The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-31
WILL IT Be LOST?
Prohibition Hanging In the Balance
in Manitoba.
TEMPERANCE MEN INTEMPERANT
Quarrel Among Themselves While
Dealers Are United-''Ra
COnnOr" Threatened.
Special to The Journal

special TO Inc journal.
Winnipeg. Man. March 81. - On
Wednesday next the adult male popula-
ton Of Manitoba who are British subjects
will have an opportunity of deciding
whether or not Manitoba is to have pro-
hibition. It Is asserted by the temper
ance advocates of the province that IS per
cent Of the Manitobans are favorable to
the new act This may be and probably
is, an exaggeration. But even il it is
true, when the influences against the.
bringing out of the temperance vote are
considered, it is very questionable II the
result will be in favor of the enforce
ment Of the law. --. .
In the first place, the temperance ranks
are hopelessly split. The Dominion AL
lance says: Don't vote; we cant. trust
the government to enforce the act prop
erly, as it is not In sympathy with It,
while the prohibition league says vote.
and If this government does not carry
the act into effect as it should, then We'll
change the government
How bitterly these bodies are opposed
| to each other, was shown at the conven-
ton of the Prohibition league last week,
which was called with the object of COM
ing to an amicable settlement OF some
kind. From 4:30 p. N. to I a. N. the 100
so leaders of the two bodies sat and
| listened to Incorporate, angry speeches
and witnessed scenes which have scarcely
Deeu eQudleu III Tie uOLIeol pcllllCdl CdA-
pa1gns.
Rev. C. w. Gordon, the noted novelist,
better known under his pen name as
Ralph Connor,' author of THE Man
| from Glengarry,' THE Sky Pilot" ETC..
is one Of the most prominent alliance
leaders. He is good speaker and quick
in repartee. He so reused some OF the
hot-blooded Prohibition league delegates
that they threatened time and again to
| put him out Put him QUIT" shouted
one stalWart farmer delegate, 'Td kick
him out the traltor.'' His threat was re-
peated several times until Gordon going
to the platform amidst shouts OF derision
mingled with applause for some time, was
finally given an opportunity to speak.
He told the man who was threatening him
that this kicking OUT would prove an
unpleasant business, and this quoted the
| farmer down for time.
AS the meeting continued it gained only
| in heat until many of the lady delegates
were scared away and glad to get out.
( After alliance minister had spoken
another man from his district, following
| him in an address, told him that If he
would look after his soul-saving business
| instead Of running around after his fads,
! it would be better for his district. This
nettled all the ministers and was of
the sensations Of the evening; the bowls
and shouts could be heard a mile away.
I mutual agreement, that both sides should
| withdraw from the fight and allow the
| temperance vote to go as it pleased,
! without advice from either side, save
| from personal influence or by the medium
! of advertising. But the gathering showed
a disunted prohibition party facing what
| would appear to be insurmountable diff
! CultieS.
Perhaps the greatest influence against
! the bringing out Of the vote will be the
! fact that the country Is flooded with
| spring freshets and the roads, as a rule,
are impossible. This should greatly favor
! the liquor party, for wherever the roads
! are good, in the cities and towns, the
vote will probably prove much mora
! favorable to the nonenforcement OF the
! act than in the rural districts, where it is
y said the vote will be practically unanim-
| Gus for prohibition.
While the temperance people are quar-
| reling and Incorporate, the liquor dealers
! are working tremendously and in most
! temperate spirit. Their organization is
| excellent and their central committee
| rooms here give the appearance of a bee
hive. The Catholic church has pro-
! nounced itself opposed to prohibition, and
| the silence Of the leaders of the English
| church would show that its leaders, with
| one or two exceptions, are also opposed
| to it.
| The vote to be polled will no doubt. be
| very large in the cities and towns. It is
| said that in Winnipeg there are $4,000
| qualified voters. 1t is not necessary that
! a man should be on the voters lists to
| register his vote. All that is necessary is
| that he shall be a British subject over
Il years OF age, supporting himself by his
own efforts in this country, and that he
| has been a resident in the province for
! one year.