The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-11-27
A FAMOUS VICTORY
OF GEORGIA PRoulBrrIoN1sTs,

Tho County of Fulton, in which Atlanta
I Situated, Carried by 22e MRjOrity-Ths
. Temperance OOlorsd People the Fac
!, tors In the Hot Battle Of Ballots.
ATLANTA, Nov. 28.-Tbere were gray
! fears that there would be trouble at tn
election on the liquor question
yesterday. Right on the eve Of the bal
tie both sides got nervous as to the result
Although the leaders in their publ
proclamations expressed confidence, b.
the very nature Of the contest, the Issue
involved and the uncertainty OF the con
trolling factor, the colored vote, the resul
was doubtful. While it is true that thu
Prohibitionists have claimed an ex
elusive possession OF the moral side t
the controversy, it would be a mistake tt
suppose that only the lower strata Of 30
ciety in Atlanta have supported the othel
party. Some Of the most respectable anC
honorable white gentlemen OF the city
have energetically opposed prohibition
first as being impractiCable in place the
size OF Atlanta, and secondly bound to in
hict tremendous material damage in driv.
ing away trade and depreciating the value
Of the real estate.
The excitement commenced early. al
half-past s in the morning the colored
"wets' were brought out OF the old depot,
or "bull.pen," as It is known, where they
had been kept all night, teasting on the
barbecued 'possum. This was on the edge
OF town. The anti-Prohibitionists march
ed to the polls shortly after s o'clock. The
Prohibitioniats were later putting in an
appearance. Every colored church was
q rendezvous for Prohib.tioniSts. There
are only two polling places in Atlanta,
and six in the country outside. So unpre-
cedentedly large was the vote Of the city
that each place was provided with three
ballot-boxes. Heretofore there has only
been one ballot-box at each precinct.
Men formed in lines according to the Grst
letters OF their surnames, and the ballot
boxes at each precinct were placed several
yards apart, although all were in the
same building.
dOOD NATURE w THE kLkCllJNs
The white leaders on both sides had
come to an understanding in order to pre-.
vent threatened riot. The saloon men
solemnly agreed not to let any Of their
supporters have any liquor, and to their
credit be 1t said they kept their promise.
A drunken man was not seen on the
streets all day. Then it was mutually
agreed that there should be no challeng-
ing except in extraordinary cases. The
election was held under the registration
law, and repeating and voting by disqnali-
fed persons could be detected afterward.
Such was the nature Of the conquest that
neither side could afford to bulldoze or be
abusive at the polls, and so, although the
Prohibitionists were not on the ground 30
early as their opponents, they suffered no
disadvantage therefrom. The polls opened
at 8 o'clock, and hundreds OF men were in
line at both precincts, two hours before
then. Blacks and whites, "wets" and
"drys" took their places indiscrimiuRtely.
For the most part there was great good
nature displayed. The "wets" appeared
to have the best of 1t in the first part OF
the morning. They came in droves, and
were wildly greeted by those OF their per-
suasion who had already voted. So great
was the demand for vehicles that draft
had to be made on surrounding towns,
The Prohibitionists got fifty buggies, car
riages and wagons from Macon. Business
was practically suspended all day.
Shortly after II o'clock all the colored
employees Of the Kimball House, number
ing nearly hundred, marched to the polls.
They we're gaily decorated. Every ono
voted the "wet" ticket, Their employers
have been very bitter against the Prohibi-
tionists, and have declared that they will
be forced to close II they cannot run bar
in their hotel.
After the most exciting and keenly con-
tested election ever held in Georgia, pro-
hibition carried in Atlanta and Fulton
county by 226 majority on total vote OF
about 900, the largest probably ever poll
cd. 1t Is estimated that there were seven
or eight hundred pairs. The Prohibition.
lists rallied their reserve strength in the
latter part Of the day, and won victory
by the almost superhuman efforts Of the
temperance colored men, who made i'm
ploring appeals to their race not to be
bought up by the liquor dealers. The
county outside the city proper gave pro-
hibition majority OF 64S, so that Atlanta
herself went against prohibition by 1927,
but as the election was by the county at
large, Atlanta is included in the result for
prohibition.
Local optionists claim this as the great
est victory gained in the United States.
Considering the intensity Of feeling on
both sides, the election was model OF or
der. There was an absolute freedom from
drunkenness or fights.
The anti Prohibihonists are deeply
chagrined, and for the sake Of peace the
Prohibition leaders advised that no DEM
onstration be held. But the younger ele-
ment among the Prohibitionists could not
be restrained, and they formed an i'm
promptu procession, and serenaded the
Newspaper Offices with their ear-splitting
Southern yelIs.
Already the anti. Prohibitionists talk Of
contesting the election, they claiming that
one OF the municipalities in the county
had no right 10 vote, as 1t had previously
voted on the question within the prescribed
time. Should that precinct be thrown out
prohibition will be defeated by about
ninety votes.
Sugar Imports From Mexico.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 2O.-Consul Gem