Although dating from the 1870s, the city of Lincoln’s
preoccupation with the prohibition issue quickened in the first
decade of the twentieth century. With the failure of efforts to
add a prohibitory amendment to the state constitution in 1890,
prohibitionists focused their attention on counties and cities,
where they were more successful. The spring election of 1902 in
Lincoln resulted in the establishment of a progressive excise,
or tax, policy for the city’s saloons, which provided for a
gradual reduction in their numbers and limited hours of
operation from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. It also permitted no saloons on
O Street east of Tenth Street, or near the high school (Lincoln
then had only one) and the University of Nebraska. On May 4,
1909, Lincoln residents voted the city dry. The margin of
victory was narrow, however, and in 1910 prohibition once again
appeared on city ballots. A contemporary campaign message, based
on information from University of Nebraska chancellor Samuel
Avery, reflected the continuing eff