Jan. 17.
DorixG the closing months of the old year the battle for prohibition in Scotland was raging with an ardour unknown in a political conflict since the cay when Burns sang ''OrthoJox, orthodox, what believes in John Knox."" The result has tron like that of many of the battles in the other great war that has so lately been fought to a finish—both sides lay claim to victory. Examining the reports of the conflict with that detachment which distance from the scene gives to us here we may say that the decision on the first round is a victory for the ''wets.'' The temperance host expected to sweep the country but, as a matter of fact, something less than ten per cent. of the voting areas have carried ''no licence" at the polls. lhe trade put up a great. fight und spent money with a lavishness that the other side could. not equal. The question. submitted to the electors was capable of three answers. They might vote ''no change'' or no licence'? or ''limitation."' Tf a majority of votes were cast for limitation over no change, the vote for no licence was added to that for limitation and then licences in the area specified had to be reduced by one fourth. The full results have not yet cone to hand, as voting in some districts would not take place until December, but when the latest papers to hand were despatched the poll had been declared in 256 areas and the result declared was, for no change, 209. limitation 24, no licence 23.
The trade: is naturally jubilant and declares that these figure' prove the Temperance (Scotland) Act to have been a piece of unwanted legislation the impertinence of whick has been justly resented by the electorate. Their organs suggest that the Government ought now to repeal the act but that is a course of procedure that is not in the least likely to be adopted. The temperance workers frankly admit that the result of the ballot does not come up to their expectations, but though defeated they are not in the least discouraged. And, indeed, the result shows that if they have not accomplished all they anticipated, their net
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.