American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1908-07-18
AMERICAN FALLS
VOTES OUT SALOONS
The Dlys" Win in Warmly
Contested Election.
By Vote Of l08 to "a the People Ask
fer the Closing Of Saloons at Ex-
pnatien Of Their Village L.
censes in October.

The election Tuesday resulted in a
/ pronounced victory for prohibition. by
vote of los to 8a Three votes were
thrown out on account of defective
marking, two Of which were evidently
intended TO be cast for prohibition and
one against. The registration was 2l9,
but four of this number were not quail
he'd electors, one not being naturalized
and three not being residents. OF the
remaining twenty. ten had removed
since registration began or were out of
town on election day and ten could not
be prevailed upon TO vote. The check
list of the prohibitionists show a major
ity of those who did not vote to have
been in favor of prohibition.
/ Nine voters were challenged during
the day. seven by the prohibitionists
and two by the ants. The ''drvs" chaI-
lenged Geo. J. Wheeler, Frank Elliott,
King Wheeler. Thomas Bolton, P. T.
Routh. Jack Burke and Maurice Burke.
The "Wets" challenged Mr.. and Mrs.
Mcbride. All the challenges were
based on non residence and all chal-
lenged swore their votes in.
The only unpleasantness of the day
was at the opening of the polls in the
morning. The election laws make it
the duty of the village clerk TO provide
all election supplies. including the bal
lots. and such were printed by his order,
in the following form: "Shall the vii
lage trustees pass an ordinance prohib-
iting the sale of liquor in American
Falls and close the saloons at the exeir-
otion Of the oiNase Ecense," Chairman
Clifford brought to the polls ballot
simply stating .sFor- -PsoAshsk1s.....
Against Prohibition" leaving the
time at the discretion of the trustees.
The prohibition workers, headed by
Wiiford Bennion. Charles Johnson and
M. E. Coen, and later by Others. OBJ
jected to this ballot, insisting that the
time of closing was the essence of the
election. And that if it was left out
the election might as well be postponed
until the regular election in April, as
the trustees had signified their intention
of closing the saloons. if at all, at no
earlier date.
Before the prohibitionists rallied to
the defense of the regular ballot all the
words in italics had been marked out on
about $50 ballots. Then the "wers''
united their efforts to have the wori
village stricken out before the word
''heense, and about thirty ballots were
so marked. This would have misrepre-
sented sentiment and defeated the pur-
pose of the election. as the county IL
censes do not expire until April LIST
next. These licenses. however. were
taken out after the prohibition fight
was begun.
II was about s:40 when Village Clerk
I. E. St. John swore in the election Of
ticers and ended the dispute, and the
regular ballots were used, and the re-
suit is an instruction to the trustees to
close the saloons in October.
Both the clerks appointed by the chair
man of the trustees refused to act. and
Rev. Leitch and b. T. Morris were
sworn in in their places.
To illustrate the intensity of the fight,
the case of Mrs. Atwood. who was ut
Rockland, serves admirably. About 10
O'Clock it was decided to send for her,
and young man who had voted was
engaged to take team after her. Soon
after he had left word came to the
dry workers that the driver had been
seen and was to get her here after
the polls closed. Going to Rockland
the trip was made in two hours and
twenty minutes. Returning il took
four hours and twenty minutes. The.
driver came home the long way. past
Neeley, and when urged to hurry. re-
piled that one of the horses was injured
and could not be driven out of walk.
At 7:20 the team came in sight over the
hill south of Charles Dutro's. about n
mile from the polls The animal must
have made quick recovery. because 1t
was all right when taken to the barn.
and has been ali right since.
The saloons were closed all day and
the best of order prevailed. The tenn
perance people appreciated this fact
very much. and many were the com
mendations heard during the day. The
saloon men made friends for themselves
lot for their business : and in rstusn
for their manly deneanor the vieengs
abandoned jollification meeting whfeA