The Cairo bulletin., 1908-03-30
THOUSAND
ILLINOIS CITIES
WILL VOTE ON PROHIBITION ON
APRIL 7-ANTl-SALoON LEA.
CUE OFFICIAL MAKES STATE
MENT.

Between 1880 and 1000 cities and
towns in Illinois will vote on local op-
ton April 7. The fight will be waged
in ninety of the 102 counties of the
state. Reports from OUT in the state
are that this is the most bitter contest
hundreds of the localities have known
since the civil war.
In twelve COUNTIES there are no con.
tests; in some of these the question
having been disposed of last fall The
twelve which are free from the bitter
fight this spring are Massac, Cass. Ed
wards, Johnson, Menard, Monroe
Perry, Pope, Randolph, Union, Wa
bash and Williamson.
Alonzo E. Wilson chairman of the
Illinois prohibition committee pre-
diets that the majority for prohibition
| In the ninety counties next month
will be 10000, He said that in his
opinion about 5000 saloons would be
voted out in this fight. and predicted
that Illinois would be prohibition
state within five years
Mr.. Wilson's dictated statement of
the situation as he viewed 1t follows:
Illinois is having the hottest fight
in its history against the licensed sa.
loon. From Freeport to Cairo the
battle is on with an intensity rarely
equalled in Illinois politics. The
brewers and saloonXeepers are max,
ing desperate fight TO save their
business, and are spending hundreds
of thousands of dollars in circulating
literature and in some cases are using
speakers to show principally that
prohibition is a failure.
"The temperance people are we'll
organized hopeful and enthusiastic,
and are determined that saloon shall
90. The travelling men down the
state are almost a unit in saying all
but three or four cities will go dry
On April 7, 1900 to 1000 cities and
villages will vote on the question as
to whether their townships shall be
come anti-saloon territory.
Chicago, Ottawa, Peoria and Quincy
are practically the only cities where a
vote will not be taken, and to this list
was added last week East St. Louis
where the temperance people filed
their petition with the city clerk
rather than the board of election COM
missioners, and were knocked off the
ballot. Cairo and a few of the small
cities will vote the third Tuesday In
April as cities. the temperance people
there not being willing to take their
chances in the townships.
Cairo is the only city In the state
that can vote by wards, and this will
be done in November. provided tenn
perance loses out in the spring cleo
tion. Their wards are precincts, the
county not being under township or
ganization
"Golconda will vote again under it's
special charter in June The temper
ance forces lost by FIVE votes in No
vember as precinct
The no license fight covers more
than ninety counties in the state The
most spirited contests are on in
Rockford. Freeport. Elgin. Aurora.
Joliet, bloomington, Springfield. De
catur. Danyille and Alton While the
fight is being conducted by the I'LL
nois Anti-Saloon league, each town
ship has its local option committee
Hundreds of meetings are being
held every night with large crowds in
attendance Among those who arr
canvassing the state are Seaborn
Wright, of Georgia. Governor Hanley. |
of Indiana: Assistant Attorney Gen /
eral c. W Trickett. Of Kansas. and |
John II. Hector. OF Pennsylvania
The present indications are that 4
Rockford. Waukegan. Elgiu Rock |
Island, Galesburg. Bloomington. Dan.
vile and Decatur will go dry. The |
Is very hopeful in Aurora |
Springfield, Alton. Joliet and Moline /
all of the smaller cities /
and towns viii vote out the saloons
by a good majority. / believe that |
after April forty additional counties |
in this state viii be. put out of bust
ness. The majority for prohibition J
in the ninety counties will be nearly
10000. The majority last fall in the |