The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-04-08
Larger Cities Voted to Remain
Wet. But the Smaller Towns
Voted for Adjustment of
The Saloon.
WOMEN PLAYED IMPORT
ANT PART IN CAMPAIGN.
ButtonhoIed Voters. and Held
Prayer Meetings on Street
Corners for the Success of
Temperance.

Chicago. April S.-After one OF the
most spectacular fights for prohibi-
tion ever seen in the Middle West. IL
linois mostly voted dry" Tuesday.
The saloon interests saved most of
the larger cities, but even these voted
wet by hut small majorities. while
the smaller towns, the townships and
rural communities piled up their votes
! for no license.
Only in 20 counties did the cities
and county precincts unite in voting
in favor of retaining the saloons. Yes
terdays vote abolishes a7o saloons.
| There will remain. however 3.OT5 sa-
| looms in the wet" territory.
OF the - entirely prohibition coun-
| ties only six were dry before election.
! The prohibitionists. therefore, have
made clear gain of 10 counties. They
have made big gains in the 80 counties
voted partly dry.
The prohibition gains were largely
in the counties having no large cities
!
license advocates won in most of the
large cities.
One of the most surprising elements
| CLEANED from the returns last night
was that even many of the small min
ing towns voted against the saloon.
The population of these towns is
composed to a large extent OF foreign
elements and of business interests de-
pendent upon them. and the liquor in
terests had almost taken their attitude
as favorable to the saloon for granted.
1t was a spectacular fight and the
close was equally picturesque. The
campaign was filled with the unique
incidents which characterized the re
cent similar campaigns in Alabama
and Mississippi. For months the an
ti-saloon forces have been at work and
the liquor interests have been equally
energetic and more lavish in the ex-
penditure of money for the campaign.
Had Good Seconds.
Throughout the state the Anti-Saloon
league managed the struggle. ably sec
ondcd by the w. c. T. L. and the Pro
hibition forces Against them the
liquor interests worked under the flag
of the United Societies, a personal
liberty" organization. Prominent
women lecturers, ministers of the Cos
pei. able prohibitionists. including the
! governors of some states. We're import
ed to bring the battle TO the liquor
stroneholds They lectured and they
! prayed: they held revivals and social
gatherings and under the practical
management of the Anti-Saloon league
the methods of practical politics were
not neglected.
But the liquor men met them on
their own ground. and not a few cler-
gymen. not a few prominent lecturers.
women among them. stumped the
safe. arguing for personal liberty. ar
guing that the state could not legislate
the individual into morality.
So for two months the fight waged
in the 1.142 towns of the state local
option was an issue. and Monday night
the liqu0r interests were confident Of
more than holding their own. Last
night The prohibition forces were jubi-
liant. and there are prayers OF thanks
giving throughout the state. while the
saloon interests must content them
selves with having kept most of the
larger cities Of the state open.
Work Of Women.
Women congregated near the polling
places in every town and city where
the fight was on. buttonhcled voters
and campaigned with all the eagerness
and energy Of the ward politician.
Stands were set up on corners near by
and coffee and sandwiches were seTv-
ed TO all cOmers in lieu of the beer
checks Of the ordinary political ward
heeler Prayer meetings were held in
the churches and even on street cor
ners near the polls.
In Chicago. though the question vas
not on the ballot at this election. many
services were held throughout the city
, and the interest was almost as intense
as in other places in the state. owing
. to the recent agitation for Sunday
closing here
Mayor Offers Resignation.
The great contest was replete with
sensational features The mayor OF
Mattoon, Ill. who also is president OF
the First Nasonal bank Of that city
and a trusteaDf the University of IlIi-
nois, resigned as mayor when he
learned the city had voted to oust the
saloons. Lyons, a town on the out
skirts OF Chicago, a place notorious
for its tough dance halls and drinking
resorts, went dry, this result causing
amazement, as the liquor interests in
Chicago. II had been claimed, had
been colonizing hordes of hoboes and