New-York tribune., 1920-01-17
Nation Wide Prohibition
Ends Fight of 112 Years
ar on John Barleycorn Begun by Women in Little
ONO Town Finally Caused Adjustment of
Strong Drink for the Entire Nation

National prohibition IN the United
states, under specific constitutional
provision, is the fruition Of a move
ment which had its beginning in Amer
lea III years ago. Efforts TO check the
use of ardent spirits were started in
this country in 1908. 1t grew steadily.
evolving into demand for prohibition
rather than regulation as far back as
l847. The question was taken into poll
ties through the organization of the
prohibition party in convention at Chi
cago Septe mber L, 1869.
The war of women on liquor began
with the organization OF the Woman's
Christian Temperance Union in Ohio
during the Crusade" of 1878 and 1874.
Maine was the first state to declare
tor prohibition. 1t went dry" in 1851.
Prohibition was made a part of it's
Constitution in 1884. Kansas was the
second state to embrace prohibition.
That was in 1880. North Dakota was
third. in 1889.
But the prohibition wave which has
swept the liquor business entirely out
OF the country began with the action
of the Georgia State Legislature in
1907. BY their own acts. in a steady
procession. thirty-three states followed
suit In twenty one prohibition was
decreed by popular vote and in twelve
by act of the legislatures.
Webb enyon Act
Prohibition made its first big ad-
vance nationally when Congress passed
on March j, 1918. the Webb Kenyon
law forbidding the shipment of liquor
from wet to dry" territory Subse-
quent enactments were as follows:
Alaska prohibition act of February
Ia. 1917.
Porto Rico prohibition referendum
act Of March 2, 1917.
District OF Columbia prohibition act
of March 3, 1917.
Reed and Jones' Randall amendments
to postoffice appropriation bill, act of
March 8, 1917.
Increasing military establishment
act of March 8, 1917.
Food control act of August 10, 1917
Submission of prohibition amend
ment to the Constitution of the United
States December Is. 1917.
Hawaii prohibition act of May %,
1918
War prohibition September %, 1918.
Prohibition enforcement act Novem-
Der 21, 1919,
Text of the Amendment
The text Of the constitutional
amendment resolution follows:
Resolved. by the Senate and House
Of Representatives Of the United
States Of America in Congress assem-
bled ttwo-thirds Of each House con-
curing therein>, that the following
amendment to tho Constitution be, and
hereby is. proposed to the states. to
become valid as a part of the Consti-
tuition when ratified bv the legisla-
lures of the several states, as pro-
vided by the Constitution:
PARTICLE
Section l. After one year from the
ratification of this article the manu-
facture, sale or transportation of in
toxicating liquors within. the impor-
tation thereof into, or the expectation
thereof from the United States and all
territory subject to the jurisdiction
thereof for beverage purposes is here
by prohibited
Sec. p The Congress and the sew
oral states shall have concurrent power
to enforce this article by appropriate
legislation.
Sec. 8. This article shall be inop-
eratlve unless it shall have been rati-
1'Sd do dii eTiciuiNeHL 10 tno GOnSLltu
ton by the legislatures of the several
states, as provided in the Constitution,
within seven years from the date Of
the submission hereof to the states by
the Congress-"
The amendment was submitted by
the House, % to 1913, and by the SEN
ATE, 65 to 90
When Congress submitted the
amendment, December 1s, 1917, it at
tached restriction. limiting the time
for ratification to seven years. In
stead. the necessary thirty-six states
ratified Constitutional prob bition
within thirteen months, the thirty
sixth registering its approval January
l6. 1919. The last state to ratify was
Pennsylvania, and next to last New
York
Mississippi was first. followed by
Virginia, Kentucky, South Carolina,
North Dakota, Maryland, Montana
Texas. Delaware, South Dakota, Mas
sachusetts, Arizona, Georgia, Louisi
ana, Florida, Michigan, Ohio, Okla
hcma, Maine, Tennessee, Illinois, Colo
rado, West Virginia, Idaho, California
Indiana, Arkansas, North Carolina
Washington, Alabama, Kansas, Oregon