Prohibition

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

2026 Editor's Note: This page uses language about race that was commonplace when the book was published and is offensive by today's standards. The text has been left exactly as it was printed, rather than cut or softened, so that the historical record — including how ordinary such language once was — is preserved. (Ed: ET 2026-07-22) 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. 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 communities. The first legislation of more than local 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 In 1852 Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Vermont also passed prohibition laws, but these were soon after repealed by the two latter states.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, 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 The two Dakotas later completely repealed their prohibition laws, but North Dakota again passed over to the "dry" States in 1914.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 passed laws granting suffrage to women, ment was ratified by all except three the political power of the Prohibition movement also grew. To the above States, which had passed prohibition laws, should be added those which passed local option laws; legislation allowing each community to decide for itself the question of whether prohibition should prevail in its own domain. These were Delaware, Alabama and Kentucky. Altogether there were in 1915 only three States which had not passed some kind of legislation against intoxicating liquors, these three being Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Nevada. Early in 1917 a constitutional amendment was presented to Congress, but failed to pass by the necessary twothirds majority. On December 17, 1917, it was again presented, and this time it passed both the House and the Senate. On Nov. 1, 1917, Congress enacted