The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1917-10-19
PROGRESS OF
PROHIBITION

ne0. III 1OCOf NA(
League was organized at Oberlln, u,
nv Howard H. Russell, there were sew
en- states in the United States, North
and South Dakota, Kansas, Oklahoma,
Maine, New Hampshire andVermont,
that had prohibition. A few the
states had within them more or less
local option territory.
At the opening of September, 1917,
a quarter of a century after the organ
ization of the league, there are 70
states that either have prohibition or
have taken the necessary legal steps to
obtain it, and all the other states, save
Nevada and New Jersey, have large
local option areas, some of them beng
almost white. Congress has abolish
ed the LIQUOR traffic in the District OF
Columbia. all national parks, navy
wards, training schools for the navy,
war vessels and other national grounds
and properties. The territory OF Alas
ka and the Island of Porto Rico have
voted dry.
The bone dry federal law which for
bids shipment of liquor into dry
states, and which Furnishes severely
those who use the mails to advertise
LIQUOR in dry territory to send in IL
our orders from such territory, is an
achievement of the present year.
In addition, it is now law that the
manufacture of distilled spirits for
beverage purposes shall cease during
the war, and that there shall be no
more importations or expectations IN
that period; that the manufacture OF
wine and beer may also be stopped II
the president deems it wise, and the
LIQUOR now in existence may be with
drawn from use by being commander
ed.
The senate by a larger vote than
was necessary, adopted the Sheppard
resolution, submitting to the states the
question of complete nationwide pro-
hibition by amendment to the federal
constitution. That same resolution.
will come up in the house not later
than the December session. Its set
Element in that body Immediately al
ter its disposition by the senate was
prevented by a caucus rule, which pre-
vented the consideration Of anything
except war measures. Drys contend
that the house will treat the measure
even better than the senate did.
Following is submission to the state,
according to Anti-SaloOn League Lead
ers will come the campaign for Its rat
ifcation by the necessary thirty-slX Of
the forty-eight states. The amend
ment, according to the terms of the
measure must be ratified within SIX
wears after its submission, but dry
lenders insist that while no other
a~mendemnt has been hampered with
such a time provision, six years Will
be ample. They say that all the dry
states will Immediately ratify, and that
the others will fail IL Inc v!thta the
Sia ~
Ddt a state falling to ratify at one ses-
sion Of its legislature, may ,takeu up the
amendment at subsequent sessions,
and act until it does ratify.
The states now dry or soon to go
try are: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona,
Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana,
Kansas, Iowa, Mississippi, Michigan,
Montana, Maine, North Dakota, Ne
braska, New Hampshire, Oklahoma,
Oregon, South Dakota, South Carolina,
Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washing
ton and Vest Virginia.
1t is to these states, of course that
the League will look for first results
in the matter of ratifying the prohi-
bition amendment. Campaigns to that
end will shortly be held.
That the fight will be taken up in
other states nearly dry or that will
have gone dry by that time, In the
meantime, the strenuous campaigns
for statewide prohibition will be
staged in all the states, for it is the
announced program Of the temperance
forces to go after the smaller game,
too, while stalking the elephant.
Statewide fights are now in prog
ress, or are scheduled as follows: Iowa
votes October Is, on constitutional
prohibition (dry now by s~tatute); Ohio
votes November 9th, New Mexico
votes same date; Florida, Minnesota,
Missouri, Wyoming, Utah, all voting
in November, 1918. utah is now dry
by statute, but will vote on the issue
Of constitutional prohibition.)
During this year the legislature Of
Wisconsin passed a bill submitting
statewide prohibition to be voted on
at a special election in 1918, but it was
vetoed by the governor. The drys
there will seek the enlistment Of anoth-
er law at the coming legislative SEES
sion.
Two Of Delaware's three counties
are dry, and an enabling act has been
passed whereby the citizens of the
third county may vote. During the
spring Of 1918, nearly all Of the cities
of New York will vote on local option.
using a privilege recently granted I'M
der the Hill Wheeler law.
A comparatively large number of
saloons have been put out of business
by the regulations Of the war depart
ment, which forbids the selling of IL
quor within certain distances of en-
campments.
During the time between the pres
ent date and the consideration of the
amendment by the house, the Anti-Sa-