More: Gunfight at Central El Paso drive-in theater in 1957 left one officer dead, another injuredĭuring the week preceding the closing of the saloons yesterday recklessness grew riot and an increasingly large aggregation went the limit in exercising their rights along personal lines, and imbibed so much liquor that they became intoxicated - down and out - and landed in jail. “Give us personal liberty and the world will be a happy place to dwell in” has been the plea of all who like their “likker.” The foregoing is explanatory of the predicament that some who advocated personal liberty have got themselves into. The questions of personal liberty and prohibition have been closely linked ever since the prohibition argument was injected into human politics, and the privilege of personal liberty has been one of the foundation rocks upon which the devotees to the flowing bowl have stood pat in their battle against the encroachments of the white ribbon band.

Old-Timers Within City Jail Deprived of Joy of Helping Close Saloons With the last call was made throughout the city, the patronizers of the bars walked out in good order, raising their hats on the occasion of the last drink.Īnother article from that day asked, 'What Could Be Worse Than Fate Of These Men?' Those who were locked in the city jail during last call. Though they were crowded to the doors, the 265 saloons in the city and within the 10-mile limit, closed at 10:30 without accident or without tragedy. Persons who had expected an unusual disturbance were disappointed. There was some hilarity in the afternoon, and some minor disturbances developed, but were promptly squelched. In a blaze of reckless conviviality the 250 saloons in El Paso within the 10-mile military zone closed their doors at 10:30 o'clock forever - except in the unlikely event of a miracle that will give John Barleycorn's new lease of life in this city. The El Paso Morning Times of April 16 that year reported, 'City Drinks Toast to Late John Barleycorn as Saloons Close Doors.' It affected El Paso, San Antonio, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and Waco. The law banned alcohol, gambling and prostitution around training camps for U.S. The vote was 158,982 to 138,907.Įl Paso had already been dry for a year because of Texas' 'Ten Mile Zone' law, which went into effect 100 years ago, April 15, 1918. In May 1919, Texans voted to adopt a prohibition amendment to the state Constitution. Watch Video: Los Tequileros: Prohibition-era smugglers of the border

John barleycorn alcohol