ANTI-ALCOHOL IN AMERICA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 213, 16 February 1915, Page 8

ANTI-ALCOHOL IN AMERICA.

I (To the Editor.) Sir,- -Some time since you reported in your columns tho success of the antialcohol movement- in so far as tin- tarry . ir.g of State-wide prohibition in live , States during 1914, this making in all fourteen dry State?. 1 have liot, however, seen any reference to the movement in America towards national prohibition, and beg a short space in which to in- [. form your readers of how the matter I'-OW stands in that- great country. ' For a long times there, -have been proposals put forward by the various temperance organisations, hut nothing ueP'iiito was done until about a year ago. when the Shepard-Hobson resolution was introduced into the National Congress 1 The resolution is so called from th • nanus of the Congressmen who moved it before the House, anl is l'ealiy a resolution to amend the Constitution of tit.-. Caited States of America whereby a ; l dealings in alcoholic liquors of all sorts for beverage -purposeswill be absolutely prohibited. This includes all manufacture for sale, importation for sale or J transportation of such liquors within t.'io Union, .The mover in this great reform did nut go forward until there was evidence that the country was I ready for it. About a year since a deputation of ll'UO temperance reformers waited on Congress at- Washington asking for this constitutional ainendcut; and later, when Congress '.va-; in session, moi\: than 0,000,000 people from ail over the country put their names tc petition; to their various representatives urging them to support the Slu parel-liobson resolution. American politicians, li'ke those of New Zealand, put questions of 'proliiibtion outside party, and 'hence the supporters of the resolution are drawn from all political parties. At tlu; same time its opponI cuts are found in all parties. Mae.v who I are in favour ot State and local proj hibition voted against this resolution as j «i; interference witii State righU, and. ; as they deemed it contrary to the prin- | ciples of tho democratic party. In the j ei'd, after about eight days' elebate. tile j division was taken on 22nil December, when 1!)" voted for and ISO against t : iu resolution, but this .majority of eight does not carry it-. To carry an,y amendment of the constitution of tile United States it needs a two-thirds vote ill both

Ileuses and then that tin- decision of Congress shall 1,0 ratified l, v threefnirths _of_ the States. This latter is (;i.'ite within reach when once the resolution of Congress is obtained for the submission of t!l° issue to I'!. spparafe Flaics; for alreadv there are. in addition to tv dry States, fourteen States where mor,; than a half of (lie population ai e living under a prohibition of their own choosing. Tt is not, then, very iiri>roba.b!,. t'liat the : )>o r ,..s and fintiebn--lions of tAnti-S'iloon Leacue wili be attained. which is to secure national Prohibition in that irreat country by 11)20. "I he wiule world will rejoice if they succeed.—T am, etc.,

men. TT. M.ATJNTJEF!. IV.—f Had jii-1 finish,-,] the above, and (ook an you'* issu t . (if S:i(arday. an I '■'"id the leading artVle, ••TfOfirllrv." Willit hinder-; it so much a< our drhikmi--. I'.'Wl ;? is the iir' a)s-s! fn„ f„ cfl'.-e a-v." That, is what til;. liijilro-fr ."llihor.iic-, «s, ',)h's'(. ;1 l mental' a'l .1 mo? /.! queslions cr ntiniially teli ns.