Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-12-23
PUSH The FIGHT
Anti-SaIoon League Prepared
for Active War in Eighty
Counties in the State.
OPTION QUESTION UP APRIL 7
Organization Keeps Away from the
Larger Cities, Reserving Them
for a Later Effort.

Springfield, ILL.,, Dec. 23.-Voters in
at least so Illinois counties will ex-
press their sentiments on the saloon
question under the provisions of the
local option law at the election of
April I, 1908.
Reports received at the headquar-
ters of the Illinois Anti-Saloon League
in this city indicate that IN nearly
every county in the state, except those
which are already anti-saloon territory.
a vote will be taken on the question
of liquor
These reports show that most of the
work done thus far by representatives
of the league has been confined to the
country precincts and smaller villages
and towns.
The matter of submitting the anti
saloon proposition in the larger cities
has not been decided and will not be
for at least a fortnight.
Round Up of State Begins.
Ernest A. Scrogin, superintendent of
the Springfield district, attorney for
the state league, and the one to whom
most credit is due for the passage of
the local option bill in Illinois, will
tour the state within two weeks and
visit headquarters of the anti-saloon
league in the different districts.
The object of the trip is to ascertain
what work representatives of the
league have accomplished and how
much remains to be done before the
spring election. Mr.. Scrogin's round
up" will also have an effect in deter.
| mining whether ''the battle of the bot
| tie will be waged in the larger cities
of the state.
Galesburg Largest City.
| At present Galesburg is the largest
city in Illinois that is certain to vote
on the saloon question under the pro-
visions of the local option law next
spring.
Some work towards submitting the
anti-saloon proposition has been done
in Decatur, Bloomington, Quincy and
| Danville. but whether the matter will
come to test is as yet undecided
1t is more than probable that saloon.
| will be made the issue in the frs
three cities, if present plans material
iZe
Lincoln saloons Doomed.
One of the largest places where i
is almost sure the anti-saloon adher
ents will win at the coming election
is at Lincoln, the county seat of Logar
county.
Lincoln has 2S saloons and for some
time past has been wide open town
in East Lincoln township, which i:
populated by strong anti-saloon ele
ment.
A large part of the town lies il
West Lincoln township. where saloon
are prohibited by city ordinance, max
ing it possible for the anti-saloonist
of the east township to wipe the liquo
dealers out of the city altogether.
Peoria is probably the only larg
city in the state where it is certain
the auti-saloon issue will not be sui
mitted next spring. At a recent NEE
ing in the Whisky City" members c
the league decided to abandon a
plans for fight in that city indef
nitely.
Where Vote VIII be Taken.
Among the smaller municipalities
which an anti-saloOn vote will be ha
next spring are Havana, Mason Cit.
Delavan, Lexington, Chenoa. Taylo
vile, Shelbyville, VandaIia, Hillsbor
Mount Sterling, Rushville, Pittsfiel
Griggsville. Barry, Jerseyville, Roo
house, Whitehall, Carrollton, Gree
field, Auburn, Virden Carlinville, ar
Divernon.
FL In all these places petitions ha,
RI been circulated, committees name
W funds raised, and plans of organizatit
81 perfected preparatory to the battle
W tho polls.
Ssh Reports received from the superb
IN tendents of the Peoria, Chicago al
W Champaign districts at the. headqua
lN ters of the Anti-Saloon league in tn
81 city indicate that the work of the {
W ganization i'm at least part of each
NJ the counties has been accomplished.
W The Chicago district comprises Coz
M and neighboring counties, the Peor
W district is composed of counties lyil
N in the east central part of Illinois.
VI