Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-28
rraom OUR SPECIAL COMMISSIONED J


NoRRIsTowN, February N.-Of the five
counties in Pennsylvania which gave the
largest msjorities against local option In
1873, Montgomery was one. And there
seems to be every indication now thatshe will
be one of the five next June to give the
hardest kicks at the Constitutional amend
ment. 1t is true that the Prohibitionists are
doing some brave work, but their efforts are
directed toward reducing the majority
against them, for they have no hope of win,
ming the whole county to their side. Nor
ristown is beehive of industry, and it was
here where Lees & Co. were recently
charged with importing foreign labor. The
wooden and cotton manufacturing interests
are extremely large, but, on the whole, they
are operated by domestic laborers. In other
parts Of the county iron manufactures fur
nish rougher class of workmen, the ma
jority of whom are expected to vote against
the amendment.
Representative Taggart, of Montgomery,
told me that the county would surely give
majority of from 900 to 5000 against pro-
hibition. There are many of the Pennsyl-
vania Germans in the agricultural region,
and they are opposed to the law.
A BATTLE GROUND.
Besides that the county lies between Phil
adelphia and Berks county, both of which
are expected to do tremendous battle for
liquor That they would have an influence
on Montgomery with the important line of
railroad extending clear through its terri
tory, is altogether natural to suppose. And
as Montgomery's majority against local
option 15 years ago was 4,206, Mr.. Taggart
thinks he has ample grounds for his present
prediction. On the other hand, the temper
ance workers contradict the gentleman. and
aver that the majority may be kept down to
about 1,500 or 800. The whole county has
a population Of 120, 900, which means very
considerable increase since the last census,
and since the previous vote on the license
question.
There seems to be a decided change of
sentiment in the county of Bucks, and it is
for the abolition of the liquor traffic. But
it is doubtful whether it has gained suf-
ficiently to win the day there in June.
When local option was voted upon this
county gave 3,2S5 for license. was sur
prised when one of her principal poll
ticians told me that this big majority will
be found to have melted into insignifcance.
He explained that the northern section of
the county is populated by the old Pennsyl-
Quakers 1t would be naturally supposed
that the Quakers would offset the influence
of the Dutch in this contest, but with the
part the Quakers are going to take they will
also have the sympathy and aid of large
percentage of the Germans teo.
THE LUTHERAN VOTE.
The Lutherans appear to be heart and
soul in the movement. Hev. Mr.. Melchoir,
of Bucks, is preaching and speaking in
favor of the amendment. He is one of the
leaders of the Lutherans, and it cannot be
denied that that denomination, in this
county, at least, is doing a powerful work
for the cause. On the other hand the
Menonites are stubbornly opposed to it IN
Bucks. 1t will, therefore, be seen that
peculiar causes are operating in this county.
The largest towns there are Doylestown and
Bristol.
In Delaware county is one large town
which will have much to do with the
election next summer 1t is Chester with
population of close upon 10000. The other
important centers of population in little
Delaware are Media, Middletown and
Clifton. While there may be majority in
these places against the amendment the
probabilities are that the Quaker contingent
in the country districts will offset it.
Senator Cooper recently said that he be-
lieved the county, which is his home, would
give from 500 to ], 900 majority for the issue.
This opinion is Endorsed by j. M. Rogers,
Chairman of the Republican County Com
mittee, although the Chairman of the Dem
ocratic County Committee, j. L. Garrett, is
reported to have said that he believed Della
wares majority would be that much the
other way. He did not think the rural vote
of the Quskers would be strong enough to
counterbalance the city vote OF Chester
Chester is q manufacturing seat
WITH THE NORTHERN TIER.
In writing up the situation along the
northern tier The DISPATCH almost over
looked Mexican county. Since then have
learned that there does not seem to be much
doubt about which way that county will
vote. There is only one element of doubt,
and that is the large increase in population
in the last 10 years. When the license ques- !