St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1909-01-09
ADVANCE OF PROHIBI.
ton in The
SOUTH.

- 49, S0%NH2 S&Y
hibition in the South has advanced t.
d stage that has already assumed the
proportions of a Vitalpolitical issue
in many States. That it has been ac-
cepted as a problem Of great magni-
tude is an established fact, reports
showing beyond question, the unpre-
cedented growth Of sentiment against
the saloon, and it's kindred evils.
More than half the territory Of the
South is dry" absolutely, due TO the
un~relenting activity Of ~anti-saIoon
forces; and in a great part of the
territory listed as vet the sale Of
intoxicants is restricted to a small
area. In these states where state
wide prohibition will not become
operative the will Of the majority in
local option elections, has SO restrict
ed the sale Of liquor, that the only
strongholds left to the saloons are in
the larger cities. Georgia is now ex-
perimenting On near prohibition. Z
On January LIST statewide prohibition
laws will become operative in North
Carolina, Mississippi and Alabama.
The anti-saloon adherants have lined
up for a determined fight for state
wide prohibition in Tennessee. In
Louisiana the temperance advocates
are awaiting a test Of the efficiency
Of a new law for the regulation of the
liquor traffic. Most Of the territory
il the other states Of the South has
been transformed into a dry area.
and ID j few Of the states, notably
Texas and Arkansas, the voters will
soon be called upon to decide the is
sue Of statewide prohibition.
In a few Of the states the prohibi-
tionists are hesitating between an
attack on the larger cities, wherein
the saloons have triumphed, and a
fight for a statewide law. The re-
suits of prohibition generally are in
Dictated by reports showing a decrease
In arrests for drunkness, and increase
in bank deposits Of laborers, fewer
cases of wife abandonment, and a
decrease in criminality generally.
The difficulty Of enforcing the pro
hibition laws has proved one of the
obstacles to the success Of the law in
some states. A serious problem has
also grown out Of the deficit in country
and municipal treasures through the
loss of the whiskey tax, together with
the illicit sale Of intoxicants in var
ious ways that defy prosecution.
Georgia has had prohibition for
one year and the eyes Of the country
have been focused on that state
studying the results. Georgia is
supposed to have absolute prohibi-
ton. What Georgia has, however, is
near prohibition When the legis-
lature compromised on the present
law, it attempted to please both sides
il the fight. It forbade the sale Of
any malt, yinous Of distilled liquors
containing more than four per cent
alcohol. The law does not forbid
their manufacture. As nearly all
contain only three and one-half
per cent Of three and three-fourths
per cent alcohol, the sale of malt and
brewed beverages continues. They
are sold as near beer" and a license
Of $500 is collected. Although the !
ale IF hqnor vas interdioted, it goes j
~ illegally 70 q limited extent. De- i
-
this condition no one can rea-
deny that prohibition has Z
'rought good to the State. As con- q
AIRED with the previous year, the |
records Of Atlanta show that 5
be number Of arrests for drunken !
esa decreased 81 per cent, and = J
ecrease of SO per cent in the total j
Of police cases. Reports j,
caring practically the same averages d
decrease Of criminality, come IN Il