Semi-weekly herald., 1916-11-23

oil Mexico on Dry lana. Win tneBe
broad prohibition swaths cutting
across the Union from east to west
and north to south, with the central
state of Kansas constituting the four
corners of the dry paths, it il con-
sidered impossible for the other
states to retain their saloons much
longer.
And the antisaloon leaders do not
expect to have to wait for many ad-
ditional states to vote prohibition be-
fore the national prohibition amend
ment will be submitted. Unless Con-
gress takes favorable action within
reasonable time it Is the intention
of the temperance cohorts to alter
the plan of campaigning to the ex-
tent of working for national con-
stitutional convention.
However. it is anticipated that con-
| gress will submit constitutional
amendment before the progress Of
the prohibition movement puts 80
states the number required to call
constitutional convention, in the
"dry" column. 1t is known that many
interests with influence in Congress
| do not want a constitutional con-
vention for the reason that con-
vention would be at liberty to amend
the Constitution at will, and the in
Gustrial and money interests are
known to be averse to throwing the
Constitution open to the progressive
and organized labor influences. Hence
before the danger lines of 80 prohi-
bition states is reached, influences
Indifferent to prohibition but opros-
ed to constitutional convention, are
expected to be exerted In Congress
to have the national prohibition
amendment submitted, and these in
| fluences added to the natural prohi-
bition strength among the congress-
men from the prohibition states, 1t Is
believed, will carry the prohibition
amendment thru with rush.
The antisaloon leaders figure that
Congress will be induced to take
favorable action on the national pro-
hibition amendment certainly by the
time 30 or 80 states have voted fav-
orably on prohibition for their own
states, if not earlier. Hence, their
zeal to reach the desired mark that
viii lead to congressional action.
At present. the states which have
taken action either by constitution
al amendment or by law to exclude
the saloon are 28 In number. Twenty
two have voted state wide prohibi-
ton, and Tennessee has adopted the
''four mile" act, forbidding the estab,
lishment of a saloon withing four
miles of church or school house,
law which effects prohibition every
where in the state except small un-
inhabited stretch in the mountains.
Tennessee is, therefore, classed as a
prohibition state.
Four states, Montana, South Da-
Iota, Nebraska and Michigan, vot I'D
for prohibition at the recent election.
Montana adopted statewide pronlbi-
zion by a majority of about 20,0na,
Which means the ousting of 1857
saloons and 30 breweries.
South Dakota went "dry" by abont
'5,o00 majority, serving notice on 200
saloons and three breweries to close
up shop on or before July /, 1917.
Nebraska added 812 saloons and 13
breweries to the number that will
| have to give way to the march of
progress, the state voting "dry" by
about $4,000.
Michigan's majority for prohibi-
ton was about $4,000. About 3,20s
saloons and 10 breweries will go out
of business and Detriot the states
formidable "wet" center will have the
prestige of being the largest dry
city in the Western Hemisphere.
The action of these four states will
reduce the number Of saloons in the
United States by 5,s81, and the brew
cries by la according to the figures
compiled by antisaloon leaders.
But this is not all the gaiu made
at the national election. 1t mas fire.
| q.entlS l.en heard since the eltc-
tin DAY that five rather than four
states vo'ed for prohibition. These
statements take into consideration
Utah, whose action for prohibition
was really decided election day but
will not be carried into effect until
after the newly elected legislature
and Governor are sworn into office.
Utah elected legislature, major
ity of whose members will vote for
a prohibition law. and the governor
elect, Simon Bamberger Democrat, is
pledged to secure prohibition by leg
islative enactment by Aug. 1, 1917
and to submission of state pro-
I