Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1920-02-20
"Drys In Fight
Since Year 1908
Growth OF Prohibition Can Be
Traced More Than Century.

Chicago. sentiment. cui.
minating In the epoch-making amend
ment to the federal Constitution, has
been growing steadily In this country
since 1908, according to records COM
piled by the board Of temperance Of
the Methodist Episcopal church. AZ
that time demand for moderation iA
the use of ardent spirits arose, fol-
lowed ten years later by an even
broader movement for abstinence from
ardent spirits and for moderation IN
the use of malt liquors. This in turn
gave way in 1910 to sentiment for alb
stinence from all alcoholic beverages.
Agitation for abolition Of the prac-
tice of licensing the sale Of LIQUORS
did not come until 1847, resulting four
years later In the enactment Of pro-
hibition laws In Maine, the first state
to put prohibition into effect. Kansas
was second. In $780, and North Da.
kota third In 1889. Meanwhile the
movement had grown to such proper
tions that the national Prohibitisn party
was formed at convention In Chicago
In 1859.
Women. always In the forefront of
the activity to stop the sale Of alec
holic drinks, organized fer q concert
ed fight after the famous woman's cru
sade. 1874. Their association was
later to become known throughout The
world by the name Of Woman's CAsias
tian Temperance union.
Anti-Saloon League In tsea
Another powerful influence N the
fight for prohibition came into exist
ence In 1898 In the formation sf the
Anti-SaloOn league. 1t IL noteworthy
that both these organizations had their
inception In Ohio.
The modern wave Of DrshibitiAa
legislation began with Georgia In 1907.
Since that time, the movement gained
strength more rapidly than any other
reform in the history Of the world. -
that 3S states already have prehibitioa
by state action, in 21 adopted By pep-
ular vote and In the others By lesislar
tive measures. At the time the cen
stitutional amendment was submitted.
"a Of the 48 states and considerably
more tran half Of the territorial Unit
ed States had prohibition. In states
where prohibition was not statewide.
1t has been adopted under LEGAL option
laws by many communities.
In addition to state laws, there have
been In effect stringent measures
adopted by congress ~ aids toward
winning the war. which gave q trs-
nan6ntS fy1natvvo 20 th>
movement. Studying the examples Of
foreign countries, q law was passed
making 1t unlawful to provide aAy
man In uniform with alcoholic bsveF.
ages. Making Of beer and whisky was
stopped under the food control act and
the sale Of drinks was terminated at
midnight last June 50. Shipment Of
liquor into any states was prohibited
by the bone-dry law.
Ratif'cations Took IS Mentha
The constitutional amendment was
finally adopted by congress on Decem.
ber 49, 1917, with restrictive clause,
hitherto unknown In legislative Dro-
cedure, that II would be imperative
unless ratified within seven years. The
vote In the house was 2s1 to 12s and
in the senate 65 to 20. The ratification
required only 18 months, the thirty
sixth state taking favorable action
January 16, 1919. Frank L. Pslk, act
Ing secretary Of state. proclaimed the
amendment as part Of the Constitution
under date of January 20. 1919, bst
1t went into effect one year from the
date Of ratification by the thirty-sixth
state.
After that date nine states voted fer
ratification, making 45 In all. Rhode
Island, Connecticut and New Jsrsey
were the only exceptions.