Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-01-16
iaTION-W WIDE PROHIBITION
GOES INTO EFFECT TONIGHT
CONTINUED from page ~


Ag- tation for abolition of the prac-
tice of licensing the sale of liquors
did not come until 1S47, resulting
four years later in the enactment of
prohibition laws in Maine. the first
state to put prohibition into effect
Kansas was second n 1880 and North
Dakota third In 1889. Meanwhile,
the movement had grown to such pro-
portions that a National Prohibition
party was formed at a convention in
Chicago, September l, 1859.
Women, always in the forefront OF
the activity to stop the sa g of alco-
holic drinks, organ Zed for a concert
ed fight after the Famous Woman's
Crusade, 1894. Their association
was later to become known through
out the world by the name of the
Women's Christian Temperance I'm
ion, with a little white ribbon.
Another powerful influence In the
fight for prohibition came into exis-
tence in 1898 In the formation of the
.Anti-Saloon league. 1t Is noteworthy
that both these organizations had
their inception In Ohio.
The modern wave of prohibition
legislation began with Georgia in
1907. Since THAI time, the movement
gained strength more rapidly than any
other reform in the history of the
world, so that SO states already have
III oillplllOu ny oNIApAS
adopted by popular vote and in the
Others by legislative measures. At
the time the constitutional amendment
was submitted, "a of the As states and
considerably more than half of the
territorial United States, had prohi-
bition. In states where prohibition
vas not statewide, it had been adopt
ed under local option laws by many
communities.
Tn oFli+iop 10 c+ota Ia VIC fhora have
been In effect stringent measures
adopted by Congress as aids toward
winning the war, which gave a ire
mendous impetus to the prohibition
movement. Studying the examples of
foreign countries, a law was passed
making 1t unlawful to provide any
mar in uniform with alcoholic bev-
erages. Making of beer and whiskey
was stopped under the food control
act n the sale of drinks was ter
minated at midnight, last June 80.
The constitutional amendment was
finally adopted by Congress on Decem-
Der IS, 1917, with a restrictive clause,
hitherto unknown in legislative pro-
cedure, that 1t would be imperative
unless ratified within seven years. 1t
required only Is months. The vote in
the House was PSI to 12S and in the
Senate G5 to 20.
Submission of the amendment to
the States came OF a time when many
legislatures were assembling. Missis-
sippi quickly put its approval on the
amendment and was followed in order
by Virginia, Kentucky, South Carolina,
North Dakota, Maryland, Montana,
Texas, Delaware, South Dakota, Mass
achusetts, Arizona, Georgia, Louisiana,
Florida, Michigan, OHIO, Oklahoma
Maine, Tennessee, Illinois, Colorado,
West Virginia, Idaho. California, In
diana, Arkansas, North Carolina,
Washington, Alabama, Kansas, Ore
gon, Utah, Iowa, New Hampshire, and
Nebraska, making the required 80
states, three-fourths of the union, for
the amendment to become effective.
Nine more states likewise gave their
ratification, 40 in all, as follows: Wy
oming, Missouri, Minnesota, Wiscon-
sin, Nevada, New Mexico, Vermont,
New York and Pennsylvania.
Acting secretary of State Frank L.
Polk proclaimed the amendment as
part of the Constitution under date of
January 20, 1919, but it goes into eff
feet one year from the date of ratifi-
cation by the seth state. AS that took
place on January 16, 1919, the amend
ment Is operative, according to the
Bureau Of Internal Revenue, ut md
night of tonight.
IL WI
ton, Congress enacted a bill so dras-
tic hat a nan can be fined or put in
Jail for even displaying a picture of u
brewery or a key. Right to store
liquor In ones W home for personal
use stood up however. against vigor-
Gus attacks in both Senate and House.
Alcoholic beverages Still may be
produced for medicinal and sacrament
tai uses, and alcohol will continue to
he made for scientific and Industrial
purposes, but many safeguards are
provided that the law shall not be
violated. The home manufacturer
and consumption OF Notwithstanding
cider and fruit juices is permitted by
law. In the manufacture of cereal
drinks. commonly referred to as
'near-beer," it was provided that
other names shall be used than beer,
ale or porter. =
Places where Intoxicating liquors
are sold a be declared a nuisance
and abated as such, and the persons
guilty OF maintaining them are pun
ishable under the criminal sections
of the enforcement law. Punishment S
for. violations of the law vary. ac-
cording to the nature of the violation
and whether 1t is a first or subse-
quent %offense, the penalties running
as high as $4,000 fine and two years
Imprisonment. Advertising of liquors
by any means or method is prohibi ed.
Search for contraband liquor is per-
mitted under warrants, except that
private dwellings, ma not be searched
unless used for illegal sale or in part
for business purposes. Seized whiskey
and property used in Illegal sale or
transportation are to be destroyed. the
owner having no property rights to it.