The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-09-27
Both Will Endeavor to Bring
About Special Election on
County Local Option, 1t Is
Declared.
.2,142 VOTES NEEDED TO
MAKE WAYNE COUNTY DRY
Predicted Move May Be Made
Immediately Looking To-
ward Special EIection-TWo
Towns Remain Wet.

The total vote in Wayne county,
cast at the general election in 1904
was 1O.7O9.
Twenty per cent of this vote is 2,142.
This is the number of signers to a
petition it will be neces ssary to obtain
in order to ask the county commits
sioners to call a special election to
determine the liquor question in this
county, if steps are taken immediate
ly.
And it is probable that steps may be
taken Immediately. 1t is believed the
leaders of the temperance movement
in this county will not lose any time.
1t has been intimated by the political
powers that are, that unusual force
will be brought to bear by the liquor
interests to bring about the election
of legislature at the November elec-
ton that will endeavor to repeal the
new law. To preclude the affect OF
such action, should it prove success.
full, it is believed haste will be made
to have a special election in Wayne
county before tie next general elee
ton.
| ~ Unusual Spectacle Promised.
The unusual spectacle of saloon
owners and ministers working for the
same end is promised. Leading sa
loonists of this city have declared
they would sign a petition asking fo1
a special election. Let's have it ov.
er," said one liquor dealer yesterday
If we are to win. let's win on the
jump and if we are to lose. let's lose
just as quick SO it will be over
and We can hunt some other line OF
business"
Any petition for special election
in all probability will be circulated by
members of the ministerial organiza
ton or by the leading temperance
workers of the county. If the SALOON
list quoted expressed the opinion oi
| others, 1t will mean preacher and bar
keeper striving for the special elec
tion. One will struggle to know his
fate and the other to make it an igno
minious one. The ministers will not
be fighting the man, but the traffic.
What attitude the liquor element in
Wayne county will assume, since the
adoption of the county option, is a
question that will put political leaders
in a quandary.
The saloonists of Wayne county
have been fighting James E. Watson
re publican candidate for governor
| tooth and toe-nail. They have used
every argument, principal of which is
the one: Elect Watson, the county
will go dry and this means there will
be no saloons. No saloons means the
| loss of the liquor license fees and the
loss of this revenue derived by the
county and city will necessitate an ad
vance in the tax rate
Go into any saloon of this city an6
this line of argument is advanced
The laboring man is called into a cor
ner by the saloonist The situation
| is explained to him. Drinks on the
house are passed around and in al
probability the laborer leaves the sa
| -~A 'sAsu a III III SSSlOU JndL l0e
liquor traffic must continue. or he
may be forced to lose his home
through mortgage required by greatl,
increased tax rates. 1t cannot be de
MED this line of argument has hat
effect and deep effect, too
Watson has stood on a platform
pledging local option. The state leg
islature has in special session adopt
ed this act and the saloon forces ne
longer can point to Watson as the
man advocating law that would hur
| their business
Politicians are asking three cues
| tions:
Will the saloonists withdraw from
| the fight against Watson?
VIII certain portion of the anti
Watson forces in the republican part,
! withdraw its opposition rather thar
| line up with the liquor forces?
| Will the disclosures made durin.
| the past week, proving conclusiyel,
the democratic party leaders are II
line with the liquor forces of the stat.
prove to disgrunteled republicans Il
would be i'll advised to suppor
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