REED LAW

transcribed by Debbie Gibson]

WYOMING, LONG WET SPOT, TO GO DRY JULY 1

Even Mail Order business Stopped by State Law.Cheyenne, Wyo., June 20, - Wyoming, long the oasis of this section of the west, will enter the ranks of prohibition states on July 1. Sale and manufacture of liquor within the state will cease on that date regardless of whether national prohibition is effective in the nation.

Under terms of the constitutional amendment adopted by the voters at last November's election, Wyoming would have gone dry January 1, 1920. When the legislature met last January, however, it was deemed advisable to put the state law into effect July 1, this year, at the same time it appeared national war time prohibition would be effective. A law was passed by the legislature authorizing this.In addition to the power placed by state law in the hands of a state prohibition commissioner, there will be a new enforcement league, privately financed and privately operated to enforce the new law. This league already has begun the work of keeping Wyoming free of illegal manufacture and sale of liquor after July 1.

State house gossip is that Fred L. Crabbe, now superintendent of the Wyoming Anti-Saloon league, will be chosen prohibition commissioner.

“Not only bootlegging, but commercial traffic in liquor must cease in accordance with the wishes of the people,” said Mrs. Crabbe in a statement to The Associated Press. “The voters gave the largest per capita dry majority of any state in the union and they are going to see that the law as passed by the legislature is one of the most drastic of its kind.”Saloons in Wyoming now pay a combined revenue of $500,000 for the privilege of operating. In the face of the approaching “dry spell” breweries are turning to other lines. Most of them will manufacture “soft” drinks.

Data gathered in the three largest cities in the state – Sheridan, Casper and Cheyenne – shows virtually every barroom and saloon has been spoken for by proprietors of candy shops, soft drink parlors, cafes, music stores and restaurants.Saloon men are cleaning out their stocks as rapidly as possible. It is is (sic?) stated with authority that respectable citizens of the state who lay in a moderate supply of liquor now for their own use after July 1 will not be molested, but the authorities have announced there will be eternal and vicilant warfare waged on the man who seeks to buy now and sell later.

Mail order business practically is at a standstill, the Reed law having stopped much of the importation into nearby states.