Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-11-22
ATLANTA WILD.
THE PROHIBITION FIGHT.

The Two sans Promineat Men Engaged
In the Contest - A seese IN tse Gospel
Tent.
Especial telegram 70 the Dispatch.l
ATLANTA, GA, November 2l.-At-
lanta and the State Of Georgia are ter
ribly excited over the great prohibition
fght in this city. Business is at . stand
still. awaiting the results Of the conflict.
Many merchants did not buy their
fall stocks on account Of the election.
They say they don't know which way
the thing is going, and were afraid TO
risk their money. Tho dry men are
making a most desperate fight. At a
cost Of over 81 900 they brought Sam.
Jones and his gospel tent here. lie
and Sam. Small, the journalist, T. Old
ST. have held large meetings at the
tent. Some nights as many as 10000
people gathered under and around the
great canvas. Mr.. Small has made
many converts to prohibition by his
eloquent and earnest appeals TO the peo-
pie with whom be was raised. The
people here love "0ld ST." lie and
Sam. Jones left for St. Louis last night.
The tent is still here, and tonight
six thousand colored ballot-slingers are
assembled there trying to persuade their
brethren to take off the red badge of
liberty worn by the wet men. Four
brass bands escorted this crowd to the
tent from prohibition headquarters.
Among the noted speakers and advo-
Gates Of prohibition are Sam. Jones,
Sam. Small, DR.. Hawthorne, and nearly
all the divines Of the city Mayor Hill
yer; Judge Hammond, of the Superior
Court; DR.. FELTON,. of the Seventh dis
trict, who is probable candidate for
Governor on the temperance ticket
Judge Lochrane, F. II. Richardson, Of
the Constitution, and Bishop Turner
Ccolored). The Prohibitisnists claim
that they will win, but refuse TO back
their judgment with money.
Last night. in the prohibition tent,
man stepped up on the rostrum and
said that Saturday night, while an in
temperate man lay drunk in bar-room,
dying mother sent her young daughter
to the bar-room for the father, where
the child pleaded for her father to come
home. That incident had been set to
music. The leader Of the prohibition
choir, knowing of the music and song,
securedit, and she had found poor wait,
a beggsr girl, on the streets of Atlanta,
who would sing the song entitled,
" Father, dear father, come home with
ne now" The girl was led to the
front; her pitiable appearance moved
the vast audience. A murmur Of sym
pathy went through the crowd. She
had on a torn, dark calico dress, and a
sleeveless, brown flannel jacket. Her
head was tied up in dirty, striped,
ragged shoulder. shawl. On her right
foot was worn, low, button slipper,
held on hy white rag string tied ander
the Hollow Ct the h"' 49,. or..
.-s.ep. On her left foot
was high, much-worn lace shoe, aud
the rag strings were conspicuous as
the garters. Miss Ellie Stiff, the leader
Of the choir and organist, played the
accompaniment, while the breathless
crowd listened in eagerness to the
sweet, sad voice pleading in dulcet
tones, Father, Dear Father, Come
Home with Ne Now" Never was
more sympathy shown, and when the
song was over generous man called
out, Take up a collection for her,"
While the child was singing Mr..
Stiff, who sings bass with the choir,
and brother Of Miss Ellie Stiff, leaned
over and said THAT is good. ! know
her, and can give you her name if you
won't tell"
"Who is she 2" | asked.
Z" A child Of one Of the most fashion
able families in Atlanta"
Is she poor?"
" Why, no; she is a music pupil Of
my sisters"
senator Joseph brown and his son
julius are against prohibition. Ex-
Mayor Goodwin and many other promi-
nent and influential citizens oppose it.
The city is wild, and meetings are being
held day and night. Twenty thousand
dollars have already been spent, and it
is said that both sides have $4,000
each to use on election-day. Bets are
being made three to one on the wet
ticket. with few takers.
The contest is the hottest ever known
here.