West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1882-12-13
HOLDING THE FORT!
Grand For "My Maryland"
The Noble Women PrevaI Gloriously.
LOCAL OPTIoN-THE ELECTION IN
ANNE ARUNDEL-ANA ANTI
LICENSE VICTORY.


ANNAPOLIS, MD, Dec. 5th.-The
contest over the local option election
to-day was the most exciting that
has ever occurred here. Both sides
had prepared for vigorous
campaign; but the unexpected APP
pearance of bands of women at the
different polling places Of the city,
singing and praying, and admon-
ishing voters to vote for prohibition,
gave fresh impetus to the sur
roundings and excited people of all
shades Of opinion. The Women's
Christian Temperance Union, of
about one hundred members, visit
ed the different polling places early
in the morning, where they re-
NAMED during the day, working in
the interest of the temperance
movement. 1t was an unusual
SIGHT to see females congregated
about such places, and their pres
ence there was the subject Of much
comment. They worked earnestly,
and during the day influenced a
large number of voters on the side
Of prohibition. 1t was a frequent
occurrence to see a voter marched to
the polls between two of the ladies
connected with the band and tri-
umphantly voted in the interest of
local option. At the first ward
polls, directly after the voting be-
gan, the liquor dealers charged that
the female crusaders were blockad-
ing the sidewalks and obstructing
voting, and the mayor of the city
was appealed to have the crowd
dispersed. Mayor Martin, instead
of interfering with the ladies, mott
fed the police to arrest any party
who dared modest them in the exc
cution of their privileges Objec-
ton was also made to the females
electioneering about the second
ward polls, but the police authori-
ties were not disposed to interfere
There were also lively times at the
third ward polls. The Temperance
Crusaders were there in large num-
bers, the colored women taking an
active part in eIectioneering in
conjunction with the white workers.
Many little incidents occurred dur
ing the day, At some of the voting
places good deal of bad feeling
was engendered between the pro-
hibitionists and the opponents of
local option, but there was no dis
turbance. In some of the churches
prayer-meetings were held during
the day, and the success of local OPP
ton was fervently invoked. The
Temperance Crusaders, as they
passed through the streets, were
the subject of much criticism by
many, while others were loud in
their praise of their endeavor to
suppress the liquor traffic.
The vote in Anne Arundel coun-
ty was not by districts, so the de-
clSlon on the aggregate vote will
control the question of license or no
license IN the entire county.
The election in this city resulted
as follows: First ward, for license
ll3, against license 1888; second
Ward, for license 118, against 24l
third II ward, for license 10Y, against
3Io majority in the city against
license 557. The temperance peo-
PIE, e!ated with the victory, para
ded the streets with bands Of mu-
SIC, singing ''Hold the Fort" &c.
The returns from the county out
SIDE SIC of Annapolis are as follows:
FIRST district, first precinct, for IL
cense 249, against license 1893; sec
ond precinct, for license 126,
against 1875; majority for license
10 Second district, for license 24l,
against license 342; majority !
against license 101. Third district,
Tor license 355, against 209; ma or-
lty for license 46. Fourth district,
10 10 majority in favor of license
First precinct. fifth district, for IL |