Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-23
rrRoM OUR SPECIAL COMMISSIONER ]

rFRoM OUR SPECIAL COMMISSIONED
LEwISBURG, February 22.-From this
town the Prohibitionists took their last can
didate for Governor, Charles S. Wolfe. OF
course Mr.. Wolfe will vote for the amend
meut, but from his friends learn that he
will take no prominent part in the cam
paign. 1t would not do. For the famous
revolt be led against the Republican party
some years ago he still incurs the hatred of
that party, and because he was afterward the
standard-be bearer of the third party non-parti-
san temperance people would now be afraid
of public assurances of friendship from him.
Mr.. Wolfe knows all this full we'll, and be-
sides that winter OF ill-heaIth, and an
accumulation OF legal business upon his
desk, would prevent him from becoming
one OF the managers of this fight, even if he
desired to. 1t was for the last two reasons
that he did notattend the big Constitutional
Amendment Convention in Harrisburg this
week, although he had to accept an invita-
tion six days before to address the Baptist
ministers OF Philadelphia on the impracti-
cability of high license laws, and in that
speech he distinctly outlined his position as
upon the side OF the new movement. He
was not at home when l arrived here.
A DRY LITTLE COUNTY.
Although a small territory, and with but
6 small vote, Union county will add con-
siderable mite to the temperance majorities
as they touch the line OF battle-the Sus-
ouehanna river-in June. In 1873 she
adopted local option by 23s majority with
only total vote of $500. Now she will
give probably 500 majority for the amend
nent. The educational and refining infiu-
ences common with all college towns are
noticeable in Lewisburg; the county seat,
where the Blackwell University has $50 stu
dents of both sexes. Many Baptist preach
ers, Charles S. Wolfe, j. Simpson Africa,
and other well-known politicians, are men,
bers OF the universitv's alumni. OF the
prospects in the county John Cornelius,
editor of the Lewisburg Chronicle said to
me:
Union county will do handsomely for the
amendment. We will give ii d larger majority
than we did for local option, because the popu-
laJion has increased since then, and there has
been constant agitation of temperance sub
1ects since then. We will probably double the
majority of 1873. There are hut comparatively
Z
an agricultural people, although considera-
BILE business IS done in the production of prop
lumber, that's tmbers propping purposes in
coal mines. The farmers and the college intiu-
ences will give Union county over to cold
water. Our Prohibitionists are every active.
having already held an enthusiastic public
meeting
SNYDER is FOR BEER.
Howard Miller, formerly Supervisor of
the Census in Westmoreland county, is now
q resident OF Union county. He is working
in the cause of the amendment with whole
heart and soul. and what makes his work
notable is the fact that he is a Dunkard.
Between LeWisburg and Huntingdon there
are great many Dunkard families, and
among these Mr.. Miller is said to be doing
active missionary work lor the amendment.
Snyder county, which adjoins Union on
the south, will probably vote against tine
amendment. Its agricultural regions are
Populated by the old-fashioned Pennsyl-
Eania Dutch, allied with the newer arrivals
OF Germans, and beer is regarded by them
as one of the necessities of life With that
belief they regard this as sumptuary law,
and already a strong feeling of opposition is
apparent among them. The county is
Democratic in politics. Selin's Grove and
Middleburg are its largest towns. In 1873,
with total vote of only 26G0, she gave a
option, and that overwhelming sentiment
in favor Of license has not been absorbed
very much by the increased population since
then.
IN JUNIATA COUNTY.
1t was only 91O at night when I got off
the train at Mitflintown, the county seat of
Juniata county, but it was at the very best
hour to get an illustration of how prohibit
ton works in some sections. No bus met the
train, nor was there single hotel porter on
hand to take charge Of the grip of the be-
lated traveller. After ten minutes walk from
the depot you can imagine you are in the |
center Of the town. 1t is easier to imagine |
than be positive of the fact, because the |
streets are dark as Egynt no lights appear
anywhere, stores are all closed tight and 1
every dwelling house appears to be asleep. |
Even the hotel proprietor yawns and rubs !
his eyes to see stranger arrive at that hour |
The next morning when daylight enabled |
me to make sure that 1 really was in Mif- |
hintown, and that it was not deserted viii !
lage, l heard this explanation from E. 3. |
McCrum, the Justice Of the Peace:
We have Just three licenses in the whole |
county, and none in Mifflintown. wear or |
two ago, when we had bars here, the noun |
taineers from across the valley would come /
into town. tie their teams to the public hitch-
until midnight. Vow you seldom see buggy |
or wagon hiUehed on our streets later than S 4
O'Clock at night and by o'clock the town is
practically in bed.
This county gave 779 majority for local option
tn 1873 Then our total vote was $500 and
about 6OO people did not vote at all Now we
have total vote of 800 Enthusiasm will
run high between this and June, and do not
anticipate that more than 200 voters will STAY
Al nome on election day, and they will be oppo-
neats OF the amendment Liquor men them
selves do not expect to find more than 50 votes
against the amendment in every voting district
which would aggregate 300 So. subtract 900
from possible 2,j00 votes and you have my
estimate OF the majority for prohibition in J1-
niata county.
MIFFLN COUNTY. TOO.
Lying alongside of Juniata on the west
is Miffiin county. 1t gave a majority of
nearly 900 Tor local option 10 wears ago, and