NATIONAL PROHIBITION IN THE UNITED STATES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1939, 13 February 1919, Page 4

NATIONAL PROHIBITION IN THE UNITED STATES.

THE LIQUOR’TRAFFIC FINALLY AND PERMANENTLY BANISHED.

Tlie final climax of a century's struggle with the liquor tvatlie in the United States has now been reached, A cable from Washington announces that constitutional permanent Prohibition has now been passed in that country. This practically means that after Ist July next it will be legally impossible for any State to import, manufacture, sell, transport, or export alcoholic bev-

erages. 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 be better understood by Australians than New Zealanders. (3) National Constitutional Prohibition, to understand which a bit of history is necessary.

When the rupture occurred between the Colonies in America and the Government of George 111., these Stales banded 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 the 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 be amended by the National Government, getting a twothirds majority to any proposal, and submitting the 1 proposal to the Legislature of all the States in the Union. Three-fourths of these State legislatures had to ratify the pioposed amendment before it came into effect. The anti-saloon forces of the United States recognise that there was no permanent solution to the liquor problem until 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 Acts. Consequently some years ago the slogan “A saloonless Nation in 1920” was adopted, but under the pressure, of wav conditions this has been realised a year ahead. On January Ist of. this year, JO of the 48 States had adopted State Prohibition. On December Ist last year every brewery and distillery in the United Slates closed down, because a Federal law dealing with the. acceleration of agriculture forbade the use of any grains for liquor purposes, further, ou Jul,\ Ist next, by special war legislature, the sale of alcoholic liquors will cease in the United States until President Wilson declares demobilisation lias been accomplished. In 1917 the .Federal Government of the tinted Slates passed the Prohibition Amendment to the constitution. During 1918, fourteen of the Slate legislatures ratified the proposal; in Janu-’ ary of this year, as advised h.v recent cable”, 22 mure States have ratified. No Stale lias yet refused to ratify, and probably 44 States in all will come into line. But the required three-fourths, i.e., Jti States, are now secured, ami therefore the issue is settled. This constitutional Prohibition becomes ettcetive twelve months after ratification, and therefore becomes operative a year from now. It is hardly conceivable that President Wilson will declare demobilisation completed inside a year. Therefore, starting with Ist July next, the United Slates of America are through finally and completely with alcoholic beverages. This is the most significant and far-reach-ing social reform that the world has ever known, because while oilier reforms such as the abolition of slavery was a movement by which certain large sections of the country were seriously aJlected economically, this Prohibit ion achievement is of benefit to every citizen of the community. The persons in the liquor trade itself are frank to admit a short time after Prohibition that they are glad the business is gone. The actual 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 United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes arc hereby prohibited. Section 2: The Congress shall have the power to enforce this Article by appropriate legislation, and nothing in this article shall deprive the several States ot their power to enact and enforce laws prohibiting the traffic in intoxicating liquors/’