The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-01-03
GAINED SEVEN
STATES JANUARY 1.
Sevcnty-nire New York Towns
Banned Liquor During
Last Year.
SEE BIG VICTORY COMING

Thu prohibition wave which has been
sweeping tho country showed 10 diminu-
ton In tho year Just passed. Those work
ing In tho CAUSE Of temperance claim
that tho year was fully as important In
its results ~ 1914. On New Years day
seven States were added to the dry col
umn. making eighteen States in all now
or the list. Tho States that went dry
the irs; OF the ear had a population
of s,264.000.
Much of tho work done during the
year was directed toward strengthening
temperance forces In Congress. preiim-
mary to "a fight In the present Conc rees
to secure a resolution for national pro-
hibition. This promises to be one Of the
most important and interesting features
OF the present session. and the temper
ance forces already are claiming vlc-
tory.
Speaking Of the years results through
out the country. William II. Anderson,
member OF the national executive COM
mittee of the Anti-Saloon League OF
America. said
THE year 1918 Is linked with 1914,
constituting together the greatest drive
ever known against tho liquor traffic.
In the fall Of 1914 five States voted dry
and the resolution for national rrohibi-
ton received "A majority in the national
House OF Representatives on Decem-
Der 90.
TIT year 1915 has developed the Ell
cheney denomination respecting alcohol
which IL being made In Europe to the
point where results ave been secured
and some estimate ~ possible. 1t is re-
ported from Russia that the saving In
adult life through prohibition equals the
mortality caused by the war. Condi-
lions are more prosperous, notwithstand-
Ing tho cost OF war and the withdrawal
OF millions OF laborers from productive
fields. Savings and bank deposits have
tremendously increased. In Moscow the
savings deposits have increased thirty
fold. or 5000 per cent.
In the United States in 1915 five
more States voted directly or through
their Legislatures to add then selves to
the dry list-Alabama. Idaho. Iowa, Ar
kansas n South Carolina
There were five vacancies IN Con-
eress to be filled at the November cleo
ton in 1915. All of these are filed with
men who will vote for the submission
of national prohibition. Three Of the
FIVE are in New York.
'Tn New York state in the wet and
dry elections this fall seventy-two were
added TO the list Of totally dry towns,
while only six towns hat were to-
1lliy dry or had nothing except drug
store sale Of Liquor upon physicians
prescription switched over. making a
net gain of sixty-six totally dry towns
To this may fairly be added the thlr-
teen towns that voted against every
form of open sale and now sell only
IN drug stores on physicians prescrip-
tion, making a total OF se~vcnty-n!ne in
the election this fall. The Excise Com
missioneTs port OF October l showed
a gain at scattered elections through
the year Of fourteen completely dry
towns, making a net gain OF eighty
totally arr towns within the year. or
counting those that have only provisions
for physicians prescriptions, a net gain
OF ninety-th. ee.
The differences between the prohibi-
ton movement to-day and that Of the
SOS. of which only Maine is left. are
many, For example the liquor Interests
are in politics so completely that when
a State is won dry now IL represents
normal, organized public sentiment.
Second, practically all recent state pro
h!oition has oome through local option.
so II represents a natural Development
Again. the modern movement IS based
upon scientific facts and economic en-
perience instead OF upon mere sentiment.
Most important Of all perhaps Is the
fact that the whole business world Is de
maudinE sohriety on a purely efficiency
basis. Highly important is the fact
tina ways are now being found TO en-
force ~prohlhitory laws. Finally. the
temperance people have developed their
own agency the Antl-Saloou League.
which Is whipping the liquor met at
their own non-part!san, balance of power
game.
THE A~nt-Saloon League has its oHn
printing plant, representing a quarter
Of . million dollars, printing nothing
ou; temperance literature, During 1915
the National A~nti-Saloon League started
4 daily temperance paper devoted solely
10 this issue"