Evening star., 1935-12-29
Fifty Years Ago
in The Star

A prohibition movement was under
way in this country SO years ago In one
., form or another. The
fronloltlon Star of December %,
in Kentucky. 1885, says:
THE more that is
learned of the prohibition movement
in the South the more important 1t
seems to be. The country is familiar
with it's recent victories in Georgia. but
it is not so generally known that in Ken
lucky, the very citadel Of whisky, there
are now no less than % counties out OF
1T in which the retailing of intoxicating
liquors is prohibited by law.
"A correspondent of the New York
World, writing from Louisville, gives an
extended account of the spread of pro-
hibition in Kentucky and OF its erect
on society. The movement is quite recent,
as he says prohibition gained its first
victory in the State in Bullitt County IL
years ago. But in that short time the
change in this county, where public
sentiment is very strong and where the
law is strictly enforced, is Of the most
gratifying character. Says the CORE
spondent: From being one Of the most
lawless counties in Kentucky, Bullitt has
become the most orderly. 1t is now the
only county in Kentucky without jail
and the average number of indictments
is from two to six in year, and these
are for misdemeanors. There has been
but one felony trial in Bullitt County
since the prohibition law was carried
encouraged by their local success, the
Kentucky prohibitionists are now intent
on making their principles the general
law of the land. Judge Fox, who is one
of the leaders in the movement, told
the World correspondent that he was
now engaged in preparing a constitu-
tional amendment Of the most sweeping
character. Under its provisions no dis
titled or fermented liquors can be brought
into this country from abroad, nor can
any liquors be sold in one State for i'm
portation into another State. But such
a scheme as this must be pronounced
premature even by the most fervent advo-
Gates of total abstinence. 1t could be
effective only where national sentiment
was practically unanimous. At present
the theory of local option is the most
reasonable and the most efficient weapon
against the liquor traffic. 1t is by this
means that the cause has won its recent
notable victories and advocates of tenn
perance reform would do well to follow
out their attack on the lines that have
proved so successful in the past"
philadelphia has reached crisis in
its struggle with the air-strung telegraph
wire nuisance and we shall
overhead soon see which is master,
Wires. says The Star of December
30, 1885, "The time set by
the city authorities for putting the wires
under ground expired a year ago, but
was extended until Thursday to suit the
convenience of the companies. But the
good nature of the city had no effect.
The telegraph people remained inert and
sullen, and now that the limit OF time
has again been reached they fall back
on the trite excuse that the technical
difficulties in the way make compliance
with the law impossible. And they have
the assurance to say this in face of the
fact that in the most crowded cities OF
the world, underground systems are in
operation and giving entire satisfaction
to the companies and to the public"