The Press., 1893-05-11

The excitement was intense. The contest had been a long and fierce one. |. The liquor men had confidently pre- dicted victory of two to one for license The liquor league had never been so thoroughly organized, and it was well known that an unlimited amount of mon- ey had been at it's command.
 It had carried on vigorous war of falsehood and intimidation. Business men had been coerced into silence or open advocacy of license.
 The day of battle had arrived.
 "License or no-license," was the ques- tion.
 Bands of children paraded the streets, singing gospel songs. Women were at work at the polls, pleading with the voters 10 vote for no-license.
 Mothers entreated for the sake of their wayward boys. '..' .-'. -s-
 Wives implored for the sake of dese- late homes and starving children. Daughters labored for the sake of once
  | A little after the noon hour a great crowd was gathered around the polling place.
 The manager of the liquor forces was heard to say:
 | Boys, we're all right. There ain't enough temperance people in this whole town to defeat us now. We have the stuff, an money goes; see? Prayins an preachn' is all right in church, but when it comes to votin', it's business. See that fellow over there? We'll, he is big gun down in that there church, but to-day he voted for license. Why? Business, oi course. The business men of this town dare not oppose us, fer they know that we'd turn on the screws, see ?''
 The speech was received with mani festatfons of approval by those who heard it, for they we'll knew that "license' victory meant an open bar and free beel for some days to come.
 Just at this point two little children, { boy and girl, were crowding their way uI to the voting booth.
 The boy was about nine years old, bare footed, and with ragged clothes. The lit tie girl was about six years old, thinl, clad, with little toes peeping out througl well-worn shoes. The boy had firn hold of the little girls hand, and the, seemed determined to reach the votin, booth ... ... As they consistently pushed their wa. 5 through the crowd, a great, big listed , rough looking fellow called out in a rasp ing voice: : "What do you want?''
 "We want to vote," firmly answere , the boy. ','" "Oh, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha-a-a-h! He boys, see here; here's two kids that want !, to vote Oh, has ha, ha, ha, hah!" ".Who are they? Put them on tha box" shouted voice. .c Instantly the two children were lite : on to the box so that they were in fu view of the crowd.
 "What do you want to vote for, youn 3 uns?" asked the big listed fellow.
 I've want to vote to close the drum shops" said the little girl ''Mamm said if there was more votes for local :. local l-local-"
 "Option," added the boy. <
 "Yes, local option, the drunk ;shor d would be shut up and papa would not gt e drunk any more, an never whip namm d an me an Jack, but bring all hissmone ' home, an we would get lots of ne If clothes.'' r: >, :is.rs n "And," added the little fellow, "we have new things in the house; carpets al r chairs an dishes an rocking horse, a 8 would get newsuit of clothes ah' .sho'
 an lots of things, so's I could go
 schoGl."
 :; Yes" broke in the, little girl, Ia mamma said if there was no7drunk shop
 Santa Claus would come to our hou.
 and bring Jack books and toys, and me
 big doll, like the saloon mans little gi
 hasn' And the bright eyes of the lit g tot fairly sparkled as she drew the pi 2 ture:
 "And, 7 she continued, .'me an Jat come here to vote. Can we ?" Eg '. Ess, Whats the matter with the crowt {, of Why so many handkerchiefs out so SUI od denly, and why the snuffiing and eoughil n) IS and wiping of eyes? The big-fisted fellc 'le is actually eryingi Great big tears a
 coursng down his cheeks!