They were organized in response to the threat posed to the liquor industry by the growing political strength of the American temperance movement.
[1] Businessmen and other antiprohibitionists organized the first Personal Liberty League in Massachusetts in 1867 to fight for repeal of the state's prohibitory Maine Law.
[3] One of the first references to the purpose of the PLL was found in an 1873 article in the American German language newspaper Illinois Staats-Zeitung published in Chicago, IL.
"[4] In addition to political lobbying, the Leagues also attempted to mediate between the Temperance groups and the brewers and liquor dealers to ameliorate the worst aspects of the spirits trade.
[5] By 1900, the PLL expanded its lobbying efforts to include opposition to the anti-gambling movement - especially in horse-racing.