The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1918-02-01

The official count has sealed the
fate Of the constitutional prohibition
amendment in Iowa by an adverse ma
jority OF 1000 votes-perhaps the most
significant verdict In the latter-day
history OF the wet" and dry" strug'
gle
Fully TO appreciate that significance,
both in its revelation Of public opinion
and in it's bearing on the future, the
history Of prohibition in Iowa and the
circumstances of the recent campaign
must be briefly considered.
Since 1887 the state has had statu
tory prohibition, but this was modified
for a number of years, in response &c
popular demand, by the so-called mulc'
| law, which made few saloons pos
sible.
! Two years ago, however, the Anti
Saloon League had its way, the mule
law was repealed and the saloons wen
out. But alcoholic beverages OF al
kinds and in large quantities continues
TO be imported into the state for pri
vate use.
Then. on July ! Of this year, tn
Reed "bone-dry" law went into effect
and it thereupon became a crime I
bring beer, wine or liquor into tn
, state or to buy it there. AS result
"boot-legging" and boundary packing
appear to have enjoyed a new lease
life; the stuff thus illegally dispense
being of the vilest sort and sold at e.
tortionate prices.
Drys Were Uneasy.
= Whether the prohibition forces wer
neartened by this event or whethe
: they feared the popular reaction thi
3 vas generally predicted. they set abot
a quickly to secure an amendment to tn
' states fundamental act whereby pr
o libition would become constitution;
: rather than statutory. For. while
prohibition statute may be repeale
: or seriously modified BY any legisi
Q ure. a constitutional amendment oEt
II obtained is only with the greatest I'll
= icu'ty either nullifed or changed.
The vote last month was thereto,
lpon this question Of rendering prof
3ition in Iowa constitutionally ike
: and "bone-dry" prohibition at that.
! Ii Is probable that the Anti-SaloC
| League and its various assistants ha'
/! never put up more tremendous hB
han the one In behalf of this al
amendment. All the power OF the
] efficient organization was brought
pear upon the situation: they had
,f aost OF speakers, including VILLA
10 Jennings Bryan. and plenty OF mon
g, Ifor campaign expenses. Hal
20 churches. automobiles. even the CO
Id ner soap.box. were reQuisitioned
:, he food OF prohibition oratory IN
:. was unkennelled In every nook a
il corner of the state.
IS. The vets" on the other hand, b
ir practically no organization. spent OIL
al A few thousand dollars and put up
L. meagre campaign ut the best. In Ia
III !; was generally conceded that
:. 'drys" would carry the state. and Tn
themselves were so confident IN
sno-ly before the referendum. Ii
= & .ncl thc .assage OF the amcndm'
hy 100000 votes!
And hen the unexpected happen
- Scarcely had the returns begun
v come n. when II was seen that tn
~ would be no walk-away A trem
dous vote was cast-about 80 per c.
@. the entire electorate. and so eli
~ was the count that official determi
lion was necessary 10 declare the
suit This was finally given out
Saturday "a being 1860 major
against the amendment. and thus
81. triumph for the "wets."
ND As usual, the rural districts vo
10 largely I'm the dry" column. wher
-. the cities. with the exception OF
on. Moines. voted and to against
Ii8- constitutional amendment.
They're Against "sone-pry.'
90 90 When a state more or less we'd
,ey 70 prohibition for thirty years
Iad thus suddenly reverse itself. so
re, What immediate reason must be K
Ter al Tor and. OF course. 1t is here re
nc, no 10 hand I'm the "bone-dry" Law OF
-" press. which actually barred alcoh
18th beverages from Iowa
rcd But enc conclusion is possible I
nal While A majority OF the good citi'
ida OF this state had been fairly con
ties, - have the saloon banished from
midst. they we're by no means agI
80 To deprive themselves of beer.
ak, and liquor obtained In other ways
an. through other channels.
IN other words. in Iowa. as
he where. the feeling has been not
eve much against alcoholic beverages
- =sainst the local conditions VI
which they we're retailed and the
.a.-.o,,nnA nf fha raRu hfiYA II