Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-16

Whole number polled. p OS4 6,966 6l9 544
This shows that 60 per cent of the work
ingmen polled are against prohibition, 20
per cent are for the amendment, 6 per cent
are doubtful, and per cent will not vote at
all. If this ratio were to hold good on elec-
ton day, and 100, 900 votes are polled in this
city, the majority against the amendment
lists the benefit of all the doubtful voters and
those who say they will stay at home, the
majority would still be 38, 900 out of loo, 900
votes. There were
SOME STRIKING FEATURES
in connection, with the canvass. Perhaps
the most striking of all was the remarkable
unanimity with which foreign-born citizens
announced their opposition to prohibition.
1t was the exception to find a man who had
come from q foreign country favor the
amendment. Perhaps 1000 of the 10,0 900
men polled are naturalized citizens, and not
more than 40 of the 1000 said they would
vote for prohibition. Another singular fea-
ture was the great number of temperance
men, or rather teetotalers, who asserted that
they did not believe in prohibition and
would not, therefore, vote for the amend
ment.
81 don't drink a drop mysel-never did;
yet don't believe in prohibition" is an
expression that the reporters who made the
canvass heard very often during the week.
These men say they do not think prohibi-
tion will prohibit, and if the amendment
were adopted they
THINK MATTERS WOULD BE WORSE
than at present. They also hold that it
would be interfering with the liberties Of
their fellow-men to deprive them of their
drink. That is how the teetotalers in the
mills and factories look at the question, On
the other hand. there were a great many
men who make a practice of drink
ing some who neglect their work on
account of drink, who asserted that they in
tended to vote for prohibition as the easiest
way of putting temptation out of their way.
The great majority Of those for and of those
against the amendment are, however, men
who are sincerely for prohibition and men
who like to take drink when they feel
like it. In going through the rolling mills
and dye works it was noticeable fact that
the men who worked close to fires and over
steaming vats are solidly against prohibi-
ton. ANY man who works as we do needs
little stimulant now and then," was a
common expression. The men who favored
prohibition about these places, as rule,
were machinists or carpenters
ESTIMATES CAREFULLY MADE.
In order to make this poll as valuable as
possible the leading business places in the
city were selected. The proprietors of sew
eral large establishments said their rules
would not permit a poll of the employees
during working hours. They said
stranger going through the works was
sure to create confusion, and they had
cast-iron rule that no one should do this
for any purpose. Among the firms who
have this rule ere Thomas Dolan & Co.,
Allison Manufacturing Company, Baldwin
Locomotive Works, William Sellers Com
pany. James & George Bromley, Harrison,
Frazier & Co., Powers & Weightman,
Quaker City Dye Works, Isaac Sheppard
& Son and James Kitchenman.
Several of the proprietors made their
own canvasses, and in one or two instances
estimates were made by the superintendent.
The poll of John T. Bayley & Co.'s works
was made by the superintendent of the
works, while John B. Stetson's superintend-
ent made the estimate for his works.
SIMPSON.