Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-26

Our staff correspondent finds that the
counties of Blair, Center and Clearfeld are
claimed BY the Prohibitionists by vari-
ously estimated majorities. Ex-Governor
Curtin is interviewed on the subject, but de-
clines to express decided opinion, except
that he thinks the issue is in doubt. There
is probability that if the amendment is
interpreted to exclude the manufacture and
sale of cider, the farmers will vote against it.
rFRoM OUR SPECIAL coAnussIoNKR.l
.BELLEFoNTE, February 25-Punch your
pencil through the map of Pennsyl-
vania at that little dot designating the
town of Bellefonte, give the paper gentle
push, and with perfect equipoise the parch-
ment will continue to revolve as easily as
though the axis had been fixed with the
nicely of fine measurement and CREASED with
fairy oil Just to what extent this equilli-
brium will be destroyed on June Is by
western majorities for Constitutional amend
ment, and eastern majorities against it, the
weight of the ballot boxes alone will deter
mine, but it rather looks now as If the Pro-
hihitionists had captured the geographical
center of the State too.
Center county, of which Bellefonte is the
capital, has always inclined toward reform
in everything socially, politically and NOR
ally. In 1854 she gave 2.43s votes in favor
Of a prohibitory law and only 1,S79 votes
against it. The county's prominent part in
agitation for popular education secured for
it the location of the Pennsylvania State
College. When a man was needed to wrest
the gubernatorial scepter from the hands of
Democrat at the outbreak of the war of
the rebellion, Center furnished him in the
person of Andrew G. Curtin, and to protect
the State from invasions the county con-
sented to let him remain second term in
the Executive Mansion.
BEAvER's HOME.
In 1873 Center adopted local option law
by ], 1,43S majority. Also in 1886 she sent
lican party in the State to victory after a
season of Democratic rule-Governor James
A. Beaver.
Therefore temperance people in Belle
fonte think, that so far as record is con-
cer2ed, Center county can promise much of
encouragement in this and all other move
ments for the deliverance of the masses
They point to the fact that there are only
about % licenses now allowed In. the county,
and say that while the number of saloons in
past years has been gradually decreased,
the sentiment for prohibition has steadily
grown. Representative Holt, a Democrat
and q temperance advocate, puts the ma
iority for the amendment at 1000. The
majority of people, however, think he is too
high, and agree on about ], 900 as the proper
figure.
P. Grey Meek, the well-known Democrat,
however, while reminding me of these esti-
mates on all sides, said that great deal de-
pends on what questions are discussed in
the campaign. He expected that if the
farming element in Center, for instance,
came to understand that the amendment
would prohibit the manufacture and sale of
hard cider they would generally vote against
it, and that might put the majority on the
other side of the tally sheet. He believed,
nevertheless, that the town Of Belletonte
would vote for the amendment.
THE WAR GOVERNOR.
Ex-Governor Curtin, still hale and hearty,
was found at his home on Main street. His
rugged face and robust form, although re-
calling a weather-beaten mariner, at the
same time saucily invite another decade or
two of years to give him chance to show
which is the strongest.
TIE Governor was non-committal. When
/ asked him how be thought Center
county would vote he replied that
he did not participate in local
politics and hadn't the slightest idea of
even Belletonte's position on the issue.
When inquired about his views of the
contest in the State at large, he declared
that he was SO busily engaged in literary
pursuits that he had read but little Of the
nd to
form an intelligent estimate lie believed,
however, from his general knowledge of the
characteristics of Pennsylvania, and Penn
sylvania people, that the election would be
very close and the result exceedingly
doubtful. When suggeaed that his long
experience as Governor and statesman may
have left with him some "reminiscences of
temperance legislation and reform move
ments that would prove interesting at this
time to the public, he could simply recall,
on the spur of the moment,
THE JUG LAW
which he, as Governor, between 1857,
signed, and which was subsequently re-
pealed; the "Buckalew bill'' and the local
option laws of various periods and locali-
ties. The jug law was so called because it
prohibited the sale of liquor in less than
quarts. 1t was found to be impracticable,
SO puDuc oplulon year OF Two 1aVer Oe-
clared.
In the conversation that followed the fact
happened to be mentioned that Allegheny
county had raised S., 900 for the prohibition
cause and the State Prohibition Convention
also raised nearly $1,000 at Harrisburg for
the campaign.
SIN sorry to see money become factor in
this campaign, " said Governor Curtin. "It's
q bad thing in politics. 1t would be better
If all elections, and especially this one in
June on prohibition, could be conducted
without it.
"weIl, but there are legitimate expenses
to be borne" suggested, and then, when
''the old war horse" still dissented, re-
minded him that money was raised by the
thousands at public meetings during war
times, and in the earlier abolition excite
ment.
"Ah, but that was for great and patriot
ic cause" be said. ''It was different
thing The country was then in danger, and
money was actually needed, and it was
right, under those circumstances, for people
to give Of their means. No harm could come
of the use OF the money"
SECRET HISTORY.
The Governor has nearly completed the
manuscript of book on his six years
ofhcial "reminiscences of the war. 1t will
be especially devoted to Pennsylvania
part in the great conflict. Much secret cor