The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1908-03-27
Lake Crystal Votes TO Be DRY"
During Coming Year.
THEY'LL SPIT COTTON THERE
Prohibit;onists Win Decisive Victory
Yesterday, Ticket Is Successful
From End to End.

The village of Lake Crystal will be
dry the coming year. At least it
voted to be dry, at the election, and
the throes, of which it passed safely
through yesterday. The victory of
the temperance forces was complete
and decisive there being l45 votes
cast against license to ll3 in favor of
license. 1t is eight or nine years since
the village went dry last, but people
who lived there they say that really
it was very wet season.
Epson Is President.
Elliot A. Epson was elected presi-
dent. of the village council, receiving
1913 votes. and the following four gen
tlemen were elected members of the
village council, receiving the vote indi-
Gated; j. c.. James, 2O6; Hugh Jones,
EOS; Lawrence Hanson. 1872, Ben Vie
berg, 265.
DR.. R. P Dodds was elected vii
lage recorder, with 222 votes; James
Thomas treasurer, with 2l3 votes;
Walden Hunt assessor, with 27S votes
Ben Davis constable with $50 votes;
Rev. Brooks Hitchings justice, with
259 votes; and Paul d. Nef justice
with large vote, the exact number
this paper not learning. There were
279 votes cast in all. -
The successful ticket is what is
known as the citizens ticket
The decisive victory of the prohibi
Some say that the saloon keepers
have not been making any money and
turned in with the temperance forces,
but this is hardly credible. There are
four saloons, and there will be as many
vacant stores if all go out of bust
ness on May l, when their licenses
expire. 1t is stated, however, that
one of the saloon keepers is to open
a drug store.
When the Village Was Dry.
Several former Lake Crystal resi-
dents were discussing the election. to-
day, and recalled the condition of
affairs when the village was dry be-
fore. They said that the temperance
people were satisfied with casting their
votes and took no further interest, and
that there was more open drinking
and drunkenness than ever before.
Blind pigs thrived and waxed fat. An
expressman made $l0-to $l5 day by
making daily trip to Mankato, where
he filled orders for liquors returning
with his wagon. loaded down With wet
goods of every description. 1t was pre-
dicted that the express line would
start up again, and that Lake Crystal
would have the time of its life during
the coming year, while taxes would
have to be raised to make up for the
loss of revenue from the saloons.
Rev. Hitchirg Police Justice.
1t is said that the members of the !
council are favorable to license, but i
with Rev. Brooks Hitchings one of the
justices, it may be that the temper
anee forces will see that actual pro-
hibtion exists as far as in their pow
er lies. They can forbid the traffic
ing in liquor, but can not forbid peo-
pie buying wet goods in Mankato and
taking it home, or having it sent to
them or prevent distributing point
being established there under govern /
ment license, it is said.
Rev. Hitchings is one of the pro-
hibition leaders in the county, and so
far as he can regulate the affairs of
the village there will no doubt be an
earnest effort to carry out the dry
program.
As one result of the election, it is ex-
pected that Colonel Neff and other resi-
dents will be sending delegation to
the street railway company in an eff
fort to induce it to extend to Lake
Crystal and have rapid transit. This
would enable residents to come in per-
son to the city instead of employing
an expressman.
They Sing a Song. !
When the result became known last
evening, the b'hoys began TO sing
Hush 1itt1o bor roo,,