Prohibition
legislation forbidding the manufacture of and trade in alcoholic liquors, or even, in some cases, rendering the private possession of such liquors illegal. Though the use of spirituous liquors is as ancient as history, the idea of checking their use by legislation is of comparatively recent origin. It has required the investigations of modern medical science to show the tremendous harm done to human well-being and physical health by the unrestrained use of alcoholic beverages. With this knowledge, there has been a general awakening on the part of all peoples to a realization of this evil as preventable, and it may now be said that the sentiment for prohibition is as widespread as civilization itself.
Roosevelt and his fellow progressives denounced the action of the leaders as fraud and decided to form a third party which should embody in its platform their principles and nominate their leader.
Accordingly in August, 1912, the Progressive party was formed at a convention held in Chicago and Roosevelt was named for President, and Governor Hiram Johnson of California, for Vice- President. The platform contained the creed of the Progressives. It declared in favor of the direct election of Senators, presidental preference primaries, the initiative and referendum, maximum safety and health standards for laborers, prohibition of child labor and night work for women, minimum wage standards for women, woman suf suffrage, and ties. The first legislation of more than the recall of judicial decisions. judicial decisions. The convention of the party was characterized by a high note of idealism and an almost religious fervor. Although not expected to be much of a factor in the race, the popularity and personality of their candidate and their excellent organization made them formidable competitors. The Progressives expected to draw many votes from the Democratic as well as the Republican party, but the nomination of Governor Wilson, himself regarded as a progressive by the Democrats, largely confined the Progressives to dissatisfied Republicans and moderate Socialists.
During the excitement of the campaign, an attempt was made to assassinate Roosevelt. Although he ultimately recovered in time to close the campaign, it took him out of the race at a critical
In this country there was already a prohibition movement before the Civil War, which took concrete form in the heavy licensing of saloons, with local option legislation in many small communilocal character, however, was undoubtedly the laws forbidding the sale of liquors to the Indians. The first State to take action was Maine. Here the evil results of drunkenness was especially obvious, on account of the large quantities of rum brought into the state by the traders sailing between Maine ports and the West Indies. A strong agitation for legislation began in 1846, with the result that in 1851 a law was passed prohibiting the manufacture of and traffic in all intoxicating liquors. This law was later incorporated into the state constitution by amendment. In 1852 Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Vermont also passed prohibition laws, but these were soon after repealed by the two latter states. Beginning in the early eighties, a strong movement for prohibition began to make headway in the Middle West, PROHIBITION and during the next few years laws were passed in Kansas, Iowa, North and South Dakota. Iowa later modified her legislation, through the Mulct Law, passed in 1894, which sought to institute a system of heavy licensing, instead of pure prohibition. The two Dakotas later completely repealed their prohibition laws, but North Dakota again passed over to the "dry" States in 1914. Oklahoma went dry in 1907, and Idaho in 1915.
Shortly after 1900 a growing sentiment against the liquor traffic became manifest in the South. While moral considerations undoubtedly had their influence, this sentiment was also influenced by the fact that it was becoming obvious to the Southerners that the Negro problem was becoming more difficult on account of the growing intemperance of the Negroes. growing intemperance In 1907 Georgia passed a law for prohibition, and a few months later Alabama followed her example. Alabama, however, virtually repealed her law in 1911, only to re-enact it again in 1915. Then followed Mississippi and North Carolina, in 1908; West Virginia, in 1912; Virginia, in 1914; Arkansas and South Carolina, in 1915. Meanwhile, in the West, Arizona, Colorado, Oregon and Washington joined the prohibition States in 1914.
Behind this growing popular sentiment pushed the propaganda of two strong organizations; the Prohibition party, which carried on an intensive agitation during all the elections; and the Anti-Saloon League. Of the two the latter undoubtedly made the stronger appeal, especially to the women, who, better than the men, perhaps, understood the demoralizing influence of the saloon on American youth, and on American politics. As one State after another