The Columbus weekly dispatch., 1908-04-16
The Result in Illinois.

/ ton elections held BY l,ZUO IoWn-
ships in 81 counties of Illinois out
side of the city of Chicago today, 20
counties become absolutely anti-sa-
loon territoy and approximately 1900
or about one-half of the total num-
Der of saloons in that territory We're
voted out of business Most Of the
larger cities of the State, however,
voted in favor of licensing saloons.
The larger cities voting in favor
of the saloons are:
Springfield, Freeport, Aurora, Ell
gin, Sterling, Kankakee, Lincoln,
Monmouth, Bloomington, Danville,
Joliet, Murphreysboro and Rock Isl
and.
Those voting to abolish the saloon
were:
Rockford, Decatur, Dixon, Hopes
town, Georgetown, Pontiac, Shelby
vile, Carbondale and Champaign.
The following counties are now alb
solutely anti-saloon territory, so Gre
ated by the voters today, and are in
addition to the six which voted last
November to abolish license:
Boone, Moultry, Fayette, Hamil-
ton, Edgar, Clark, Brown, Saline, Gal
latin, Douglas, Macon, Cumberland,
Platt, Shelby, Coles, White, Wayne
and Rfchland.
One of the most surprising ele-
ments gained from the returns to-
night is that even many of the small
mining towns voted against the sa-
loon. The population of these towns
is composed to a large extent of for
eign elements and of business inter
ests dependent upon them, and the
liduor interests had taken their atti-
tude as favorable to the saloon for
granted.
1t was a spectacular fight and the
close today was equally picturesque.
The campaign was filled with the
unique incidents which characterized
the recent similar campaigns in Ala
bama and Mississippi. For months
the anti-saloon forces have been at
work and the liquor interests have
been equally energetic and more Law
ish in the expenditure of money for
the campaign.
Throughout the State the Anti-Sa-
loon League managed the struggle,
ably seconded by the WOman's Chris
tian Temperance Union and the pro-
hibition forces Against them the
liquor interests worked under the flag
of the United Societies. Prominent
women lecturers, ministers of the
gospel and even the governors of
some States were imported to bring
the battle into the liquor stronghold.
They lectured and they prayed; they
held revivals and social gatherings
and under the practical management
of the Anti-SaIoon League the meth
ods of practical politics were not neg
lected.
But the liquor men met them on
their own ground and not a few cler-
gymen, not a few prominent lectur-
-ers, women among them, stumped the
State arguing that the State could
not legislate the individual into NOR
ality.
in the 1, JAP towns of the State where
local option was an issue and last
night the liquor interests were con-
fident of more than holding theip
own Tonight the prohibition forces
are jubilant and there are prayers of
thanksgiving throughout the State,
while the saloon interests must con-
tent themselves with having kept
most of the larger cities OF the State
open.
Interest was at fever pitch through
out the State all day. Polling places
took on the aspect of church fairs,
typical church "sociab1es'' and Saliva
ton Army street gatherings. Women
congregated near the polling places
in every town and city where the
fight was on, buttonholed voters and
campaigned with all the eagerness
and energy of the ward politician.
Stands We're set up on corners near
by and coffee and sandwiches were
served to all comers. Prayer meet /
ings were held in the churches and
even on street corners near the polls. /