St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1909-01-09

from the small towns and villages.
In most communities of the State
beer is now sold but men cannot OBJ
tain alcohol except by shipment from
points outside the State. Of course
the blind tiger fourishes now and
then, but as a rule the police are
aggressive and vigilant in the detec-
tion Of such places. The charitable
institutions report a falling off il
cases Of restitution, wife-beating and
abandonment. The banks report that
there never was a time when SO many
laboring men carried bank accounts,
or when the accounts we're 50 large.
In one thing only has there been no
improvement. The divorce docket is
as heavy as ever.
North Carolina by a majority of
10000 votes last May adopted State
wide prohibition, and the statutory
law goes into effect January 1st. It
prohibits absolutely the sale or man
ufacture of any Intoxicating LIQUORS.
This law is the elimination Of the
prohibition agitation in the State
since 1881. The only ~loophole in the
statute is a section permitting the
manufacture of wines and elders from
grapes, fruits II berries, which can
be sold at the place Of manufacture,
and then only in sealed packages,
containing not less than two and a
half gallons.
Prohibition legislation dates from
1903, when q law was enacted fore
ing the distilleries into incorporated
towns, and granting to the counties
the right to vote on the question of
license every two years. Then fol
lowed legislation prohibiting the ship
ment Of liquor from wet to dry
territory within the State and finally
the enactment of the present law.
A marvellous change IN sentiment on
the liquor question is shown by the
fact that in a prohibition election
held in 1881 prohibition was defeated
by more than 100000 votes, The
sale Of liquor has been gradually re-
duced BY local option il the counties,
and the close Of the present year finds
only a half dozen cities in North
Carolina with open saloons and these
will be dry" after December 3lst.
Thereafter liquor can only be obtained
legally at a drug store upon a physf
clans prescription. The enforcement
Of the law in cities and towns which
heretofore have been dry" has been
a difficult problem. While less liquor
has been sold and fewer arrests for
drunkenness have been recorded it is
an established fact that much liquor
is sold illegally and indictments
against ~proprietors Of blind tigers
supplant warrants against drunken
on the police dockets. The pro-
blem of dealing with the illicit sale
Of liquor together with the question
of a serious decrease il the revenues
of the different municipalities as al
result Of stopping the saloon tax, are
somewhat battling the authorities.
Alabama's Statewide prohibition
which also becomes effective on
January lst, brings with it some alarm
over the loss of revenues, the whiskey
tax alone being worth approximately
81, 100000 to the State, counties and
municipalities. The new law is not
far-reaching in some Of its phases.
Before the act was passed, local op-
tion elections had previously sup
pressed the sale Of liquor entirely, or
confined it to a small area. There is
fear that the Statewide prohibition
.aw will not be enforced rigidIy. In
larger cities the saloon men have
arranged to continue their places as
soft drink establishments. In those
counties wherein are situated the
anger cities, the liquor traffic has
oeen reserved alone for the city.
for example, is the only