The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-11-29
WILL NECESSARY GOT
SIGNATURES Be SECURED?
Possibility of Dry Third Ward Raises
Question of Probability of Dry City
Mayor and Aldermen Point Out
the Dangers That Lurk in Prohi.
bition's Wake.

Can the anti-saloon league which is
now working hard in the third ward
OF Hammond secure the signatures Of
col legal voters in accordance with
the local option law for a petition in
remonstrance against the saloons of
the third ward? The question has sud
denly become a 1--we and an active
campaign is on foot in the entire
ward, the anti-saloonists working
quietly, making a house to house can
vass with cards while the other side
is working openly The sale. nkeepers
of course are the ones mainly affected
and they are putting up the hardest
fight which, however, has not yet been
carried on long as that of the anti
vets. The anti saloon league is guard
ing the number of signatures very
closely and opinion is devided as to
whether they can win or not In order
to make the petition effective next
month it would have to be filed with
the county auditor today as it must be
| fled three days prior to the time when
| the county commissioners go into ses-
sion. The, co2ssaissioners go into session
next Monday but up4t late this after
noon the petition had not been filed. All
that is required under the local option
law is that more than half the num-
ber of signatures be secured of the
voters who voted in the last regular
election. In the event that enough
natures have been secured the district
ir question must remain dry for two
years.
City VIII Follow Suit.
1t is admitted on all sides that once
the third ward of Hammond is dry, the
balance of the city will soon follow.
/ There are IS saloons in it. The third
ward boundary is the east side of Hoh-
man street, the south side of State
street, the east city limits and the south
city limits OF this territory, that lying
south of Carroll street. between the
state line and Columbia avenue and
Merrill avenue. with the exception of
Fricke's saloon, corner Merrill avenue
and Holman street is already dry hav-
ing been made so during Fred Motifs
administration.
The Saloonkeepers' association will
hold an open meeting next Monday
afternoon to elect officers and at this
time it is expected that the matter will
come up for thorough discussion. The
most active campaigners against the
saloons are said to be the Rev c. J.
Sharp of the Christian church. and
Henry Zoll of the Methodist church.
A number of saIoonkeepers are open
ly charging that the anti-saloon work
ers are taking advantage of the law
/ to hoodwink the voter by sending him
a card which he signs thinking that he
is voting against a few saloons in the
ward when in fact he is voting to keep
out every one and at the same time
giving power of attorney to one or the
other of the leaders to vote for him
Means Less of $4,000 Annually
should the saloons be closed II
means a financial loss of $4,000 an
nually to the city" said Mayor Becker
today and councilman Pascaly went
even further saying The revenue of the
third ward alone has maintained our
lpolice force. To cut off this revenue
means that the police force has to be
cut down. Four more have been prom
ised the people of Hammond but il
Hooks very much as though the force
will have to he cut down instead OF
enlarged. Anti-wets anyhow, are cry
ing that with less saloons we viii neet
less police. so Hammond viii have tC
take the consequences"
This does not mean a fight in tbs
third ward alone" said H. Green, pres
ident of the saloonkeepers association
1T means that eventually the whole
city viii be effected. if Hammond for
gets where the school revenue is com
: ing from and where the raise for TIL
school teachers should come from, It cal
soon find out by inquiring from
! the city and county treasurer"
With the saloons wiped out in Ham
mond il would look as though tn
working man without a family vii
draw his money on a Saturday and re
turn on Monday morning with a goo
part OF it spent