Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-01-16
ACT GETSO,K,
IN NNEBRASK
LAST NEEDED
Prohibition Leaders Hail
Victory as Greatest in
Worlds History.

Chicago, Jan. 1G. The Uni
ted States today completed the
Legislative process OF voting il
self dry. When word was
flashed over the wires that the
36th state, Nebraska had rati-
fled the prohibition amend
ment, prohibition leaders de-
cared that the accomplishment
WAS the greatest piece Oi NOR
III legislation in the history OF
the world.
The Missouri Legislature later to-
day ratified the federal amendment
when the house COncurTed i'm the
senate resolution by a vote of lC4
to SO, making it the thirty seventh
state to take such action. Soon
after the Wyoming legislature rati-
fled the amendment, bringing the
total up to 80 states.
The amendment TO the federal
constitution prohibiting the man
ufacture and sale of intoxicating
beverages, becomes effective one
year after the date of its final rat
ifiCation. Meanwhile the nation
goes dry July l, next, by presi-
Dental proclamation as a war
measure unless the president res !
cinds it before that date
Passed in Heat OF War.
Congress passed the resolution
the submitting OF the amendment to
the various state legislatures in tho
midst of the seething preparations
for war in 1917 The senate adopt
ed the resolution Aug. 1 by a vote
I e. to 20, and the lower house on
Dec. H. by vote Of 2S2 to l2S
The legislature of Mississippi was
the first to ratify, Iaking this action
on Jan. S, 1918. Fourteen other
states took similar action during
that year, the last Of them being
Louisiana, which ratified on Aug. $.
First Dry Nation.
In the fall elections the wet" or
dry" question was paramount in
most of the remaining states, but
the vote left no doubt that the Unit
Cd States was destined to be the
irst great nation 10 veto liquor. The
ban on vodka in Russia was never
completely effective, nor did 1t in
teTfere materially with the con-
sumption of more expensive liquors
by those who could afford 1t. Rus
sian adviceS now state that the Boil
shevists have restored the vodka
traffic.
Michigan, having by a state law
made itself dry in 1918, was the
Grst state TO ratify IN 1919, the leg
islature voting on the second day
Cf the new year. From that date
10 today legislatures have acted
rapidly Five states ratified yester-
day Jau. l5) bringing the number
up to 50. Other legislatures work.
ed at feverisn speed 10 be the thir-
ty-siXth, with Nebraska and Mime
sofa apparently contestiug in the
lead.
Holds Referendum Necessary,
Meanwhile a disullers committee
through Levy Mayer. chief OF their
counsel, announced that in % states
the constitutions require a referen
Gum vote of citizens IN order TO
ratify a constitutional amendment
Mr. Mayer today named these
states as follows:
South Dakota. Oregon. Nevada,
5Iontana. Oklahoma. Maine, Mary
land, Michigan, Arkansas, Colorado.
Arizona. New Mexico. California.
Ohio. Washington. North Dakota,
Missouri Kansas, Utah.
Ouisiaua and Nebraska
Vets Ready for Fight.
In California court action has
already been taken to restrain the
governor from certifying the ac-
tioH Of the legislature to Washing
ton. Every resource OF the distl-
Iers with resources OF approx
mately $l,00O,9C0.00O wiz be cm-
ployed in the supreme effort 10
save their businesses. il is said. An
meeting Of the distillers
committee will he held At New
CONTINUED on Page Five.)