Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-01-16

| beverages, which now will have TO Lf
| obtained by the government in some other
| way.
Prohibition sentiment, eliminating IN
the epoch-making amendment to the
constitution, has been growing steadily
IN thus country since 1903 according to
records compiled bv the board of temper
ance of the Methodist Episcopal Church
At that time, a demand for moderation
IN the use of ardent spirits arose, follow
cd ten years later by m even broader
movement for abstinence from ardent
spirits and for moderation in the use Of
malt liquors. This in turn gave way, III
1910, TO sentiment for abstinence from all
alcoholic beverages
Agitation Cor abolition Of the practice
Of licensing the sale of liquors did not
come until IS47, resulting four years
later in the enactment OF prohibition
laws in Maine, the first State to put
prohibition into effect. Kansas was second
in 1880 and North Dakota third in 1899,
Meanwhile, tho movement had GROWN TO
such proportions that National Pro-
hbition Party was formed at n conven-
ton III Chicago, September /, 1869.
WOMEN LED my CAUSE.
Women, always in the forefront of tho
drinks, organized for concerted fight
after the Famous Women's Crusade.
1874. Their association was later TO
become known throughout the world by
the name of the WOmpn's Christian TEN
pcrance Union, with a little white ribbon.
Powerful influence in the fight for
prohibition came into existence IN 1893
in the formation Of tho Anti-Saloon
League. 1t Is noteworthy that both these
organizations had their inception III
Ohio
The modern wave Of prohibition lcgis-
latlon began with Georgia in 1907 Since
that time, the movement gained strength
more rapidly than any other reform in
the history Of tlc world. so that 33 States
already have prohibition by State action,
IN u adopted by popular vote and "a the
others by legislative measures. Az the
time the constitutional amendment was
submitted, "A Of the 4S States and con
sidcrablv more than half Of the terri
tnrial United States, had prohibition
In States where prohibition was not
Statewide, It had been adopted under
local option laws by many communities
In addition 10 State laws. there have
been IN effect stringent measures adopted
bY Congress as aids toward winning the
10 the prohibition movement Study
ing tho examples Of foreign countries, a
law WAS passed making it unlawful to
provide any man in uniform with alco-
holic beverages Making beer aud whisk \
was stopped under the food control act
and the sale OF drinks was terminated nj
midnight, last June 80 Shipment Of
liquor into any States was prohibited
by the bone-dry law
AMENDMENT RATIFIED IN I3 MONTHS.
The constitutional amendment was
finally adopted by Congress on December
is, 1917, with restrictive clause, hithcr-
10 unknown IN legislative procedure,
that il would be imperative unless ra'i-
fed within seven wears Ii required
only IL months The vote In the House
was Isl 70 IFS and in the Senate 65 10 20.
Submission Of tho amendment to thc
States came st time when many l2ql~-
iaturcs were assembling. Mississippi
quickly put its approval on the amend
rnent and was followed in order by Nlr-
gInia, Kentucky, South Carolina North
Dakota. Maryland Montana. Texas.
Delaware, South Dakita Massachusetts,
Arizona, Georgia. Louisiana. FLORIDA
Michigan. Oslo, Oklahoma. nj ltno. Ten :
neSscc, Illinois. Colorado, West Virginia
Ii1ho. California Inila1a. Arkan sas
North Carolina, Washington Alabama.
Kansas. Oregon. tah. Iowa. New Hamp-
shire, and Nebraska, making tho required
80 States thFce-iourths Of the uuioa,
for the amendment to become effective
Nine more Statas Ilkewlse give their
ratification. Is ii all. as follows: Wyoming,