The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1908. A LIQUOR REFERENDUM IN TEXAS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2329, 23 October 1908, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1908.

A LIQUOR REFERENDUM IN TEXAS.

.The prohibitionists in Texas are jubilant over -a victory, the full significance of which it is difficult to determine at the present time. Texas, it may be remarked, is the largest state from the point of view of area in the United States, and comprises territory about 2£ times the size of New Zealand, whilst its population is more than 3J times greater than that of our 'Dominion. At a recent party convention the Democrats of Texas decided in favor of a referendum on the question of -license or prohibition of the sale of liquor; and the Democratic members of the Legislature were instructed to press the necessary legislation at the- next session, submitting to the popular vote a constitutional amendment that will prohibit the sale or manufacture of alcoholic drinks. As the Democrats are -absolutely in control of the State and of {the Legislature —there -are bnly two Republicans out of a total of 161 members —tlie action of the primary in ordering this referendum is final and decisive. The Legislature does not meet until next January, so that tho constitutional amendment can not bo prepared until then, and it may not bojyoted on until the election of 1910. Commenting upon the position a leading American journal says:— Of course, tho submission of the question to the voters does not assure prohibition, it simply gives the people of Texas a chance to.say whether they want their State.' “wot” or “dry.”- It would be foolish to indulge’ in any forecast on this point

at the present time.- It may be said on the one side that the majority in favor of the referendum was not as large as expected, which looks unfavorable to tho prohibition cause, for all those who favor a referendum will not necessarily vote “dry.” On tho other hand, a majority of the Texas counties are already dry, and the local option,, elections indicate that si majority of the voters favor at least country prohibition. But here, aga:.-i, this does not absolutely determine tho result. A voter may favor country prohibition because he, believes that it is possible to enforce the law,, and yet oppose - -State prohibition because ho recognises that it is difficult, .if not impossible, to enforce, and is certain to arouse opposition and to cause confusion. As we have said, however, there is no sense in surmising what may be done on this point when the Legislature shall have acted and the people are given a chance to express their views. Just at present the temperance wave seems to be at its highest and the chances are that an early vote would sweep Texas into the “dry” column. If the election is delayed a year, -as seems probable, there may he a change of sentiment, as by that time we will be able to determine how prohibition is working in the five Southern -States where it has recently been put in operation. It goes without saying that if Texas, with its four million people, should vote to bar out liquor, it would cause a sensation and produce far-reaching effects throughout the South-west.