Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 99, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 March 1915 — States That Have Voted to Be “Dry" [ARTICLE]

States That Have Voted to Be “Dry"

Sixty years ago nine. northern states went “dry” in a single year, Most of them soon lapsed into license, and up to 1907, out of eighteen that had tried the experiment only three—Maine, Kansas and North Dakota—retained prohibition. Then seven southern states came into the prohibition column; in the following order: Georgia in 1907; Oklahoma, Alabama, Mississippi and North Carolina in 1908; Tennessee in 1909.. and West Virginia in 1912. All of these states have remained ’dry” but Alabama; and last month Alabama seemed certain to become ‘"dry" again by overwhelming vote of "the legislature. In the autumn of 1914 seven states voted on the subject. Five of them adopted prohibition, arid only two—California and Ohio —retained license. Virginia went “dry” in September by 35,000 majority, every city but three voting “no license,” and the four western states of Arizona, Colorado, Oregon and Washington voted in favor of prohibition. The action of Arizona was a surprise, 1 as hardly more than a fifth of the population were under local nolicense laws. There was harmony between the temperance forces, however, as well as organization and intense activity. The women’s votes were potential in the result.

. The pronounced victory of the anti-saloon forces in Colorado was brought about by complete organisation and persistent newspaper advertising. The violence in the strike zone had its influence, and the revival meetings of “Billy” Sunday, then in Colorado, made many prohibition votes. Here, also, as well as in Arizona, the women voters contributed much to the victory. In Oregon all but two counties voted for prohibition, and Portland, a city of 250,000, went “dry” by a majority of 1,832. Every voter was personally seen. The pastors and members of the churches turned the state into an organized- political camp. The “women vote” in Oregon was disappointing, although a majority of women probably voted for prohibition. Prohibition won in Washington by a majority of 18,632, carrying all but six counties. Man-to-man work, with literature, was the method, instead of mass meetings. The women divided about as the men did; they were not as dominant as in Colorado and Arizona. In California the radical temperance people proposed too drastic a measure and it was rejected by a majority of 130,000. The liquor people failed in their efforts to adept a companion measure forbidding prohibition legislation for eight years. Under the initiative and referenudum in Ohio, a new unit of voting was introduced; and the home rule amendment favored by the liquor interests, carried over the prohibition amendment of the temperance people. Next year the battle will be fought over again, and the AntiSaloon League workers claim that they will then carry their measure. The people of Idaho, South Carolina, Florida and lowa vote on the question this year or next, and will likely declare for prohibition.— From “The War Against the Saloon.”