The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-01-16
FIFTY MILLION
GALLONS OF
WR|SKEY LEFT
Continued from page one,

he constitution has been growing
steadily In this country since 1908, &C
cording TO records compiled by the
Board of Temperance Of the Methodist
lSpiscoptl church. At that time, a de.
mand for moderation in the use of ar.
dent spirits arose, followed ten years
later by an even broader movement
FOR abstinence from ardent spirits and
for moderation In the use OF malt IL
1uors. This In turn give way, in 1910,
20 sentimeit for abstinence from ali
llcoholic beverages.
Agitation for abolition of the prac-
Ice OF licensing the sale OF liquors did
not come until 1S47, resulting four
years later In the enactment of prohi-
bition laws in Maine, the first state
to put the prohibition into effect
Kansas was second in 1880 and North
DAKOTA third in 1889. Meanwhile, the
movement had grown to such proper.
tipns thta National Prohibition party
was formed at a convention in Chi
cago, September /, 1869.
Women, always in the forefront OF
the activity TO stop the sale of alec
aolic drinks. organized for q concerted
tight after the famous Women's CRU
sade 1874. Their association was
later to become known throughout
The world by the name of the Wom-
EMS Christian Temperance Union,
With little while ribbon. Another
powerful influence in the fight for
prohibition came nto existence In 1899
n tho formation of the Saloon
eague. II is noteworthy that both
these organizations had their inception
in Ohio.
The modern wave of prohibition leg
ialation began with Georgia in 1907.
Since that time, the movement gained
strength more rapidly than any other
reform in the hfstory of the world. go
that 80 states already have prohibition
By state action, in 81 adopted by
popular vote and in the others by leg
islative measures. At the time the
CONSTITUTIONAL amendment was Submit.
ed. ~ of the As states ana conside~-
aoly more than half of the territorial
Tilted States had prohibition. n the
states where prohibition was not state
vide. it had been adapted under local
option laws by many communities.
IN addition to state laws. there
have ben nj effect stringent measures
adopted by Congress to aid toward
winning the war which gave a ire
mendous impetus to the prohibition
movements Studying the examples OF
foreign countries, a law was passed
making IL unlawful to provide any
man in uniform with alcoholic bever-
ages. Making Of beer and whiskey
was stopped under the food control
act and the sale of drinks was ter
minated at midnight last June 80.
Shipment of liquor into any states
was prohibited by the bone-dry law.
The constitutional amendment was
finally adopted by congress on De-
cember IS, 1917, with restrictive
clause, hotherto unknown in legisla-
tive procedure, that it would be in
operative unless ratified within seven
years, 1t required only 10 months.
The vote in the house was 2S1 to
12S and in the senate 65 to 20.
Submission of the amendment to
the states came at time when many
legislatures were assembling. Miss!
lsslppi quickly put its approval on the
amendment and was followed in or
Ter by Virginia, Kentucky, South Car
oina, North Dakota, Maryland, Mon
ana, Texas, Delaware, South Dakota,
Nassachusetts, Arizona, Georgia,
louisiana, Florida, Michigan, Ohio,
Oklahoma, Maine, Tennessee, Illinois.
Colorado, West Virginia, Idaho, Cali