PROHIBITION IN THE UNITED STATES.

Evening Star, Issue 6808, 23 January 1886, Page 1 (Supplement)

PROHIBITION IN THE UNITED STATES.

Keokuk (Iowa), U.S.A., November, 1885. IN lOWA. In the interim, while the prohibitory law in its several details is passing through the crucible of the Courts, its enemies have succeeded in re-esta 1 dishing the traffic in some of the larger cities and the border towns. The men engaged in the business in these cities find that prohibition doe 3 not hurt them as much as a high license law would. Tho failure of prohibition to prohibit in these towm and cities is making the anti-prohibition wing of the Republican party grow rapidly; and thoughtful men who have property interest in the traffic are hoping to enact a repeal of tlie law sooner and more effectually by the aid of the Republican party. Prior to the canvass just closed the Republican party offered the Prohibitionists that they would give the prohibitory law a thorough test of its practicability, and because of this offer it did not lose all of its Prohibition members, though there was an effort made to divide its strength by a third party putting a ticket in the field. The Democratic party, however, drove out of it all its prohibitive members by declaring for a compulsory saloon system throughout the State, and at the same time nominated Prohibition candidates. These influences saved the Republican party from defeat in lowa, and secure to tKe ProHibition law a thorough test. The larger part of the Democratic party in this State favor a license law, while the minority favor Prohibition. Tho larger part of the Republican party favor Prohibition, and the minority license. The foreign vote of the State is largely Republican and largely anti-prohibi-tive. In order to get this vote away from the Repn s licans the Democrats declared for a license law. To keep the foreign vote, ai.d at the same time to placate the Prohibitionists, the Republicans yielded Prohibition, which was adopted by a majority of 40,000 without regard to party, but still declared that Prohibition was not a Republican measure. The Democratic party expected a large gain from the general situation as to temperance and the help of the Third Parly of irrcconeilables, and are surprised with a crushing defeat by a majority several thousands greater than last year or the year before. IN OHIO. Tho cause in Ohio has been made a sort of judicial shuttlecock. The State has a clause in its Constitution which prohibits the license of the traffic, but fails to prohibit the saloons that are springing up everywhere like mushrooms. The Republicai s so'nc ye irs ago enacted what was known a3 the Scott law, which provided a tax upon saloons selling distilled liquors of L4O per annum, and of L2O on those selling fermented liquors only. When the Democratic party obtained control of the Supreme Court, it promptly decided the Scott law to be unconstitutional and void. Then the enemies of the law united in suing for all the taxes that they had paid when it was considered binding, amounting to L 400,000. The same Court has just rendered a decision which denies to the saloon-keepers tho right to recover. It is a moral impossibility that both decisions are right or even based on good law. Yet this is the party which the Third Party, or ostensibly the Prohibitionists, under the leadership of tho Rev. Dr Leonard, came so near helping into power. The practical result which followed this decision is that the saloon-keepers, finding the Democratic promise to them unfulfilled, sought to revenge themselves by uniting with the Republican party, and so defeated the Democrats and their allies the Prohibitionists. IN KANSAS. The anti-prohibitionists busy themselves with the circulation of absurd rumors that the law fails to prohibit, and therefore ought to be repealed. These rumors arc taken up and repealed as naked truths in order to influence a counter-action against the rising tide of prohibition sentiment in other States. The following correspondence between Governor Martin and Attorney-General Bradford explains itself: — State of Kansas Executive Department, Topeka, October 5, 1885. lion. S. B. Bradford, Attorney-General. My Dear Sir, - Iu view of ttic many conflicting statements concerning the administration of justice in this State, would it not he well for you to ascertain, by i quiry through official channels, what the real facts are, touching especially tho enforcement of the prohibitory law of 18S5?—Respectfully, John A. Martin. Attorney-General Bradford replied : Frcm all tho information I liavc been able to obtain, it appears to me that the prohibitory law is no longer an experiment, but, on the contrary, is being enforced as successfully as the law against horse-stealing, murder, arson, or other crimes known to our statute. The. communications seem to indicate that a greater per cent, of persons aro convicted for violating the prohibitory law than for the violation of any other law. It appears th=»t 75 per cent, of the trials h.id have resulted in convictions. If wc add to this the injunctions that have been granted, which arc equivalent to conviction, the percentage is even greater. At this point I cannot refrain from saying a few words in defence of the public prosecutors of the State. As a rule I find them able, earnest, and industrious officers; there ate some exception", but the percentage is not gr<at. Since the passage of the aimndatory Act of ISoo, making it the duty of the AttorneyGeneral (o appear and prosecute wherever the County Attorney shall fail or refine to prosecute, this office has been dsluged with correspondence, largely making complaints agaiust prosecuting officers, and demanding my immediate attention in their particular locality. In a few instances I have acted upon the suggestions made by these unofficial individuals, and have almost invariably been confronted with a mistake. It has not infrequently occurred that a County Attorney has been charged with dereliction of his duty, when upon personal investigation I found him to be a most efficient officer.

The individual complaining, instead of going to the County Attorney like a man, and reporting his grievance, giving the name of the individual offending, tl e description of the place, and the names of the witnesses by whom lie could prove the offence, would write a loDg letter to this otliee, making sorious charges against tho officers, and even fail to give me any such information as would justify me in making any investigation whatever. I have received a considerable number of letters without signatures, writt n in a disguised hand, proving conclusively that the letters were not written for the good of the cause, but for the accomplishment ot personal ends. I have also received letters pouring into my ears a state of facts which, if true, _ would show a very disgraceful condition of affairs ; but at the cjnclusion would be a postscript, wherein the writer would fay that he was in business or in a pi-ufL'saion, and if it camo to the knowledge of the individuals of whom he had complained that he had given any information it would injure him in his business or in his profession, and beg that his name be withheld, showing a cowardly disposition that merits the contempt of every good citizen. In conclusion, allow me to say : Kansas has a population of about 1,250,000 people ; it lias cightv-five organised counties; in sixty-two of theso" counties o .)y 525 convictions have been had for the violation of tho various criminal lawi of tho State since January 1, 1885. That 235 of that number arc convictions for the violation of the Prohibitory law. Fifty-two of the eighty-five counties in the State report that they have no saloons. Eight of the other counties report that the law is only partially enforced. Two counties say the law is not enforced, and we may infer that very little Ins been done to enforce it. To fie last two counties I will add the counties of Atchinson, Ford, arid Leavenworth, where the law is openly and notoriously violated, making a report from sixty-three counties in the State. About 79 per cent, of all the cases brought for the violation of the Prohibitory law tesult in the couviction of the defendant, which shows a very healthy condition of public sentiment upon that question. The "sea foam," "cold tea,' " stomach invigorator," and other artful dodges on tho port of witnesses to evade the truth, are seldom resorted to any more. The open saloon

In Kansas-, at tho present rate of progress, wdl soon be a thing of the past.—l am, etc., S. B. Bhadfobd, Attorney-General. IN MAINE. Tho * Portland Herald' in a recent issue disclosed the issue in that State inadvertently by stating that Pat M'Glinehy, the most notorious saloonist in defiance of law, is at last in the toils, and will go to gaol. This man has made a large fortune, and has hitherto used his money freely, has paid an aggregate of LIO.OOO in lines, and succeeded until now in keeping out of the common gaols. The officers, after careful search, found under a bed in his place of business two holes in the floor, a small tin tube, and small pump extending into a cellar, where they dug up two kegs of liquor that were carefully buried out of sight. This circumstance will certainly reveal that the traffic in Portland is attended with same danger. IN THE SOUTHERN STATES. A very exciting municipal contest has just closed in the City of Atlanta (Georgia), for and against Prohibition. It arrayed the population of the city into opposing camps. On the side oi the bar-rooms were thousands who wore the delusive badge " Liberty." On the side of Prohibition were thousands more who spoke and voted for that larger liberty which follows obedience to wholesome laws. Among the Prohibition forces were ex-Governor Colquit, Senator Hill, ex-Senator Brown, Congressman Fclton, William E. Pledger (Georgia's ablest black orator and the most influential 1 e*ro in tho United States), and every minister and every teacher. The contest was at first triangular. The proprietors of a now and elegant hotel applied for and demanded a high license, in order that their elegant bar might enjoy a monopoly of the beverage business. The saloons, " holes in the wall," and " dives," thus threatened with extinction, rallied their forces, and raised cries of " Liberty," " Frcetrade," "No monopoly." In this the Prohibitionists saw their opportunity, and they organised a campaign which rapidly spread like wild-fire amongst all classes, and pressed with unparalleled energy upon a foe tlmt rolibcd the cradle and tho grarc for votes, and beat them by a majority of 219 out of a total vote of 9,000. The effect of this victory will be an inspiration to Prohibitionists all over the South. Already 122 counties in Georgia have, under the local option clauses, driven out the open saloon. The remaining counties will now soon fall into line, and the Empire State of the South will be as solid for Prohibition as she has been for Democracy. In Tennessee one-half of the State is under Prohibition. In Maryland ten counties, or two-thirds of the State, have declared for Prohibition. In South Carolina, outside of the large cities, Prohibition prevails. In Louisiana there is a rising sentiment, even among the Creoles and Negroes, that is driving the saloons out of the country precincts into the large cities. Under such impulse and education of the youth, the South will soon be able to rid herself entirely of the incubu3 that weighs her down and impedes her progress in that which gives glory to a State. This being a cenfxnnial year of the temperance reform, wc look over the field and note the results of the labors of a century, the causes that seem to have produced the best and speediest results, and the chief hindrances that have hedged the way and blocked the wheels of progress. lam fully persuaded that if all the moral forces could bo united to work well in harness, in one line, with one motive, and with one method, the ultimato triumph would be accomplished presently. I would like to state here my reasons for believing that political action—or the Third Party movement —is a serious mistake ; but this letter is already too lengthy. Ulysses.