Pro-Prohibition Sentiment in Missouri

The article below is clipped from The Word and Way, a newspaper published from 1896–1979 in Cole County, Missouri. It captures a glimpse of some of the sentiments held by Americans during the prohibition period, as this specific issue was published in October of 1925. Many religious Americans vehemently opposed what they viewed as rampant and excessive drinking culture. Not only would it cause people to act out in “morally inept” ways, but they also believed it just led to lower productivity (more about pre-prohibition and growing sentiments can be found here https://themobmuseum.org/blog/world-war-played-key-role-passage-prohibition/).

This religiously-focused paper took issue with a new Federal report released on prohibition. They feared that while standards for “prohibition enforcement” were being revised, it could end up helping the anti-prohibition movement. They mention specifically how the Anti-Saloon League and the Board of Temperance were taking a strong stance to oppose any reforms (more information on these groups and their role in the prohibition can be found here https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/how-world-war-ii-saved-american-beer-brewing).

Overall, this article definitely aligns with the sentiments explained in our background reading for this class. Many supporters of prohibition we’re just looking for pragmatic reform to reduce drinking. More so, they wanted it completely expelled, and any instance of it could be used to further their personal agendas via law enforcement.