commerce law, will be of decided advantage in helping the state and local authori- ties to enforce the no license laws"
 These general statements are giv- en to show the wide-sweep of the anti liquor movement throughout the country It has been surprising and phenomenal both for its compheren- siveness and it's persistence. What ever is to be said of the effective ness of prohibitory laws in states or communities. where they are in force, it is clear to those who take a can did view of the situation that the great wave as yet shows no important signs of recession.
 The general movement presents two phases, statewide prohibition and local option. Local option also differs in its application in diff ferent states. Some have county option, while in others, as in the state of New York, the. towns have the option of licensing or refusing to license the sale of liquors. Nine states, as we have already noticed, have what is called statewide prohi- bition Some states approximate that condition through the operation of county option laws.
 For example, Arkansas has within it's borders only PIT saloons. and 59 of the 79 counties are dry" In Flor ida g of the 46 counties are dry" In Kentucky 9S of the 119 counties are dry" In Massachusetts, 19 of the B cities and 250 of the 371 towns are dry. A notable feature of the movement in that state is the fact that it has invaded the cities. Of the seven largest cities five have no saloons, and three of these dry" cities have each population of over 100 OOO In Michigan a year ago last April there was but one county with no saloons; now there are 90 dry counties. county option law went into effect in Ohio in 1908. and now 63 of the SS counties in that state are dry"
 The examples of other states might be cited, but the above shows how near some states which have local option laws come to statewide pro l hibition. The facts given are of equal interest to the friends of the saloons and to their opponents. In l some cases towns that have been for some time under no license laws have voted in favor of the restoration of the saloons; but, taking the coun- try at large the enemies of the liquor traffic have been steadily gaining ground for several years, and are in | tending to renew the war this com ing year in states or localities where heretofore they have been defeated.