for beverage purposes. Liquor, under this Act, was defined as having more than three per cent of alcohol by volume.

In 1915 an amendment was passed leaving open the question as to what is, and what is not, intoxicating liquor.

QUEBEC

The Province of Quebec has so far refused to adopt Prohibition. Many municipalities have had local option for some time. Indeed, there are 976 "dry" municipalities and 182 "wet." The chief cities remain "wet."

As to the effect of local option in Quebec authorities differ: some claiming it has proved a success, others that it is a failure. Here as elsewhere it is a matter chiefly of the sentiment of the individual community. If sentiment is overwhelmingly in favor of the measure, it works fairly well; if not, enforcement is impossible. In the latter case there are the usual and well-founded complaints of perjury, illicit selling, and kindred evils. Indeed it has been freely stated that one main reason for the reluctance of Quebec to adopt provincial prohibition is that liquor may be obtained everywhere without difficulty. Again, statistics do not seem to bear out the statement that crime has diminished in "dry" districts. Indeed, the contrary would seem to be the case.

Quebec, by reason of its immense French population-a population opposed, in general, to sumptuary legislation-will be loth to adopt Prohibition. The people are not a drunken people and such stringent laws appear to them unnecessary. Unfortunately, there is a large consumption of the strong "whiskey blanc" of the country, but the taste for beer and other light beverages is increasing; which fact augurs well for the growth of rational temperance.

SASKATCHEWAN

In June, 1915, there was passed the act known as "The Sales of Liquor Act," which came into force on July 1, 1915. Its object is to abate some of the evils of the liquor traffic by closing the bars and establishing a system of government control, government shops

being established for the sale of liquor in sealed packages for consumption off the premises. Under this Act no person can obtain in one day more than 4 gallons of beer or other malt liquor, 2 gallons of wine, or one gallon or less than 16 fluid ounces of any other kind of liquor; "liquor" being defined as spirituous or fermented liquor containing more than 1 per cent of alcohol.

In December, 1916, however, Saskatchewan voted against continuing the 20 liquor stores or dispensaries controlled by the government, and in 6 months from that date they will be closed. Liquor thereafter can be obtained only from the outside.

YUKON

In the Yukon territory Prohibition was submitted to the electors in 1916, but was defeated. The license system remains in force, therefore.

THE DOMINION

As has been said, although the Liquor Question is, in the main, a local, that is, a Provincial matter, yet the Dominion Government has the jurisdiction over trade, manufactures, exports and imports; these being ultra vires of provincial legislation.

There is also the Dominion Act, popularly called "The Scott Act," passed in 1878, to which reference has been made, which, although it has almost always proved a failure, having been repealed in very many cases, is still in force in certain municipalities, and where in force, supersedes all Provincial Acts in any way conflicting therewith.

At the last session of the Dominion Parliament there was passed an act to assist the provinces in carrying out their legislation. Its provisions in regard thereto are very stringent and prohibit the importation of liquor to be used contrary to Provincial provisions. Every Province is very careful to state in its Acts that nothing therein shall conflict with Dominion legislation.

As in the United States the cry of the Prohibitionists is "On to Washington," so in Canada it is "On to Ottawa": which being interpreted means Dominion-wide Prohibition of manufacture, importation and sale.

Meanwhile the Dominion Alliance, corresponding somewhat to the Anti-Saloon League, and other bodies, are agitating in various directions; for the suppression of liquor advertisements and the closing of the mails thereto, for the prevention of the importation of liquor into "dry" Provinces, and so on: these measures, if passed, to lead up eventually to a Dominion Prohibitory law, which shall take the place of all local laws, although many prohibitionists believe that under all circumstances the matter of sale should be left to the Provinces.

Whether these ends, so much desired by the Prohibitionists, shall be reached, or whether there shall be a reaction against sumptuary laws, especially when men after the war shall have returned to their normal frame of mind: all this "lies on the lap of the gods."

NEW FOUNDLAND

The Island of New Foundland (with its strip of the Labrador Coast) is, of course, not part of the Dominion of Canada; but as a British Colony and lying so near to the Dominion, it may not be amiss to state that Prohibition comes into effect Jan. 1, 1917. The Act prohibits the importation, manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors, except, as elsewhere, for mechanical, sacramental and medicinal purposes: a long list of patent medicines, by the way, being placed under the ban. A public controller has been appointed by the government. Through this functionary medical prescriptions will be filled and supplies obtained for manufacturers, while provision is also made whereby churches can obtain wine for sacramental purposes. Elsewhere, physicians or magistrates will have charge of the supplies.

It is estimated that the loss in revenue will be about $1,000,000 a year; but prohibitionists claim that about $600,000 of this will be saved through a diminution of criminal and similar expenses. Whether this hope shall be realized, time alone can tell.

TEMPERANCE REFORM IN MEXICO UNDER THE NEW

RÉGIME

By Luis Bossero

(In Mexican Review, for October, 1916)

Among the many reforms which are being undertaken by the leaders of the revolution, among the many changes which are being inaugurated, calculated to shape the future of Mexico, the questions of temperance and prohibition have been given a great deal of profound consideration. Like many other countries, Mexico too has been afflicted, and to a large extent still is, with the great evils resulting from overindulgence in strong, alcoholic beverages. This was realized by the Constitutionalist leaders from the first moment the constructive era began. It was evident to them that those were problems which could not be overlooked and of a nature demanding serious and immediate attention.

Unfortunately the drink evil in Mexico had peculiar native characteristics which were difficult to cope with. They were conditions resulting from centuries of indulgence in such nerve wrecking poisonous drinks as pulque, mescal and tequila. Those were beverages centuries old and naturally the common drink of the Indians and peons. Those drinks, especially pulque, were part of their daily life. Without the consumption of several pints of pulque the day was not complete. Thus it was that pulque became a national menace. And it was against this terrific evil that the present day leaders of Mexico had to make a determined stand.

In the days of the Diaz régime, when the welfare of the peons and Indians was given little consideration, the manufacture of pulque was encouraged by the Government. A pulque trust had been formed, which was known as the "Compania Pulqueria," which had rented and bought up the most advantageous establishments where pulque was sold or manufactured. Among the leaders of that trust it is claimed were a number of prominent government

officials. It was by the aid of this diabolic drink that the people were virtually kept in submission and ignorance. The pulque trust acted as a secret ally of the Government and "haciendados," helping both to keep a tight grip upon the miserable people. And because it was favored by the Government all those who opposed it, commercially or otherwise, were quietly disposed of. The company did a tremendous and very profitable business. At one period of its existence its fame had reached even as far as the Paris Board of Trade, where a great many of its shares were sold. This deplorable state of affairs lasted for some time. The advent of the revolution brought in its sweep a host of reformers, whose complaints against the existing state of affairs grew louder and more persistent. Besides a good many Americans and Europeans had noticed the tragic state of affairs. And while the Diaz Government cared little for the people, the good opinion of the foreigners meant a great deal. The result was that the Diaz Government decided to fight one evil by the introduction of another, and perhaps a much more dangerous one.

In those days whiskey was little known among the Indians and peons of Mexico. It is true a small quantity of it was imported, but it was mostly for the exclusive use of the foreigners. The populace was not acquainted with it and, in truth, cared little for it.

To counteract the pulque evil the authorities of the Diaz régime decided to introduce whiskey to the populace. As in all its affairs it proceeded in a characteristic Diaz manner. A concession was granted to a distilling company which was invited to come and manufacture its product in Mexico. The Cave Distilling Company of Kentucky, with its entire plant, was transported to the State of Chihuahua. As an inducement the Government gave the company 28 acres of land for the ridiculous sum of $600 and promised that their wares would be given wide circulation and its use greatly encouraged. Thus it was that whiskey found its way to the "haciendas" of Mexico.

Soon, however, it was discovered that whiskey failed to cure the pulque evil. Instead it aggravated the problem of drink and made it more complicated and more serious. Instead of solving