18th Amendment and Prohibition

18^th Amendment: Prohibition

Prohibition resulted from a century’s long temperance movement that arose from America’s Protestant churches. The movement initially urged moderation in drinking, then urged drinkers to resist the temptation of alcohol, and ultimately ended with a push for government to prohibit alcohol outright. The Women’s Christian Temperance Union and the Anti-Saloon League were the two organizations that actively lobbied for the passage of a constitutional amendment during the early 20^th century. In 1917, the 18^th Amendment sailed through Congress and was ratified by the states in thirteen months, effectively banning the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol. Congress also created and passed the National Prohibition Act, better known as the Volstead Act, to enable enforcement of the 18^th Amendment. Both went into effect on January 17, 1920.

New Jersey was the last state to ratify the amendment, waiting until March 8, 1922 to do so. Democratic Governor Edward Edwards spent his three-year term fighting prohibition. In 1920, he joined Rhode Island’s Supreme Court Challenge of the 18^th Amendment; however, on June 7, 1920, the United States Supreme Court held that the Prohibition Amendment and the Volstead Act were constitutional.

Morris County and Prohibition

After passage of the 18^th Amendment, New Jersey’s distilleries, manufacturing plants, taverns, and saloons closed. Morris County in 1920 was one of the richest counties in the nation. For many affluent residents, alcohol was a vital aspect of the social gatherings and they were able to either stockpile before the law took effect or pay top dollar for illicit booze. Others of more modest means also wanted to maintain their access to alcohol, leading to the opening of illegal distilleries throughout the county inside houses and barns. Speakeasies, businesses that illegally sold alcohol, sprung up across Morris County.

Prohibition provided no mechanism to fund local police enforcement of the new laws, leading to rampant flouting of the unpopular law. Morristown Police Chief Herbert Wildey reported that of the 580 arrests made in 1925, prohibition violations occupied most of their time. Across Morris County, raids were conducted on hotels, illegal bars, and other business selling wine and liquor.

Even though raids were made on distilleries, manufacturing plants, and speakeasies, many politicians in the county did not believe enough was being done and suspected corruption within the ranks. Some police officers were caught taking bribes by manufacturers, distributors, and the owners of speakeasies. In one infamous case, Morris County Prosecutor, James H. Bolitho was charged with taking bribes.