The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-06-28
STATES TO VOTE
ON PROHIBITION SOON
Canvass of Legislatures Show Also That Two States Enacted
Statutory Prohibition Others Pass Add
tional Restrictive Legislation.


. New York, June 27.---A canvass by
The Associated Press of legislative &C
tivity this year in the State law max
Ing bodies of the country, most OF
which have adjourned for the sum-
mer, shows that among the subjects
which received notable attention was
that of the prohibition or the regula-
ton of the liquor traffic.
The legislatures of two States en-
acted statutory prohibition TO become
effective this year. and eight voted
to submit the question of Statewide
prohibition to a referendum of the
people. OF the latter. two established
statutory prohibition TO become ef-
fective In the meantime. Four states
where prohibition Is already effective
passed additional restrictive laws and
two of the five States, where. under
constitutional amendment prohibition
is TO go into effect next years, engted
necessary statutes for its enforcement.
In six of the so-calied wet" states,
Statewide proposals met defeat. In
others questions of local option, trans
portation and licensing we're acted
upon.
The two states wnere direct prohi-
bition laws were passed are Florida
and Alabama. Those whose legisla-
lures voted to submit the question to
the people are Idaho. Iowa, Montana.
South Carolina South Dakota, Utah
Vermont and the territory of Alaska
In Iowa, the legislative resolution, ac-
cording to the State constitution. must
he passed by the next succeeding leg
islature before the people can vote on
IL. but the State returned to statutory
prohibition meanwhile, through the
repealed the so-called mule law.
Idaho was also made dry meanwhile
through statutory enactment. In
Utah the bill was vetoed by the Gov
ernor after the Legislature adjourned
In South Carolina, the vote will be
taken at the election this year, in
Montana, South Dakota. Vermont and
Alaska I'm 1915. Idaho in 1915.
Nineteen States i'm lane.
tt will be thus seen that as meas
ure of the progress OF the cause Of
prohibition the fifteen States already
in the ranks have this year been en-
forced by four and the legislative way
cleared for four others. including
Alaska. to join. In the latter event
nearly half the country will nave
placed the ban on the liquor traffic
The new Florida law goes into ef-
1SEl 1Ct0neT Ia anu hilG Bd3t
of alcoholic beverages except in
pint each, nor can liquor be drunk
on the premises where sold. This APP
plies to restaurants, hotels and clubs
as well as saloons.
The Alabama law was passed over
the veto Of Governor Henderson. II
becomes operative July I. In addi-
ton, the legislature enacted an anti
shipping law, which forbids the ship
ping to an individual of more than
one gallon of liquor or sixty bottles
of beer a month. It's validity was
taken to the Supreme Court for test.
There was also passed over the gov
ernors veto, an act forbidding the
publication of liquor advertisements
in newspapers and periodicals on bill
boards or In saloons. This was also
taken to the courts.
In Iowa, the repeal Of the muict
law under which communities by a
ma iority petition were allowed to have
saloons operated under mulct tax.
had the effect of returning the state
to the statutory prohibition which
prevailed prior the laws enacted
twelve years ago. Content neither
with this or the passage of the reso-
luton for constitutional prohibition
amendment the legislature also en-
acted eleven prohibition enforcement
bills.
Idaho Goes the limit
In adopting statutory prohibition.
pending the constitutional amendment
vote. Idaho enacted a provision con-
ceded to be more drastic than any
ever enacted In the United States.
1t makes even ownership of liquor q
misdemeanor, and on second offense,
a felony.
The Montana legislature decided to
refer the question to the people. at
the 1916 election. in the form of a
statute after rejecting a proposed con-
stitutional amendment vote The law
would permit tho use OF wine for sac
ramentai purposes and In lodge cere-
moniai work IL approved. It will be-
come effective December 81, 1918. In
connection with the measure the leg
fsfature enacted early closing and
Sunday closing laws for the saloons.
Prohibition Much Debated.
The General Assembly of South
Carolina took up a large part of It's
session in discussing prohibition. BE-
sides drafting a Statewide law for
submission TO a referendum at the
election of September IL, 1915, the
assembly enacted a statute which
makes effective in the State the pro-
visions of the Webb-Kenyon Federal
act against the shipment of liquor
from wet TO dry territory. South
Carolina being now local option. The
statute also forhids the shipment of
more than one gallon of alcoholic IL
duors to any one persian In the Stare
during any one month.
The South Dakota legislature de-
cided to submit Statewide consti-
amendment TO the general
election in 1915. II carried by a ma
jority of the votes cast, 1t will be-
come effective July 1, 1917.
9 The Statewide prohibition measure