Evening star., 1916-12-31
PREDICTS DISTRICT
PROHIBITION LAW
N. E. Church Board Says Use
of Mail by LiqVor Men
49, 49, Will Be CurtaiIed.
AMENDMENT is UNLIKELY

AMENDMENT is UNLIKELY
Congress is expected to enact a prohi-
bition law for the District of Columbia
and Law forbiddins the use of the
malls for the purpose of liquor advertis-
ing and solicitation except when ad-
dressed to licensed liquor dealers. ac-
cording to the annual review of the pro-
Inhibition question made public last night.
showing the situation in the country at
the opening of the year 1917. as viewed
by the Board of Temperance. Prohibi-
tion and Public Morals of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. The headquarters OF
the board are in this city.
The statement says that while the
present Congress is expected to show
q heavy majority. it will not show the
two-thirds necessary for the sub
mission of prohibition constitu-
tional amendment. Nineteen states
now have prohibition laws. according
to the survey. These states are: Ala
bama, Georgia, South Carolina, North
Carolina, Kansas. Maine, North Dakota,
Iowa. Idaho. Oregon. Washington. Colo
Virginia. West Virginia, Arizona and
Arkansas. with laws approved and not
yet effective in Michigan. South Dako-
,ta.- Montana and Nebraska. In addi-
tion to these, the territory of Alaska,
by five to three vote. expressed itself
in favor of prohibition on November.
z. 1916. but it is necessary that Con-
gress put the policy into effect. as that
body reserves the right to legislate on
the liquor question for Alaska.
Utah. by action of a pledged legisla-
ture." says the statement, will pass
prohibition law to become effective Au-
gust l. 1917. Florida. also by pledged
legislative action, will submit a prohi
bition amendment to the constitution
to be voted upon in the general cleo
tions of 1918.
Wyoming Legislature Pledged.
"wyoming has legislature pledged
to prohibition submission. but the de-
tails of it's action are not determined;
New Mexico. with both parties on rec
ord in favor of no license. has elected
Q governor. lieutenant governor. secre-
1ary of state and chief justice of the
supreme court who have been on the
platform in favor of prohibition. and
all other state officers-elect are prohi-
bitionists. New Mexico is expected to
-Sote upon the question in 1918. The
democratic primary of Texas has in
,stfucted the legislature to submit the
question to be voted upon July %. 1917.
Minnesota has a substantial dry ma
jority in it's legislature and will prob
ably go dry in 1918.
"t is practically assured that Ken
tucky and Nevada will vote upon pro-
hibition. but the time is not certain.
Nevada will almost certainly go dry
and the result in Kentucky cannot be
predicted. In Missouri and Indiana
strong effort to induce the forthcoming
sessions Of the legislature to enact
statutory prohibition, will be made.
Iowa. with statutory prohibition, will,
by,rits legislature, submit prohibition
for the second time. as is required by
law before it may be voted upon.
Local Victories Won.
livery attempt to repeal or weaken
state prohibition during 1916 was de-
feated by heavy majorities. such. cities
as Denver and Seattle. which originally
voted against the policy, returning
heavy majorities in favor of retaining
the law 1t is also remarkable that
every single state in the Union showed
an increase in dry territory. either by
state. county. township or city option.
In New York. local victories reduced
the number of saloons by 500.
In all state elections. either heavy
dry matorities were registered or sub
stantial decreases in the wet majorities.
During tn year Vermont. California
and Missouri defeated prohibition. In
California the majority of two years
ago was reduced by 67.5S4 and in Mis-
souri the reduction was about 100, 600.
The latter state was kept wet only by
the vote of ST. Louis.
"A distinctive feature of 1916 was
the tendency Of states to prohibit the
Importation of alcoholic liquors for any
beverage purpose. Idaho. Arizona and
Oregon have taken such action. II.
West Virginia, while liquors may be
personally brought in IL contained in
labeled suit cases. no importation by
common carrier is permitted. Colorado
Montana, Kansas. Utah. North Carolina
South Carolina and West Virginia are
expected to enact bone dry laws sim
liar to those of Idaho. Oregon and Ari-
.xona as soon as opportunity offers.
Iowa will limit the amount that may
be imported for personal use and the
quantity will be reduced in several
states already having limitations.
Present Advertising Laws.
"Anti-iiquor advertising laws at
present exist in Alabama, Colorado.
Georgia. Oklahoma. Oregon, West Vir-
ginia. North Dakota, South Dakota.
Maine. Virginia and Mississippi This
movement spreads rapidly.
minor prohibition advances are ex-
pected during 1917 in several states.
option law. which is also possible, bnt
not probable. in Illinois; Delaware will
doubtless submit prohibition to a vote
in the remaining wet county. including
Wilmington: there will be a decided in
crease in the strictness of laws in
South Carolina. Tennessee, West Vir-
ginia and North Carolina
"The present laws in some states are
exceedingly drastic. North Dakota on
referendum. has just passed law pro-
viding a penitentiafy sentence Of one
70 three years for bootlegging, even on
the first oYense"