The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1920-02-07
d '''DjRlYS!" Dir 5 in \ F!C|;AlI7l !! eli
SINCE Year 1908
Growth of Prohibition Can Be
Traced More Than
Century.
ADVANCE HAS Been STEADY
Moderation Was First Sought, and Not
Until 1s47 DID Demand for Aboli-
ton Of Strong Liquor Mako
Itself Heard.

Chicago.-Prohibit1on sentiment, cul-
minating In the epoch-making amend
nent 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. At
that time a demand for moderation in
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 1S47, 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 1880, and North Da-
kota third in 1889. Meanwhile the
movement had grown to such proper
was formed at 4 convention in Chicago
in 1859.
Women. always in the forefront Of
the activity to stop the sale Of alec
holtc drinks, organized for 4 concert
ed fight after the famous woman's cru
sade, 1874. Their association was
later to become known throughout the
WeRld by the name of Woman's Chris
tan Temperance union.
Anti-Saloon League In 1o19.
Another powerful influence in the
1ght for prohibition came into exist
ence in 1898 in the formation Of tho
Anti-Saloon league. It is noteworthy
that both these organizations had their
inception in Ohio.
The modern wave Of prohibition
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. 20
that 33 states already have prohibition
By state action, In q adopted by pop
1lar vote and in the others by legisla-
tive measures. At the time the con-
stitutaonal amendment was submitted.
"a Of the 48 states and considerably
more than half OF the territorial Unit
ed States had prohibition. In states
where prohibition was not statewide.
It has been adopted under local option
laws by many communities.
In addition to state laws, there have
been In effect stringent measures
adopted by congress as aids toward
winning the war, which gave a tre-
mend0us impetus to the prohibition
movement. Studying the examples Of
foreign countries, q law was passed
making it unlawful to provide any
man In uniform with alcoholic bever-
ages. Making Of beer and whisky was
stopped under the food control act and
the sale Of drinks was terminated at
midnight last June 80. Shipment Of
liquor into any states was prohibited
by the hOne-lry law.
Ratifications Took 10 Months.
The constitutional amendment was
finally adopted by congress on Decem-
ber IS, 1917. with restrictive clause
hitherto unknown in legislative pro-
cedure, that it would be imperative
unless ratified within seven years. The
vote in the house was 2S1 to 128 and
in the senate G5 to 20. The ratification
required only 13 months. the thirty
sixth state taking favorable action
January 16 1919. Frank L. Polk. act
ing secretary Of state, proclaimed the
amendment as part Of the Constitution
under date Of January %, 1919. but
it went into effect one year from the
date OF ratification by the thirty.sixth
state.
After that date nine states voted for
ratification, making A. in ALL Rhode
Island. Connecticut and New Jersey
n-oro bo onIy oxoo,,%iops