The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1914-08-20
APPEAL FOR
PROHIBITION

The dramatic appeal for statewide
addrest to the Pepnsyl
vania legislature by l. 008 out Of Q to-
tai OF AIS prisoners In the Eastern
Penitentiary, at Philadelphia, be-
cause they ascribe their downfall to
drink, is said by the Philadelphia
North American to he "the strongest
sociological argument ever made"
against the liquor evil, More than
that, press reports tell us that the ex-
ample is being copied by other penal
institutions, among them the FEEDER.
al prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kan.,
the inmates OF which are TO petition
congress fol national prohibit ion
law. The Pennsylvania petition at
tracts wide edit orial attention, es-
peciaily as it occurs when the peren.
nial question Of prohibition is much
to the fore. Discussion OF national
prohibition. as called for by the Hob
son resolution In the House OF Rep.
resentatives, is active, and our edit
Ors are also interested In the fact
that ON July West Virginia became
the ninth pIuhitition state, with all
Indications that Idaho Will he the
tenth. Incidentally, as AN exception.
al specimen of editorial interest II
may be noted that the Eastern Peni-
tentiary mt vement is the work oi
the convict editor OF The Umpire,
the prison paper. He himself 10 q
victim OF drink, which he names "a
wifes woes and chiid's sorrow, adj
ding "that IL decent manhood AS
serts itself at tue next legislature,
The curse will be ended. The text
of the petition Follows;
ITO the Senate and House Of Rep
rese ntatives OF the Commonwealth
of Pennsyl vania, in General Assembly
met:
"Your petitioners, representing the
major portion Of the inmates OF the
Eastern State Pentitentisry oI
Pennsylvania respectfully aver:
"That they believe fully 20 pei
cent OF crime within the state Ii di'
rectly attributable 10 the excsssiy v,
use Of intoxicating liquors; and
THAT many "f them have . per
sonal knowledge Of its debasing In
liuence ~ exemplihed In their owr
lives and,
THAT, believing II the sale OF In
toxicatiug liquors was prohibited D.
the enactment OF laws by youI hon
orable body, the effect would he d
reduce crime at least 50 per cent, i
not more they therefore
Respectfully pray that you viii
favoraUly consider the introduct tioI
OF any measure having for Its oojec
the ourtailment OF Intoxicating iiq
uors, and use The power with shici
you are clothed TO secure the passag'
OF an act to prohibit the sale Of suci
Intoxicating liquor anywhere within
the bounds OF the Commonwealth a
pennsyl ylvaOia.
"We further pray that you will Civ
due consideration TO this petition
coming TO you as voluntary deed O
body nf earnest men and women
acting wholly on its own initiative
without suggestion FROM Others.
1t is a notable coincidence, says tn
Philadelphia North Amer can, tina
this petition WAS signed on lnde
pendence bay and tue Sunday follow
ing, and It adds:
: "A number Of those Who thus evi
denced their stand on this vital qucs
: Lion did 30 in the face OF threats An'
intimidation which would have KEEP
them fron exercising their free vii
: unDer ordinary circumstances. Fo
while the circualtors OF the petitlOl
observed their instr ueti ions TO Use n
persuasion and avoid all cot rtroysrsy
: certain inmates Of one Of the priso
J blocks organized militant opposi
tion movement.
These liquor advocates precedc
the clerks and did all they could !
, gssp the men in tbs block from sign
: ing. They resofted 10 threats an
warnings but in spite OF these taC
lics-the force OF which cal hardl
=. Je appreciated bv persons not fault
: iar Nith certain phases of prison III
--ouly 70 per cent ri those the
: souvn ut 10 bold 10 line for run weI
} son over.
This feature adds ~sisht N IN
> r.,sult, winch greatly exceeded tb
. expectations Of the prison oiiiciAI
!. and thOss outsiders shO had heard {
. the project. one prison ofiioer IA
4 predicted u would be impossible I
!. gei 600 uamts tO such = petition.
n Human dOcumsnts in the pre-
4 cedure appeared in the iorm Of let
2 tsrs to THE Umpire. homs Of whic
> are reprinted by the North Amer
. can. Ous ritter says
q al have been reading the Umpir'
4 ana particularly the articles aimed l
). ,he liquor tranic. For fifteen years
4 worked ~ trAdesDan and niAIntalI
Is ed = family ! met bad company 40
!. uegau 70 drink. One night while II
H......f.E .s.at hana M onr