Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-10-06

Quebec, Sept. 3O.-Reports from all
parts of the dominion for and against
prohibition are much larger than ex-
pected. In the cities and towns of On
tario the saloons were closed all day,
but all through the province of Que
bee, the bars did a big business. The
heaviest vote against prohibition was
cast in the province Of Quebec. Here
the French clergy counselled their
people to vote against prohibition on
the ground that prohibitory laws only
make law breakers and that smuggling
and violation of the law would be
greatly increased. Another argument
advanced against prohibition here was
that, with the liquor traffic destroyed,
there would be no way for raising the
$10000,0OO which annually comes to
the dominion from the liquor trade.
The indications early this morning
were that prohibition has been carried
by large majority, but probably not
more than one-half of the registered
vote of the dominion was cast.
Toronto, Sept. 30.-The prohibition
vote in the province of Ontario was
a big surprise. In 1894 a similar
plebesicite was held and a majority
OF $1,000 returned in favor of total
prohibition. From the returns re-
ceived so far there is a small major
ity against prohibition as a result of
Thursdays voting.
Montreal, Sept. 30.-Estimates made
from the scattered returns received
place the majority against prohibition
in this province at $4,000.
Halifax, Sept. 30.-The majority in
Nova Scotia province for prohibition
with the returns not quite complete is
21,526.
Yesterday a remarkable election oc-
Cured throughout Canada. 1t was in
the form of a plebiscite. This plebis-
cite was presented to the voters tC
ascertain their will. 1t provided that
when they went to the polls they
should write Yes" or mo" after the
following questions, which is the pitf
of the plebiscite: Are you in favor
of the passing of an act prohibiting
| the importation, manufacture, anC
sale Of spirits, wine, ale, beer, cider
and all other alcoholic liquors for use
as beyerages?" There have been pro.
vincial plebiscites, before where the
| people of a certain province voted in
| this manner on some question of i'm
portance, but this is the first natiOna
plebiscite in the history of the
dominion. The election returns indi-
cate that prohibition carried in Que
bee and Nova Scotia.
| The temperance people have beer
carrying on for many weeks an active
campaign and much temperance liter.
ature was spread broadcast. The
other side was even more active. L
has about s15,OO0,OO0 invested in the
liquor business in its various branches
Just what will be done with this
property in case prohibition should
prevail is one of the problems which
| is likely to confront the dominion par
lament. 1t is claimed by some thai
| the liquor interests have no redress;
| by others it is maintained that it viii
| be coniscation and that the dominion
| will be compelled to pay the price.
| The amount of liquor manufactured
in the dominion per year is, in round
numbers, of whisky, 100000 gallons;
| of beer and ale, 17,150,000 gallons
with an average yearly importation OF
wines Of 100000 gallons. The average
consumption Of liquor, not including
native wines and cider, is 21,600,00(
gallons. The cost Of the liquor OF
| Canada per year to consumers is $780,
100000. The dominion government
| receives in revenues about 100000:
| the provincial governments 100000;
the municipalities 100000, a total OF
| about $780, 900.
A favorable vote on the plebiscit:
does not create prohibitory Law
/ but it is demand from the
/ people that the premier bring such q
measure before the dominion parlia-
ment and insist upon it's passage
At present very much the same con-
ditions prevail in Canada as in por,