The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1907-04-03
STRENUOUS TIMES
In Lebanon While the Vote
on Local Option Was
Being Cast.

such as have rarely been witnessed
in a Kentucky town, Lebanon yes
terday voted to close the saloons, and
on and after May 1 next, intoxicating
liquors cannot be legally sold here.
The majority in favor of local option
was GO. The campaign and election
have been intensely exciting.
Only few days ago damage suit
for $4,000 was filed by a local minis
ter against a wealthy saloon keeper
for Islander, while last night almost
a score of the most prominet business
men in the city, leaders on the whis-
key side, were placed under arrest for
bribery. Several other arrests follow
ed this morning for bribery, but in
each instance the accused gave bond
and was dismissed.
Probably the most important arrest
of the day was that of eX-Chief of
Police William Vowel. More than 100
negro voters were kept at the opera
house building in precinct No. 4, last
night, and this morning Vowel march
ed them through the streets in squads
of six and eight to the polls.
When Vowel was placed under ar
rest he was relieved of a pistol which
he carried in a grip. None of the
others who performed services similar
to Yowell's and was arrested was
found to have been armed.
AS early as o'clock both sides
were at work. At O'Clock there were
hundreds on the streets, while later.
as the country people arrived in town,
the crowd grew to thousands. They
had come for the most part to lend
whatever assistance was possible to
the temperance cause .e~-.... e..... ...
From one place, Campbellsville, the
delegation was accompanied by
band. Church bells tolled throughout
the day and an all-union prayer meet
ing was held at one Of the churches.
At 8 o'clock a procession of women
and children, almost 1000 strong,
marched through the streets. Each
person carried banner on which was
a plea to the voter to cast his ballot
for local option. There were three
bands in the procession. At each of
the four voting places halts were
made and songs sung. This was
kept up throughout the day.
A choir, composed of the members
of the different church choirs, sang
at the various voting places. Late
in the afternoon, when the result was
made known, pandemonium reigned.
No such demonstration has ever be-
fore been witnessed here.
Four thousand men, women and
children marched through the streets
singing religious songs. The music
of the bands could not be heard for
the voices of the thousands.
Lebanon is the only place In the
central part of the State where whis-
key is now sold and to save it the IL
quor interests made a desperate fight.
It is said on reliable authority that
they had a campaign fund limited on
ly by their needs. The arrest, how
ever, of r. N. Watson, President of
the Kentucky Distillers' Association,
and of many other leadrs on charges
OF bribery caused the whiskey people
TO be exceedingly cautious with their
work at the polls.
An unusual feature of the election
is that in No. 4, the large negro pre-
cinct, which was expected to give the
vets a majority of something like so
or 60, the result was a tie. About
900 votes were polled.
1t was stated that Circuit Judge
Thurman assisted in preparing the
warrants against the whiskey men for
bribery. This was an error. Judge
Thurman was present when the war
rants were drawn, but did not assist
in drawing them.
Tured Hfm0rrhaPeS Of the Lungs,