Norwich bulletin., 1916-12-12

q
listers Association held on Monday af-
ternoon in the room over the Otis Id
brary, Rev. Joseph r. Cobb, pastor OF
the Church Of Good Shepherd, read
a paper entitled, What Are the Pros
poets for Saloonless Nation?
Rev. Richard r. Graham, rector of
Christ Episcopal church. presided at
the meeting.
Rev. Mr.. cobb's paper follows;
There are some people who think
than it is now. They think that ID
there is any improvement it will be
for only a short time and then there
will be a reaction which viii set the
world in morality back where it is
now.
On the other hand there are many
people who believe that the world is
improving and that life in it In going
to improve.
There are those who think that
of the present a brighter future A
saloonless nation Is something to
which some people are looking for
ward; 1920 has been a date set by
some active workers for national pro-
hibition. When it was first stated
that in 1920 we can write ''Prohibi-
ton" in our constitution, those who
made the declaration were called Wis
ionaries. However, it is said that the
liquor interests have published in their
tLIdS5aElIf0S IIlIS statement we Sue
the handwriting on the wall. Our
doom is pronounced"
AS well known lawyer of this city
said a few days ago. "A few years ago
prohibition was joke, but it looks
now as if it were coming very soon"
There are of course diversities of opin-
ion about this matter. But what are
some of the direct facts that give
hope for the fulflment of the propll-
ecy of sa1oonless nation? There are
at least eight and possibly many more
reasons for the early prospects Of
saloonless nation.
We mention first the rapid and con-
stantly aecelerating progress of pro-
hibition in the United States. Prior
to Jan. l.. 1915 there were nine states
Kansas, North Dakota, Georgia Ok
lahoma, Mississippi, North Carolina,
Tennessee, and West Virginia On
Jan. /. 1915. a prohibition amendment
to the state constitution of Arizona
went into effect. Since that time, Jan.
l, 1915. to Nov 1, 1915. prohibition
laws have gone into effect in the
states of Alabama Arkansas, Colorado,
Idaho, Iowa, Oregon, South Carolina,
Washington; and on Nov. l, of this
the state of Virginia. On the 7th of
November of this year. Michigan.
Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota and
the Territory of Alaska by vote of
the people. took their stand for pro-
hibition, SO that at the present time
23 states are prohibition states, al
though the Nebraska law becomes eff
fective May 1. 1917; South Dakota,
July l. 1917: Michigan, April 30, 1918;
and Montana Dec. 81, 1918. Concress
mlfSt ratify the vote of the people for
prohibition for Alaska. In addition
to this on Nov. I, Utah. Wyoming and
Florida elected legislatures pledged to
pass at their next session prohibitory
laws.
.sJn March, 1915, more than 50 per
cent. of the area of the United Stltas
was no-iicerse territory, and more
taa:: so millions. or 60 per cent. of the
.Jc4Clatior, lived under aorohihitory
ia"s. The United States government
prohibits tht -liGtor traffic among In
dams in Portions of the terr tories, in
ri.:i: AIRY frs ard reservations in the
raw in tho n9-icnai capitol, in SOL
diors, htI.:as and III other specified
areas G;i:ic: 20 ri control. eighty
four pe:;a'i - tIe dominion of Can
ada is G::' tA-"its.,.:i
O: Nav - &c -esult of the cleo
tiur l. in ;:r.,r., s:stes there were
add, L.tg mr. ca,.t Of dry ter
rit-b>v 81. -. ~; .srn-..-f miles or
ORG u al. ii - .;.iAs. - c'se United
Sta:c' r'3c:..: o-.T.;:l, S:seise
TIE setIs1s: re-tsE - 70 :-a:1ca fo:'
the .C"iCtsa@ cf :: :.!c.,i.is.,f u.t;on IS
thIc tEfr= - I.cr@-a ;;..-e il wet
st:.:. .+.: t!.+3e. ce.lne I. ~rTl of Iro-
hsf--;2:; 3 y '-!i-'.f s:-a tE:'s'it r. Wy
oii'i1's '.:d -. t:a:+fa itvt PC
his:te.l tire saic - ;iG"crs m a! sec
pora i.s'a n-;I73aIrai'<.:s Among the
ste rs :; wIic;: -: yer Cnnt. of the !
PcFuitt'rr waa UgGda" na-license Jan
!, 1915, w7re II VIZ: Florida Indiana, |
Kentucky. Lcuisiana. Minnesota, Mis-
souri,: New Hampshire, Texas, Utah |
and Vermont
And in seven states no-license pre-
vailed for from % to so per cent. of |
the popula tion-CSlifornia Delaware,
Illinois. Maryland. Massachusetts,,
Ohio, Wisconsin, Wyoming. There are
nine states in which less than. rs per |
cent of the population are under no. !!
license
The third reason for the hopeful
ness of a saloonless nation is based |
upon. the fact that the recent victories
OF Nov. when Montana, Nebraska,
Michigan and South Dakota voted
prohibition; Idaho made
statutory prohibition constitutional;
Utah and Florida elected governors
and legislatures pledged to prohibition,
nearly dry now. plans to
in the face of an opposition never SO
desperate, never so prodigal of money,
never SO rich in insiduous literature. |
never so prolific in printers ink, never
SO fertile in garbled statistics and alb
solute falsehood"
The votes of the people defeated the
utmost force that the enemy to pro-
hibition ever has used or ever can use.
Fourth reason: THE situation at
present shows 40 states with fewer
saloons in all of them together than
are in the city of New York. and
there are practically. "a states abso-
lutely dry.
Some of these states have laws for
bidding liquor advertising of any de-