The Washington times., 1903-04-26
IS COLONIAL BEACH
TO BE WET OR Dry?
Great Question to Be Decid-
ed Next Tuesday.
A FIGHT FOR LOCAL OPTION
Contingent of Washington Liquor Deal
ers and Summer Residents Going
to Help the License Men.

Whether OF not the visitors 10 Col
onial Beach are to tippIe as they please
this summer is to be decided at the
election which is to be held at the
resort Tuesday The owners of the
big hotels and the others places at
which Siquor is sold are going to make
the fight of their lives to have things
as they we're last year. The temper
ance people of Westmoreland county
will oppose them, and a vote on local
option is to decide the matter.
A number OF voters who live il Wash
ington in the winter, and their friends,
are. to go TO Colonial Beach tomorrow
TO take part in the struggle. The trip
is 10 be made on the steamer Randall,
and the joviaI captain of that name
has prepared a feast of planked shad
and similar things likely to draw a
large attendance on the trip
Local Option Contest.
The local option question has been
causing trouble in the county for more
than d year, and IL is said the villages
of Warsaw. Wakefield, the birthplace
of Washington; Montrose, the county
seat. and Oakgrove will all 90 against
the liquor men
Having won IN these places the tenn
perance Alexanders looked for new
worlds 10 conquer, and decided to save
the souls of the benighted. denizens of
the big city up the Potomac, who 90
7ou-u IN tho baacF in +l,a er,r,,ry,-y -5-,,s
big majority for the bathing-not such
q small minority for the booze and
some more for both.
The temperance party Immediately
began a campaign. which they have car
ried en- with a zeal disturbing TO the ho-
telkeepers and liquor men. The latter.
seeing that fight would be inevitable.
prepared for it. The brewers and liquor
dealers of Washington busted themselves
and a large ard WelI-devel0ped fund was
subscribed by them for the war chest. =
The treasure was turned over 10 a
committee composed Of Col. George
Letter. Major John Martin. Louis Hartig
(whose military title could not be
learned last night, and George Murphy
J. J. Gould, and Theodore CaIIitzer. who
are evidently privates in the commits
sary department. The committee with
the war chest will figure largely in the
proceedings Tuesday.
Hotel Men Worried.
In the meantime the owners Of the
big hotels. cafes. plain saloons. and
other places in which liquor is sold are
worried. The cafes are features Of The
Colonial. WaIcott, Alvin, Washington
and the smaller hotels. and some say
that in the paTching weather OF summer
they are necessary 10 suffering huInanf-
ty. Those who know say highballs al
summer resorts prevent low fever
Then. TOO, experts say some kinds OF
liquor (wine coming under that head
mix very well with bathing suits Of
both genders and the soft moonlight OF
the sands.
a large party Of the friends of the
liquor men has been at Colonial Beach
for a couple OF weeks doing yeoman's
work. They are in charge of Col James
Graham. L. E. Robey has charge OF
matters in the city, and he VIII guard
the destinies OF the party going dow1
the river tomorrow Said he last night.
The license question is a grave one
The saloons are necessary 10 the sue
cess Of the seasons at the beach Il is
safe 10 say many of the visitors would
not know the place If it is turned into
3 temperance town. We hope, however
10 win the contest.
City Fathers in Council.
The mayor and town council OF Col
oniaI Beach held an extended session
yesterday to devise means to increase
the revenue Of the place. The expen-
ditures are exceeding the towns in
come. The fees for all licenses wer,
doubled, except those Of the liquor men
and action on these was postponed un-
til after the election. It was decided
however. 10 increase. these from $50 t.
So, It the town remains wet" IN,
mayor. despite the fears of the liquor
men. says he is certain the town vii
not have 10 do without its bars II
was also decided at the meeting to grant
no more licenses 10 new applicants