The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-10-01
PROHI ELECTION
PENSACOLA CONFUSED IN BAT
 TILE OF BALLOTS TODAY.
Looks Like Victory for Vets, Al. though the Battle Will Be . HarG- Fought One-SaIoons
 All Closed.

Pensacola, Fla, Sept. s0.-(Special.) To-day witnessed the close of the strenuous Wet and Dry campaign, which has been waged here for the past thirty days. and which has caused more interest and feeling than any campaign ever known in the history of Escambia County.
 Tomorrow the election occurs, and both the Vets and Drys are prepared to make hard and game struggle. Today both sides held public meetings which were largely attended, and speeches were heard setting forth the good points of each.I The Drys make the claim that no man was ever bene- dted by saloons, and that they are a constant menace to the peace and pros perity of community. The Vets make the claim that whiskey will be drunk in Pensacola no matter whether the county is dry or wet, and that the saloons of Pensacola will this year, should the county go wet, pay for licenses to the city. county and State amounting to almost $100,000, besides furnishing employment to about 250 men with families. paying out large sums for Ice, lights, rent, etc.
 What the outcome will be only to- morrow night will tell, but indications point to a victory for the Vets. The tremendous qualified vote of the city. will more than offset the majority se- secured by the Drys in the nineteen county precincts, according to figures of those close in touch with the situa- tion.
 In. the city there are nearly 5000 votes, while the total country vote Is not more than 1900. Figures show that Precinct No. Is in the city has qualified vote Of 1.010, and this pre- cinct is practically soIidly wet. Out of the entire vote there the Prohibi- tionists. 1t is figured, will secure only about 150 or 200 votes, and this will give the Vets such a lead that it cannot be overcome. In addition, there are Precincts 13 and 14, which are figured in the wet column and which have total vote of nearly 900.
 Precinct 12, also in the city, with & vote of 1900, may give the Drys & small majority, but this Is doubtful If all signs do not fail, the Prohibitionists will lose by a majority estimated at between 800 to 500 votes. If they do lose, it will be the first county in Florida to so Wet in a prohibition election.
 That tomorrow will be a strenuous day with both factions is proven by the preparations which have been made by both the Vets and Drys. All saloons were ordered closed tonight at 6 o'clock, in order that no one could secure any liquor, while the sheriff has sworn in twenty-four special depu- ties for the four city precints and nineteen for the country precincts.s making a total of forty-three special officers for the occasion. The prohi- bitionists will have hundreds of women and children at the various polling places, especially in the city, and it Is intended to make a strong plea to the fathers and sons to vote a Dry ticket and save the little ones, who will gather at the polls and sing temper ance songs. The Vets have prepared for such a demonstration, and for that reason will put every voter possible at the polls. Every hack and convey ance in the city that could be secured has been hired by them to get out their strenG Gth. Not & man will work during the day, all of the labor unions having declared Tuesday a holiday The baymen, lumber handlers, cotton screwmen, longshoremen, carpenters and joiners. brickmasons. and all classes of organized labor have decid- ed to cease work in order to cast their vote. and hundreds of the navy yard employees, who are residents of the city, will either return to Pensacola at noon or else fail to report for work tomorrow morning.