The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-12-30
THE PROHIBITION FIGHT IN ALLAN
TIA, GEORGIA.
by BISHOP E. o. THAYER, OF CLARK UNI.
yERsITy.

liquor trafnc ever Waged In TINS or any
country. 1t was remarkable in respect to
the character of the contestants, the meth
DDS of conducting the campaign, the in
tense enthusiasm aroused, the great OBJ
stables overcome by the temperance side,
the arguments of facts brought out for
use in similar campaigns elsewhere, and
the incidental results brought about,
which are hardly less valuable than the
main point gained. Let MS look at each
of these points carefully.
There was a very clear line of demarca-
ton between the men arrayed on either
side. In the temperance phalanx were
drawn up all the clergy, white and color
ed, the leading lawyers, physicians, bust
ness men, and skilled mechanics. On the
Prohibition side were the brewers,
wholesale and retail liquor dealers, own
ers of real estate rented by saloonists, the
Kimball house lessees and their employees,
and as usual, all the lower elements of
the city. OF course, there were a few re-
spectacle men, but none outside of the
classes mentioned took any prominen.
part in the campaign. The Young Mems
Prohibition Club, one thousand strong,
was born in prayer meeting of the
Young Mems Christian Association, and
enrolled many of the best men of the city.
The temperance speakers were clergymen,
United States Senators, judges and pro-
fessors; on the liquor side, two small jus
tices, a few merchants and several color
ed politicians. The audience of the one,
numbered by thousands, were composed
of the best white gentlemen and ladies of
the city, and the cultured and respecta-
bic colored people; while the other con-
sisted of few hundreds of men interest
ed in the sale or use of whiskey, and the
lowest elements of the colored popula-
ton. So marked was the difference in
the appearance of those who wore the
blue and those who wore the red that it
excited general comment.
The methods of conducting the cam
paign, on the part of the Prohibitionists,
are worthy of study by all engaged in
such work. The organization of the tenn
perance forces were perfect, and every
move was made with military precision.
The Prohibition Club was divided into
companies and squads, each with its Off
GERS, and all knowing their special duties
The work was SO divided among commit
tees and subcommittee as to secure the
most prompt and efficient service Every
statement or argument published by the
liquor interest was met next morning
with an appropriate rejoinder. A state
ment came out one day that the agitation
had already injured business, and imme-
diately appeared card stating that bust
ness was unusually good, signed by all the
leading business houses. Then came
wall from nineteen doctors that the sick
must have whiskey which was followed
vi WI nf ha nlI aud
best physicians, stating that they were
satisfied with the law. Then the leading
architects denied over their signatures
that the prospects for building were de-
stroyed, and several firms engaged in
manufacturing building material, who
had been reported by the liquor men as
"shut down." requested to be allowed to
state that they were running to the fall
est capacity. Again came doleful stories
OF the rninous effects of Prohibition In
other States and in surrounding towns in
Georgia. This was followed by a perfect
avalanche of letters from reliable re-
sources, gathered by the Committee on
Facts, showing that the abolition of the
liquor traffic had been everywhere bless
ing. Other committees secured the reg
istration oil Indifferent voters, and paid
the taxes of the poor. Others were on
the lookout for illegalites in registration
aud voting, and, in short, every avenue
was opened by which the hosts could
march to victory. On election day the
ladies opened lunch rooms at various
points, and fed thousands of Prohibition
workers and voters. Almost daily
throughout the campaign women's pray
err meetings were held in the churches,
where earnest supplications went up to
heaven for victory to the right. The
gracious answer to these prayers made
Thanksgiving day a joyous occasion in
Christian homes.
Another remarkable feature of the con
test was tho intense enthusiasm manifest
ed. This was manifested not only by
the earnest work already described, but
by the crowds that every night and
on Sunday afternoon filed Sam Jones'
great gospel tent On one occasion,
while Dir. FELTON, was speaking, six hun
dred colored voters, headed by band,
marched into the tent, while the five
thousand present set up deafening
shout that lasted for several minutes.
Men said such scenes of excitement had
never been known here, even in the hot
test political contests. The election was
the topic of conversation everywhere, alb
sorbing every other question. A PROPOSE
ton to enter upon any new undertake
ing was always met with the reply
mo use trying to do anything till after
the election The registration was
several thousand larger than in any
presidential election, showing the great
interest taken in the struggle. On the
night before the election the whiskey
men organized an immense torchlight
procession, and marched great body of
poor white and degraded colored men to
vacant depot, where they fed them aud
drugged them with liquors till morning,
when they were taken to the polls and
voted in solid column. The colored
churches, to counterfeit this movement,
kept ''open house" all night, with whole
some food and good advice, and sent
great companies of voters to the polls
singing songs of triumph. AS they march.
cd along their neat appearance and intel.
ligent faces were in striking contrast to
the poor fellows from their all-night de-
bauch at the depot. All day long the
contest ragged. Everybody was in the
most intense excitement; free carriages,
decked in blue or red, hurried hither and
thither for votes men were persuaded
and some bought; every effort was made
by both parties to poll as many votes as
possible, until finally the polls were closed
and the result announced.
The victory is all the more remarkable
when we consider the obstacles to be over
come. The fight was against business
in which about 100000 was invested,
bringing in a revenue to the city of about
800, 600, against brewery, several large
wholesale liquor houses, and about one
hundred groggeries; against the owners
and friends of the Kimball House, Allan
ta's pride, whose maintenance depends
on the success of the magnificent bar.
room, if report is true, and against hun
dreds of ignorant men white and colored,
unable to reason, but easily bought. No
contest of the kind ever seemed more
hopeless until it became evident that the
best people of the city were aroused and
united and determined to win. Christian
Adu0cats.