Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-09
FOR AND AGAINST LIQUOR.
Spirited Contest Over Local Option
in Prince George County, Md.

Special Correspondence Of The Star.
HYATTSVILLE. Md. May 9. 1908.
Tuesday next. May II. the voters in a
large section of Prince George county
will decide whether or not dealers shall
continue to sell intoxicating liquors in
those portions of the county where the
law now authorizes saloons. Should local
option carry, every saloon in the county
will be closed September 1. 1903. Laurel
and Evansville districts are now under pro-
hibitory laws and will not participate in
the election. The same is true of the
corporate of Hyattsville and the terri
tory within one-haif mile of the railway
station in the town. and within radius
of one mile of Chillum Hall In the seven
teenth election district; within one mile
in every direction of the northeast corner
of the District of Columbia line at Chesa-
peake Junction: within a mile of the post
office at Clinton. Surratt's district. and
within three miles OF st: MAYS IS, r E.
The local option forces claim majority
ranging between 200 and 4O0 in the coun-
ty. 1t is reasonably certain that the wet
portion O. Hyattsville district will vote
against the saloon Bladenspurg district
will give a small majority for local OPP
ton; Oxon Hill district will give ma
iority Of seventy-five for local option; the
dry section of Chillum district will give
a substantial majority against the saloon:
Nottingham district will go dry" as Will
also Brandywine, Aquasco and surratfs.
1t will be close in Kent and Marlboro
districts. Queen Anne district. where the
colored population pfedominates. Will give
a majority for the "wets;" and Spauld-
ings will give large majority for the sa-
loon. Bowie district is likely to give q
small majority for the VETS"
The local forces have waged q strenuous
campaign, and large and enthusiastic
meetings have been held in every section
of the county. In many churches services
have been abandoned and the pulpits &C.
cupied by temperance orators.
In nearly all of the districts the women
are preparing to furnish sandwiches and
coffee at the polls on election day. and
Sunday school children will parade around
the polls with badges bearing the inscrip-
tion vote for Me-" In many of the
Catholic churches a special service will be
held on the morning of the election.
/ There are about sixty saloons in the
county, the revenue from these being
about So 900 per year.. The local optionists
claim that with the elimination of the sa-
loon a sufficient number of new houses
this loss to say nothing Of the moral side
Of the question. The anti-saloon people
will have a vigilance committee in every
district in the county for the purpose of
preventing If possible. the use OF money
at the polls. The corrupt practices act
passed Al the recent session of the legis-
lature applies to this election. and imposes
severe punishment upon parties guilty of
purchasing votes. Senator William B.
Clagett who introduced and had passed
the law upon which the people will vote
next Tuesday. is working night and day
for local option. With him are many of
the prominent republicans in the county.