Willmar tribune., 1900-03-21
7lasI,l. II
A PAIR ttDs.

The exitement waaintense.
The contest had BEEN a long and
fierce one.,
| The liquor men hAd confidently pre-
dicted a victory of tNo to one for eli
cepse''
The liquor league had never been so
thoroughly organized, and it was we'll
known that an unlimited amo unit of
money had been at is command.
It had carried on vigorous war of
faleshood 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
question. =x ~.
streets, singing gospel songs. Wom-
en- were at work at the polls, pleading
with the voters to vote for no-license.
Mothers entreated.fot the sake of
their wayward boys
Wives implored Tor" the sake of
desolate homes and starving children.
Daughters labored for the sake of
once loving, but now cruel fathers.
A little after, the noon hour a great
crowd was gathered around the pol
ling place.
The manager Of The liquor forces
was heard to say:
"Boys we're all right. There amt
enough temperance people in this
whole town to defeat US now. We
have the stuff, an money goes; see?
Prayin' an preachin' is all right IN
church, but when it comes to votin',
it's business. See that fellow over
there? Well, he is 9. big gun down in
that there church; but to-day he voted
for license. Whyg Business, of
course. The business men in this
town dare notopposeFus, for they know
that we'd turn on theSscrews; see?"
The speech was received with mani
festations OF approval by those who
heard it, for they we'll knew that
''license" victory meant an open bar
and free beer for some days to come.
Just at this point two little children,
a boy and a girl: were crowding their
way up to the voting booth.
The boy was about 9 years old,
barefooted, and with ragged clothes.
The little girl was about six years
old. thinly clad, with little toes peep
ing out of well-worn shoes. The boy
had d firm hold of%the girls hand,
and they seemed det4panined to reach
the voting g.
sthey persistsntl f,1slhea their.way:
through the crowd, atgreat, big-6sted,
rough looking fellow called out in
rasping voice:
"What do you want?'
"We want to vote," firmly answered
the boy.
'Oh, ha, ha, la, ha, ha ha-a-a-h!
Ho, boys, see here; here's two kids
that wants to vote! Oh, ha, ha, ha,
ha, hah!'
"Who are they? Put them on that
box," shouted voice.
Instantly the two children were lifted
on the box so that they were in full
view of the crowd.
"What do you want to vote for,
young uns?" asked the big-fsted fel-
low.
eve want to vote to close the drunk
Shops" said the little girl. "Mamma
said if there was more votes for local
-local-local-"
''Option," added the boy.
eyes, local option, the drunk shops
would be shut up and papa would not
get drunk any more, an never whip
mamma an me an Jack, but bring
all his money home, an we would get
lots OF new Clothes"
"And," added the little fellow, s'we'd
haye new things in the house: carpets
an chairs an dishes an a rocking
horse an | would get new suit of
clothes an shoes an lots of things,
SOS [ could go to school,"
eyes," broke in the little girl, tan
mamma said if there was no drunk
shops, Santa Claus would come to our
house and bring Jack books and toys,
and me big doll like the saloon
man $ little girl has," And the bright
eyes of the little tot fairly sparkled as
she drew the picture.
"And," she continued, ''me and
Jack come here to vote. Can we?
What's the matter with the crowd?
Why so many handkerchiefs out so
suddenly, and why the snuffling and
coughing and wiping of eyes? The
big fellow is actually crying! Great
big tears are coursing down his cheeks.
Jerusalem, boys" said he, "l'm
going to vote for the boy; who'll vote
for the girl?
From scores of throats came the
prompt reply, Il will.''
"Well, then, get in line here, and
We'll vote out the drunk shops yet
These kids are going to vote a good
many times today"
How quickly "the boys" got in line.
The news of the sudden change spread
through the town like wildfre
sy-going and faint.hearted tenn
perapce and Christian men, whose cry
Of ''You can't do it, had discouraged
many worker, fully expected a liquor