Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-11-26

Law to Go Into Eject Aug. 1, 1886
spirited scenes Around the Polls
Both sides Il ,rly on the Ground and
Working HsId.
ATLANTA, Nov. 25.-Whisky's unsuc
cessful tight for supremacy in the state
capital made to-day at once one CT the
most exciting and most memorable In Inc
history of the city.
The official count was concluded TO-
night with the following result:
Against the sae..............'... '..'- - -
For the sale ---'-'- -
Vote IN the city -
Vote the county ..--+.-..-+ -t--.- -'.N'
Majority for prohlution....... -..---...-- -'1
BEGINNING THE BATTLE.
The battle incident to the ballotng may
be said to have been begun at sund0Wn
Yesterday. when both sides began mar
shalling their hosts and cOrra.hng re-
cruits on whom it was not safe 10 place
tOomuch dependence. The black conorts
OF the whisky side swarmed through the
city. plentiully supplied with spirits and
sbeckles. The prohibitionist colOred
voters spent most Of the night at rallies
OF a semi-re giOus nature. At t1e
first blush OF dawn both sides bristled
with activity, and the advance TO the polls
began at once. Each side was anxious
10 present as form dable front as posi-
BILE in the lines Hhicn were formed before
the ballot-boxes.
BLUE AND RED.
The blue badge OF temperance and the
scarlet symbol OF those who tread the
primrose path OF dalliance were the dis
tinguishing marks with which the
opposing hosts adorned them
selves. An hour and half
before the polling places were opened
they were beseiged by long lines Of sutfra-
gists who were bound to hand in their bal
lots il they had 10 wade through gore
knee-deep TO accomplish their object. The
day was fair in the extreme. The outlook
at the opening Of the polls was that every
one of the 1000 men on the city registra-
ton lists would come to the front and do
his duty.
GUARDING AGAINST A RIOT.
Policemen were scattered about here
and there ready 10 check in its incipiency
any disturbance which might endanger a
riot and jeopardize lives and property. At
the police barracks stands of rifles and
rounds OF ammunition were in Teadi-
ness for immediate distribution, in case
OF necessity. AS the day wore on, how
ever. it became apparent that serious
trouble need not be feared.
ALL THE SALOONS CLOSED.
Every saloon in the city was closed,
and it Is said that in only one or two in
stances was entrance possible, even by
the notorious back door. Proprietors or
peep o. day places and all night
dives seemed for onoe TO have
gained touch OF morality,
and to have Joined the more respect
able portion OF the liquor sellers
IN the closing movement. There seemed
TO be no lack OF hip-pocket bottles on hand,
however, and not q few intoxicated me-
groes were TO be seen around the polling
places. Among the whites, however, very
little drunkenness was noticeable.
THE BLUES IN THE LEAD.
At s O'Clock, when the polls were
opened a long line of blues took pos.
session, mixed with a few antis. AT 8
O'Clock the reds were making better
showing, and the badges in the lines were
about equally divided. At O'Clock
things were getting lively, and
q great deal Of juggling was
going on. Everybody was working
hard, but the blue badges seemed to be on
top. At IL O'Clock it was admitted that
the majority of the city vote had been
polled. Tue ants claimed a majority OF
not less than 800 in the city, while the
prohibitionists claimed 200 majority in
the county.
The scenes at the polling places during
the remainder Of the day were spirited
and exciting, but not materially different
from those already described. While one
or two personal encounters occurred,
nothing Of a serious nature has been re-
ported either from the city or the county.
WAITING FOR THE COUNT.
Tonight the scenes around the hotels
and newspaper Offices, while waiting for
the count, we're animated in the extreme.
Both sides were anxious, and the evide Mt
cioseness OF the vote made the result dur.
ing the early hours of the night absolutely
beyond prediction. Both sides
to 300 majority. At O'Clock
returns from six precincts in the cOun-
~ gave the prohibitionists 1870, and the
anti-prohibitionists $50. a majority of 4lC
for prohibition. IL was at that hour gen.
orally conceded that the county had gone
dry by between 500 and 600 majority. Al
this hour returns from the city precincts,
with one more to hear from, gave the
antis a majority Of %.
So far as heard from at O'clock, the
county was for Prohibition by a majority
Of 1857.
Bryant's precinct was claimed at this
time by The prohibitiOnists, and the ants
were making the city lively and claiming
big majority from all the precincts re-
naming 10 be heard from. Ii was evil
dent that the negro vote was very evenly
divided between the two sides.
ANNOUNCING THE VICTORY.
When the prohibition victory was final
~ announced considerable enthusiasm
was manifested. Crowds OF prohibition.
lists we're burrying through the streets
towards the prohibition headquarters
for the purpose OF forming IN line
for professions and a grand Jubilee.
but several Of the prohibition leaders ad.
dressed the crowd, advising them
TO make no public demonstrations, but
70 90 quietly to their homes,
which was done. The anti-prohiD-
tionists take their defeat very hard
as the result was entirely contrary IN
their expectations. Tomorrow will be a
grand Thanksgiving among the prohibit
tiOnists. There Will be macs meeting
At the tent at night, where ap-
propriate addresses will be made
by prominent men on the winning side.
Everybody comedies that the election was
fair and square. and there can be no
ground on which TO base a contest.
Prohibition will 90 into effect on the
last day OF July, when the existing H.
cenBes expire.