Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-03-13
Wednesday, March 10, 1918.
A Dry Nation Within . Year

"A WdSIluS IOu SpCCldL AlSPotNh ~
the New York Times declares that
sentiment in the nations Capital is
increasing SO strongly for the adoption
OF the national prohibition amendment
that old time politicians there are pre-
dieting that the So state legislatures
necessary to adopt a federal amend
ment will ratify the amendment with
i'll a year. The action Of the New
York assembly in favor Of the resolu-
ton, as shown by the preliminary vote
on a committee report, was accepted
by those following the course Of poll
itics as indicating that sentiment in
what was regarded as the rock-ribbed
anti prohibition state had surrendered
to the moral and economic wave
sweeping the country.
In the opinion of the diagnosticians.
this expression of the New York As
sembly is an index to sentiment exist
ing in Massachusetts, New Jersey,
Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. New
York and those States were regarded
as opposed to the ratification of the
amendme2t. and the liquor forces had
counted Upon the opposition Of their
State Legislatures to defeat the
amendment.
no Of
surprise in the ratification by the Ken
lucky legislature Of the amendment by
an overwhelming vote. Only fifteen
members of the Kentucky Legislature
opposed the resolution, which was
passed in the Senate q to S, and in the
House 66 to 10. This action, the first
taken by state legislature after the
amendment had been submitted by
Congress, vas taken to show pretty
clearly the sentiment Of the country,
as that state has as one Of its import
ant industries the distillng business.
Another state equally as strongly en-
trenchcd in the past with the liquor in
terests is Maryland, the legislature Of
which also ratified the resolution by a
decisive vote. In the Senate Of Mary
land the vote was 1s for and Z against
The House adopted the amendment, As
70 80.
In addition to Kentucky and Mary
land, the legislatures of Mississippi,
North Dakota, Montana, South Caro-
lima, Texas and Virginia have ratified
the amendment. Not a single state
legislature has rejected the amend
ment.
A significant sign Of the times" in
dicating the spirit of "overturn and
overturn" prevailing throughout the
world. is found in the change Of atti-
tude by L. S. Senator Penrose. the Re-
publican leader of Pennsylvania. Even
he finds himself swept along by the
tide Of prohibition. 1t had been the
intention of the Penrose candidates for
governor and the state legislature to
go before the people opposed to the
amendment In the last few days,
however. the Republican forces have
changed front, and the chief candidates
of that party in the coming May pri-
maries, including State Senator Will
liam c. Sproul who will seek the NOM
ination for governor, will declare for
the ratification of the prohibition
amendment
In New Jersey the Republican lead
ers are sliding away from the liquor
forces and it is predicted that the next
legislature of that state will ratify the
amendment.
Twenty six States are now in the
prohibition column. and it is necessary
therefore. for only ten other states to
adopt the amendment to effect its rati-
fication. provided there are no back
sliders among the 26. Three wet"
states. Maryland. Kentucky, and Tex
as. have already gone into the dry
NoAuiiiil' anu IL seven Otner wet
states accept the resolution its adop-
ton would seem to be assured.
The dry" states, which are reason
ably certain to ratify the amendment
are Alabama. Arizona, Arkansas, Colo
RADIO. Georgia. Idaho Indiana, Iowa,
Kansas, Maine. Michigan, Nebraska,
North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon.
South Dakota. Tennessee. Utah. Wash
ington. West Virginia and New Hamp-
shire.
Wet" states counted upon by the
Anti Saloon League leaders to ratify
the amendment are Delaware, New
Jersey. Connecticut. Rhode Island,
New Hampshire, Vermont. Massachu-
sets, and Nevada. If these eight
states ratify the amendment and all
the state legislatures of the 26 dry"
states accept it, there will be more
than sufficient votes for the adoption
OF the amendment. as three wet"
States. Maryland. Texas, and Ken
lucky, already have ratified it.
While the Anti Saloon League lead
ers are hopeful that the legislatures Of
New York and Pennsylvania will rati-
fy the resolution. they have not placed
these states among those regarded as
certain t. accept the amrndment