TEMPERANCE PROGRESS IN THE UNITED STATES.

White Ribbon, Volume 23, Issue 273, 18 March 1918, Page 6

TEMPERANCE PROGRESS IN THE UNITED STATES.

In his speech on National Prohibition in the House, Congressman Webb of North Carolina gave the following review of temperance progress in the United States. “Some notable victories have been won in congress by the temperance forces during the last few years,” said he. “Here they are chronologically: “In 1832 congress passed its first temperance law forbidding the sale of intoxicants to Indians or introducing liquor into Indian country; this law is still on our statute books. “In 1883 the excessive use of intoxicating liquors was declared a b.ir to appointment in the < ivil service. “In 1890 congress subjected original packages of liquor, transported into a state, to the police powers of such state. This was known as the ‘Wilson act,’ but it was practically emasculated by the Supreme Court. “In 1892 he sale of intoxicants to certain natives of the islands of the Pacific co.lst was forbidden. “In 1902 the sale of intoxicants was borbidden in Platt National Park. “In 1903 Congress declared that no intoxicating liquor of any character should be sold within the limits of the Capitol building of the United States. “In 1907 Congress forbade the sale of intoxicants liquors anywhere between the Government Hospital for tne Insane and the Home for the Aged and Infirm or within a radius of one and one-half miles of the boundaries of either in (he District of Columbia. “In 1907 it was vieclared a crime to sell intoxicating liquors ir any immigrant station. “In 1909 interstate carriers were forbidden to collect the purchase price of liquor before or after delivery from the consignee, which killed the odious C. O.D. express business in liquor. The same act required the packages containing intoxicating liquor shipoed in interstate commerce to be marked as such, and also in the same act the delivery of interstate shipments of intoxicating liquors was forbidden to anyone except to the bona-fide consig nee. OUT OF THE MAILS. “In 1909 Congress declared intoxicating liquors non-mailable. “In 1912 Congress forbade the s.de and manufacture of intoxicating liqu-

ors in Alaska under certain conditions. “On March 1, 1913, Congress by an overwhelming vote and over the President s veto, forbade the importation of intoxicants into a state to be received, used or possessed, contrary to the laws of such states. This was the most decisive and inqiortant blow the liquor interests ever received at the hands of Congress up to that time. This is known as the Webb-Kenyon Act. “On February 14, 1917, Congress passed the Alaskan Absolute Prohibition Law*. “On March 2, 1917, the Porto Rican Prohibition Law was passed. “On March 3, 1917, the District of Columbia was made dry. “On March 3, 1917, Congress forbade the sending of advertisements and letters soliciting liquor orders into states which made it unlawful to so advertise or solicit orders. “On March 3, 1917, Congress declared th.it whoever shall order or cause to be shipped into a dry state intoxicating liquors extent for scientfir, sacramental, medicinal and mechanical purposes shall be punished. This is known as the Reed amendment and was supposed to come from the camp of the enemy for the purpose of either embarrassing the Prohibition forces in Congress or of making Prohibition so odious to dry states that they would return to the saloon. Put the Prohibitionists determined “to call the bluff” and accepted the amendment. The law has worked so well that it may be classed as one of our most important pieces of legislation. “August 10, 1917, Congress prohibited absolutely the production of distilled spirits for beverage purposes. The same act authorises the President to stop the manufacture of wine and beer and to regulat" their alcoholic content. It authoris'd the President to commander all distilled spirits for redistillation in so far as may be necessary to meet the requirements of the Government in the manufacture of munitions and other military and hospital supplies or in order to dispense with the necessity of utilizing food products in the manufacture of distilled spirits.” To the above we add the following: August 1, 191/, the U.S. Senate submitted an amendment to the Federal constitution providing for National Prohibition by a vote of 65 to 20; and on the .7th of December, 1917.

the House joined with the Senate in submitting this amendment by a vote of 282 to 128.