PROHIBITION IN THE UNITED STATES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIII, Issue 19, 24 January 1919, Page 3

PROHIBITION IN THE UNITED STATES

The following brief .summary of the .development of the Prohibition mot<merit in the Unittd States is supplied by the New Zealand Alliance The Prohibition movement in America has had three distinct phases:—^ 1. Local option, which is familiar to all New Zealanders. 2. State Prohibition, which would he better understood by Australians than New Zealanders. 3. National Constitutional Prohibi-

tion.—To ’ understand this a bq_ of history is necessary. When the rupture occurred between the colonies in- America and the Government of George 111. these States handed together to form the American Commonwealth. They were, very jealous, however, of local rights, and .they provided that each of the thirteen States should have its own Legislature, dealing with local matters, ’while national matters would be dealt with by ;he central Federal Government. An elaborate Constitution was drawn up that 'was calculated to ensure no trespass upon State rights either by the nation as a whole, or by the National Government. This Constitution could only bo amended by the National Government getting a two-thirds majority to any proposal, and submitting the nroposal to the Legislature o{ all the .Sta.ee in the Union. Three-fourths of these State Legislatures had to ratify the proposed amendment before it came into effect.

The anti-saloon forces of the United States recognise tha t there was no permanent solution to the liquor problem un il the entire nation had Prohibition. As long as any; individual States tolerated the liquor traffic it was difficult for Prohibition States to enforce their own Ac s. Consequently some years ago the slogan, “A saloonless nation in 1920” was adopted, but under the pressure of war conditions this has been realised a year ahead. On January 1 of this year 50 of the 48 Slates had adopted S ate Prohibition. On December 1 last year every brewery and distillery in the United State* closed down, because a Federal dealing with the acceleration of agricul.ure forbade the use of any grains for liquor purposes. Further, on July 1 next, by special war legislature, the sale of alcoholic liquors will cease in the United States until President Wilson declares demobilisation has neen accompli bed. In 1917 the Federal Government of the United States passed the Prohibition amendment to he Constitution. During 1018 14 of the State Legislatures ra ified the proposal. In January of this year, as advised by recent cable message, 22 more State'-’ have ratified. No State has yet refused to ra ify, and probably 44 States in all will come into line. ‘But the required three-fourths, i.e., 36 States, are now secured, and therefore the issue is se tied.

Thus Constitutional Prohibition become j effective twelve months after ratification. and therefore becomes operative a year from now.. It is hard*v. ccnceivatfc tlrat President Wilson wjl! declare ■dcmobilfeaVi'on completed inside a year. Therefore, starting with Ju.y 1 next, the United Sta es of America are through finally and completely witn alcoholic beverages. This i s the most significant and far-reaching social reform that the 'world has ever known. The ac ual amendment that has been ’ passed reads as follows:

The manufacture, sale. or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, and the exportation thereof from the iCJnited States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes are hereby prohibited. Section The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation, and nothing in this article shah l deprive the several States of their power to enact and enforce laws prohibiting the traffic ‘in 'ntox'icath'X liquors.